Orion's Kiss by Claire Luana

Author:Claire Luana
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Live Edge Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

I’m frozen to my seat as the cheerful bell tinkles and Deputy Romano pushes in.

“It could be a coincidence,” Zoe hisses, but he’s approaching our table. We’ll have no such luck.

“Ryan Kearney?” The deputy looks up from his little pad of paper. He must have a photo or something, because his eyes are pinned on Ryan. So much so that he doesn’t even look at me. I pray to all that is holy and a few things that aren’t so holy that he doesn’t notice me. How would I be able to explain that Ryan and I know each other? That I was on scene at the hit-and-run and Ryan disappeared for a few days…long enough to make his grandmother report him missing…

“Yes, sir,” Ryan replies. His voice is strong, without a quaver. Guy must have balls of steel. My face heats as I realize that I have no right to be thinking anything about Ryan’s balls.

“You mind coming with me to the station? I have a few questions to ask you about the past few days.”

“Am I under arrest, sir?” Ryan asks.

“No.” Deputy Romano frowns at him. “But you gave your grandmother enough of a scare that she filed a missing person’s report. Just need to tie up a few loose ends.”

I breathe out a shaky sigh as Zoe’s hand finds mine under the table, her fingers twining into mine in a death grip.

Ryan’s blue eyes are fixed on the deputy. “If it’s all the same, sir, if I’m not under arrest, I’d rather not go down to the station. I’ll answer your questions here.”

My eyes widen, meeting Brandon’s across the table. I revise my assessment about Ryan’s balls of steel. The guy has balls of titanium.

Deputy Romano is silent for a moment, his jaw working. “Fine. Outside.” He nods towards the door. He steps back, allowing Ryan to gather his things and stand. He nods at us, his eyes sliding over me. Then he freezes.

Shit.

“Ms. Carmichael,” the deputy says, pointing at me, then at Ryan with the end of his pen, his gaze moving back and forth between us.

Ryan has stopped dead in his tracks.

“You two know each other?” he asks.

Zoe’s fingers are now cutting off my circulation, but I welcome it. The pain anchors me to the present. Otherwise, I think I might faint.

“Yes,” I manage. The word is strangled. I’m not even lying and yet I sound guilty as hell.

“Hmm,” he says, his brown eyes flicking to Brandon, then Zoe, then back to me. He nods, and I can tell I haven’t heard the end of this.

Ryan and Deputy Romano stand outside in the parking lot alongside his sheriff’s vehicle, talking. Ryan has his arms crossed before him, Deputy Romano’s hand is hooked on his belt. Right above his gun.

“Anyone read lips?” Zoe asks weakly.

I shake my head. “I’d give my left kidney to be able to.”

“It’ll be fine,” Brandon says. I’m beginning to take his measure. Sunny optimism is his jam. He lowers his voice.

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