The Survivor - Cristin Harber Page 0,9
fan of games.” Their hands fell apart. “Or exchanging names.”
His lips pursed as though processing what she’d said. Then he asked, “How do you feel about Majboos?”
“You’re serious?” Her stomach clenched, and for a split second, the idea of a romantic dinner over spiced chicken and rice was enough for her to crawl back into his arms, where she had been safe and deliriously free. Then reality crashed her daydream. “No—I can’t.”
A heavy stairwell door opened and closed above them. A descending thunderclap of boots sounded a lot like Boss Man. She swallowed hard and heard the man next to her curse. Without another word, they faced the stairs and waited. Their encounter, for better or worse, had ended.
CHAPTER SIX
Hagan didn’t have time to analyze the full range of the woman’s reactions. He noted how she had sobered, damn well knowing who stomped their way. She knew of Parker, so why not Boss Man? Jared was the only person Hagan could think of who would be in the unfinished tower stairwell.
The bounding footsteps drew closer. He and the woman faced the stairs in strained silence as though they were waiting for a firing line.
Jared rounded the landing above them and froze. Surprise surfaced and then disappeared faster than Hagan could mutter, “Oh shit.” He and the woman remained where they were like lead-lined statutes. Jared’s jaw ticked as he assessed them, and then without breaking the silence, he continued down the stairs until they were all on the same level.
Hagan couldn’t read the situation. Jared and the woman ignored Hagan amid a silent argument. Was this a spat between spies? A lovers’ quarrel? Envy pressed in Hagan’s sternum. He’d never tread on another guy’s girl, but hell if Hagan didn’t feel a connection to this nameless woman with ninja moves.
Jared handed her a flat, dark package. She tucked it under her arm. “Thank you.”
Hagan didn’t care for her conciliatory tone and still didn’t understand the dynamic playing out before him.
“Now that you two have met.” Boss Man cracked his knuckles.
Something about the way he chose the words made Hagan uneasy. He lifted a shoulder. “Sorta.”
Jared pinched the bridge of his nose. “This is a shitstorm of a headache.”
Hagan raised his eyebrows. “Are we going to make legitimate introductions now?”
“No.” She even didn’t look at Hagan.
He snorted. “Of course not.”
Boss Man sighed, seemingly familiar with the woman’s trust-no-one rules.
Again, a terse, unspoken conversation volleyed, pointedly leaving Hagan out. Betrayed spies? Fuck buddies? If Boss Man was the reason the woman didn’t do friends or buddies, Hagan would have a tough time accepting that. Not to mention, it’d be awkward as fuck.
“All right then.” Hagan had to go. He gave Jared a quick chin lift then caught the woman’s stare. Her lips rolled together as her pupils flared as if she had just recalled his dinner invitation. Heat rose in his chest again. The corners of his lips quirked. “Until we meet again.”
***
Amanda wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed that Jared had interrupted. She hadn’t wanted to look away as the handsome man meandered down the stairs, but she didn’t have a choice. Jared was sizing up the situation. Could he tell that she’d swooned over a stranger in sweaty workout clothes? Jared was a human lie detector. If he asked the right questions, her answers didn’t matter. He’d know something had happened—even if she didn’t know what that had been.
She waited until the rhythmic slap of sneakers faded before facing Boss Man. “I didn’t know the stairwell was such a happening place.”
His jaw worked side to side as though he were grinding a scouring pad between his molars.
Amanda hated to be under the microscope. “Now that I know, it’s another place I’ll avoid.”
“What the hell just happened?”
Even if she’d wanted to explain, she didn’t know where to start. While Jared was a friend, he wasn’t the kind of friend that she’d confess a secret to. “What does it look like? I ran into someone.”
“I gathered.” His eyebrow arched. “Have you changed the terms of our contract?”
“Absolutely not. I don’t know a thing about that man, and I intend to keep it that way.” She gestured to her tablet. “So, anyway, thanks for bringing this to me.”
“Don’t change the subject.” He waited impatiently for her to explain.
Embarrassment warmed the back of her neck. “What do you want me to say?”
He lifted a nonchalant shoulder. “You tell me.”
She wanted to shake him. “Whoever that was—” Amanda raised a hand toward the