on me, clearly. I miss my friend, and I want answers. Not to mention I’m afraid of this unknown journey I’m about to embark on. Damn. But what has me so edgy and lashing out is that I’m far too attracted to this man I’m supposed to be partnering with, professionally partnering with.
I start to apologize, but before I can, Farren bites out, “Okay, Essa .”
Guess he’s not immune to the stress of the situation, either.
“I’ll give up my phone,” I concede, my voice apologetic. “But can I ask you something?”
Farren remains silent, but he’s not saying no, so I forge on. “What aren’t you telling me? Do you know Eric and Vincent? I just don’t get why they would they do something so…so…sinister.” My eyes implore his beautiful greens. “You know something, don’t you? Personally, I think this whole thing has something to do with you.” He raises a brow, and I add, “I’m telling you, Farren, I thought about it all weekend, and I can’t come up with one single reason why my best friend would be abducted.”
Coolly holding my stare, he asks in a low voice, “And how, Essa, would her abduction be tied to me?”
“I don’t know,” I admit.
And then he touches me again, differently than before. His fingers graze my jaw and linger on my cheek. Holy hell, this is seduction. His hand on my arm was nothing, just a prelude. I close my eyes and allow myself to enjoy how a man who obviously knows how to touch a woman can make me feel. I don’t care if Farren is just doing this to placate me.
His seduction works—soft touches, softer words. When he whispers, “Just let it go, Essalin,” I nod into his hand.
“I’ll let it go,” I murmur.
“No more questions,” he says.
I nod again. “No more questions.” Oh, please keep touching me .
But he lowers his hand from my face, and like a spell that’s been broken, I open my eyes. After a long silence on both our parts, most of which, for me, is spent recovering, Farren says, “So, what about those calls? Do you have any you’d like to make?”
“Um, yeah”—I sigh—“I should call my parents.”
Farren nods an assent, but warns, “Don’t mention anything about Haven being gone.”
I frown. “I wasn’t planning to.”
“And don’t tell your parents how far away you may be traveling.”
My eyes meet his. “You don’t think we’ll find Haven in Indianapolis, do you?”
Pain flashes in eyes as vibrant and green as emeralds, and I have my answer—Indianapolis is just a starting point, a place to search for clues.
I take out my phone and sit on the bottom step. Farren goes outside to give me some privacy, and I then call my parents.
Regardless of his warning, I never intended to disclose all that has happened. But, because I am an adult—like Haven reminded me during our last night spent together—I do finally take a stand.
When I inform my mom I won’t be staying on campus this summer, which means no summer classes, she flips. “What the hell, Essa? Your father and I already told you no to New York City.”
“I’m not going to New York,” I calmly reply. It’s true.
Sounding confused, Mom says, “Where do you plan on spending the summer then, if not at school?”
Like there are no other options , I think to myself with a roll of my eyes.
My silence results in my mother continuing. “Don’t even think about coming home for the summer.”
I wouldn’t.
“Your father and I are not going to put up with you lazing around the house.”
As if.
“Not when you could be doing something much more productive.”
Productive ? Wonder if searching for my missing best friend qualifies as productive? As far as I’m concerned, it’s sure as hell a lot more meaningful than taking classes I don’t even need. Bottom line, Haven is in danger and rescuing her trumps everything, including my parents’ priorities.
“I’ll be helping out a friend this summer,” I tell my mother. Another truth told.
She doesn’t
I start to apologize, but before I can, Farren bites out, “Okay, Essa .”
Guess he’s not immune to the stress of the situation, either.
“I’ll give up my phone,” I concede, my voice apologetic. “But can I ask you something?”
Farren remains silent, but he’s not saying no, so I forge on. “What aren’t you telling me? Do you know Eric and Vincent? I just don’t get why they would they do something so…so…sinister.” My eyes implore his beautiful greens. “You know something, don’t you? Personally, I think this whole thing has something to do with you.” He raises a brow, and I add, “I’m telling you, Farren, I thought about it all weekend, and I can’t come up with one single reason why my best friend would be abducted.”
Coolly holding my stare, he asks in a low voice, “And how, Essa, would her abduction be tied to me?”
“I don’t know,” I admit.
And then he touches me again, differently than before. His fingers graze my jaw and linger on my cheek. Holy hell, this is seduction. His hand on my arm was nothing, just a prelude. I close my eyes and allow myself to enjoy how a man who obviously knows how to touch a woman can make me feel. I don’t care if Farren is just doing this to placate me.
His seduction works—soft touches, softer words. When he whispers, “Just let it go, Essalin,” I nod into his hand.
“I’ll let it go,” I murmur.
“No more questions,” he says.
I nod again. “No more questions.” Oh, please keep touching me .
But he lowers his hand from my face, and like a spell that’s been broken, I open my eyes. After a long silence on both our parts, most of which, for me, is spent recovering, Farren says, “So, what about those calls? Do you have any you’d like to make?”
“Um, yeah”—I sigh—“I should call my parents.”
Farren nods an assent, but warns, “Don’t mention anything about Haven being gone.”
I frown. “I wasn’t planning to.”
“And don’t tell your parents how far away you may be traveling.”
My eyes meet his. “You don’t think we’ll find Haven in Indianapolis, do you?”
Pain flashes in eyes as vibrant and green as emeralds, and I have my answer—Indianapolis is just a starting point, a place to search for clues.
I take out my phone and sit on the bottom step. Farren goes outside to give me some privacy, and I then call my parents.
Regardless of his warning, I never intended to disclose all that has happened. But, because I am an adult—like Haven reminded me during our last night spent together—I do finally take a stand.
When I inform my mom I won’t be staying on campus this summer, which means no summer classes, she flips. “What the hell, Essa? Your father and I already told you no to New York City.”
“I’m not going to New York,” I calmly reply. It’s true.
Sounding confused, Mom says, “Where do you plan on spending the summer then, if not at school?”
Like there are no other options , I think to myself with a roll of my eyes.
My silence results in my mother continuing. “Don’t even think about coming home for the summer.”
I wouldn’t.
“Your father and I are not going to put up with you lazing around the house.”
As if.
“Not when you could be doing something much more productive.”
Productive ? Wonder if searching for my missing best friend qualifies as productive? As far as I’m concerned, it’s sure as hell a lot more meaningful than taking classes I don’t even need. Bottom line, Haven is in danger and rescuing her trumps everything, including my parents’ priorities.
“I’ll be helping out a friend this summer,” I tell my mother. Another truth told.
She doesn’t
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