agent. He kept at it even though she made it clear she didn’t want to talk business.”
“She didn’t want to talk about Key West.”
Noticing his shift in tone, Elaine’s gaze sharpened on him. “Oh? Why?”
“It’s a private matter. Not something that Talia is comfortable talking about, even with me. All I’ll say is that she had a client who became a close friend. But the relationship ended abruptly.” He paused before adding, “And badly.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It was a while ago but remains a sensitive topic with her. I trust you’ll never bring it up again.”
“Of course, Jasper.” She picked up her glass and raised it to him. “On the subject of Key West, I’ll be as silent as a grave.”
Jasper could barely contain an eruption of laughter.
“Jasper?”
Talia flipped on the kitchen light and was greeted by a startling sight. Dressed in pajamas, Jasper was crouched on the floor, running his hand along the baseboard beneath the cabinet. “What on earth are you doing?”
He came to his feet, dusting his hands. “I dropped an ice cube.” He shaded his eyes against the overhead light. “Please switch that off. I think we’re being watched.”
“Watched?”
“Turn off the light, Talia.”
She didn’t appreciate his imperious tone but did as asked, then waited for him to explain his bizarre behavior.
He asked, “Have you been asleep all afternoon and evening?”
“No, I woke up to an empty house. I found the note you left on my dressing table. You and Elaine must have been enjoying yourselves. Your get-together for drinks extended into the dinner hour.” She looked at the clock on the stove. “And beyond.”
“I called to invite you to join us. Your phone went to voice mail.”
“Oh. Right,” she said with chagrin. “I silenced it when I lay down and forgot to turn it back on.”
“Assuming you were asleep, I left you in peace rather than call on the house phone.”
She nodded absently. “How was Elaine?”
“Enlightening. Did you skip dinner?”
“No. After reading your note, I ate a peanut butter sandwich and went back to bed. When did you get home?”
“An hour ago. Give or take.”
“I didn’t hear you.”
“You were virtually unconscious.”
She must’ve been. She felt as though she were coming out of a coma and discovering that while she’d been out, everything had gone awry. Nothing felt right or familiar, in particular this disjointed conversation with Jasper. He was prowling the room, stopping at every window to look outside.
She shook her head to try to clear the lingering cobwebs. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on? What did you mean when you said we’re being watched? Watched by whom?”
“By Drex.”
Her heart gave a telltale bump. She’d returned home from their encounter in the parking garage shaken to her core by what he’d professed, by the kiss. She’d taken a mild sedative in the hope of sleeping off the conflicting emotions that assailed her. They’d run the gamut from fury—how dare he?—to shame. Even now, she felt the tingling, throbbing effects of that kiss.
She looked in the direction of the garage apartment and remembered standing at the living area window, looking through the branches of the live oak, and realizing that the rooms on the back of their house were open to his view. “Why would you think he’s watching us?”
“Let’s sit.” There was enough ambient light for them to see their way around. They sat adjacent to each other at the dining table. “I think Drex Easton is a fraud at best. At worst…doesn’t bear thinking.”
“Jasper—”
“Hear me out.”
Her heart was beating abnormally fast. Her hands had turned cold and clammy, made even more noticeable when Jasper reached for her right one and clasped it between his.
He said, “Elaine told me she’s reading Drex’s book, and that it’s dreadful.”
“She said that?”
“She put it a bit more kindly.”
“Does she intend to tell him that?”
“Elaine wouldn’t be that blunt. Even if she were, I don’t think he gives a damn about her opinion or anyone else’s. I don’t think he’s a writer at all.”
“But he works at it. I’ve seen him. So have you.”
He gave his head a hard shake. “He’s pretending. He’s only posing to be a writer until he finds someone, specifically a woman of Elaine’s ilk, to support him.”
While she didn’t want to believe it, she herself had virtually accused Drex of having those intentions. “He has been tight-lipped about his work.”
“About everything.”
“But why a writer? If he’s going for seduction, there are occupations much more fascinating and exhilarating.”