7. Raven

7

RAVEN

Rubbing my eyes, I walked out of my room and down the floating stairs of the luxury house my ex lived in. I tiptoed across the chilly floor, wishing I had put on socks before I came downstairs. Frankly, I should have put on more than the T-shirt I had slept in.

Nolan wasn't exactly over me, and I knew I was leading him on by wearing so little in front of him. On the other hand, his infatuation with me kept a roof over my head, even if we weren't sleeping together.

"Hey." He shot me a lazy grin as he plated the eggs he'd just cooked. A decadent display was laid out in front of me, filled with fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, and scones. But the first thing I went for was coffee. I couldn't even think about anything else until I had my morning coffee.

"Morning," I said as sweetly as possible. I stood on tiptoes, reaching for the mug, but he came up behind me, pressing his body to mine as he grabbed a mug.

"Let me get that for you."

I rolled my eyes. I was perfectly capable of getting a mug down on my own, but I wouldn't argue with him. I wanted to keep my accommodations a little longer. I turned to him with a sweet smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. The coffee's ready, just as you like it."

"You're too good to me."

He wrapped his arm around my waist and bent down, pressing a kiss to my cheek. "I could be even better to you if you'd let me."

I laughed as I internally grimaced. "Nolan, we've already talked about this."

Groaning, he stepped back. "Yeah, I know. So, what's on the agenda today? Are you off on another job?"

"Nope. I thought I would stay in today."

His eyes lit up. "I could stay with you."

"I'll just be sleeping. That last job really took it out of me."

"Yeah? How's the breaking and entering business?"

"Slow," I said, narrowing my eyes at him. "I need another big score."

"I could find you one. I know lots of rich people."

"It's not just about the money. It's the challenge. Most of the people you know keep their valuables on display. I need a real challenge."

I carried my mug into the living room and sat down on the couch, pulling a blanket over my legs. It was cool outside and the fall air was permeating the walls. I loved it and hated it at the same time.

"So, tell me about the last job," Nolan said, sitting down beside me.

"It was nothing special."

"Who was he?"

"He was a former FBI agent," I said, sticking to the truth as much as possible.

"Former FBI?" he asked, his eyebrows shooting up. "Did he need you to break into an office or something?"

"Nothing like that. I was the diversion while he pulled another job." I wasn't about to go into detail about the job. That's how people got in trouble.

"So, when's your next job?"

"I don't have one lined up yet."

I glanced at the table, noticing the magazines spread haphazardly across the surface. I tried to ignore it.

"Then I have you to myself for a while."

Nolan struck it big a few years ago with the invention of the ass wiper. That wasn't really what it was called. He came up with the name The Toilet Assistant. He wanted to name it something fancier than that, but studies showed that keeping the name simple was better. Apparently, not many people knew what a lavatory was.

He had them installed in every bathroom in his house, except for the one I used. I couldn't handle a mechanical arm holding out a wipe and then cleaning my ass. But apparently, he had a huge market with the germaphobes.

"Anything new on the horizon with your business?"

He leaned back with a smile. If there was one thing Nolan loved, it was to talk about himself. I met him when I needed a plus one for a gallery opening. He was my alibi—not that he knew that at the time. But he was such a good date and so much fun that I decided to stick around. Here we were one year later, and I still couldn't bring myself to say goodbye.

My eyes shot to the table again. I rubbed my hand on my thigh, trying to distract myself from the chaos on the table. I turned back to him, trying to pay attention to what he was saying, but those magazines were driving me crazy.

"Oh, and I had this idea for a robotic bathroom scrubber. I'm still working out the kinks, but it would work like a robot vacuum cleaner but in your shower. The uh…the last one got away from me. It sort of attacked my technician. It should be ready later this year." He crossed his fingers. "Lawsuit pending."

"Always inventing something new," I laughed. "Tell me, when are you going to invent a robot that can cook my meals for me?"

"That's what you have me for. If I invented something like that, I'd never see you again."

I took a sip of my coffee as he got up and headed to the kitchen. I leaned forward and quickly straightened the magazines, making sure they aligned perfectly with the edges of the table and each other.

I sat back just as Nolan was bringing me a tray. He really was a great guy. He made the most amazing breakfast, he was a genius, and he was handsome and rich. Basically, he was a great catch. But there was nothing between us in the bedroom. I guess he thought that was something we could work on, but I wasn't interested in working on sex. It should come naturally.

He chuckled as he glanced at the table. "You don't have to hide your quirks from me. I already know you like things a certain way."

"I wasn't hiding them."

"Then why did you wait until I left the room."

I narrowed my eyes at him playfully. "Because I was trying not to do it."

"I know," he laughed. "I saw you look at the magazines several times."

"I wouldn't be surprised if you left them that way on purpose."

"If by on purpose you mean I set them down and walked away, then you would be right. It's not that big of a deal."

Not to him. I couldn't let it go. I didn't know why and I didn't really care why. I just liked things to line up and be even. Was that really too much to ask?

"So, now that you're home, I was thinking, maybe you would come to this event I have next week."

"What kind of event?"

"The kind where you wear something gorgeous and hang on my arm all night."

"You need some arm candy? Since when?"

"I'm trying to pull in some investors. I don't know what it is, but you have this way with people. You know how to tell them exactly what they want to hear."

"You make me sound like a scam artist."

"Isn't that what you do best? It worked on me," he smiled.

"Yes, but I didn't talk you into doing anything you didn't want to do. What are you really after? Who's your target?"

"His name is Carl. He's a potential investor, but there's something about him. I'm not sure he's a good fit."

"And you want me to see what I can find out."

"If you don't mind."

"You know, you could have just asked me."

"I didn't know how busy your schedule was. Besides, I didn't want you to think I was keeping you around for your skills."

"Why? I keep you around for your cooking," I grinned.

"I know that's not the only reason. We're good together. One of these days, you'll stop running from me and see what's right in front of you."

My smile dimmed as he got up from his seat and headed into the kitchen. It was clear my time was running out with Nolan. He was so great, but I couldn't continue to fight off his remarks of how he thought we were going to get back together. Our romance had been short-lived, and we both knew it wouldn't work. But at some point, he'd convinced himself that all I needed was a little time. If only he remembered what it was like with us.

"Okay, I have to run into the office for a little while. Will I see you for dinner?"

"Of course," I replied, but I was already feeling the need to run.

I took in a deep breath of fresh air as I stretched. It had been too long since I'd been on a run, and I loved taking advantage of the country roads. With Nolan living in the middle of nowhere, I could think without noises from the city bothering me.

I took off at a steady pace, really not feeling it until I hit my stride at about a quarter mile. My lungs filled with fresh air as I hit the dirt road leading away from Nolan's house. It didn't take long for me to feel a sense of peace wash over me. Sometimes, I thought I could stay out here forever, just enjoying the peace of nature, but I knew that wouldn't last long.

The urge to get back to work would soon take over. I'd see something in the news or hear about a job and that would be it. I'd be packed and on the road in no time at all. I took a dirt trail, pushing hard with the sharp incline. My legs burned, but it felt wonderful compared to running on a sidewalk. Trees bit at my skin as I raced through the countryside, but I didn't care. It felt amazing to be out here again.

I had learned a long time ago that clearing my head on a run helped me from becoming overwhelmed with the need to organize and fix everything in my life. Perhaps that was because in nature, you couldn't fix anything. Trees grew haphazardly, stones didn't line a path perfectly, and grass grew at all kinds of lengths. At first, it drove me insane, but over time, I came to appreciate what I couldn't control. It was the only place where I let my quirks go and went with the flow of things.

About two miles in, I stopped and took a breather, bending over and stretching out my calves a little more. The snap of a twig drew my attention, but I didn't make any sudden movements. If someone was following me, I would only alert them that I was onto them. If it was just an animal, there was nothing to worry about.

I took my time, twisting my body as I stretched, scanning the area for anyone who might be following me. And then I saw him. It was just a glimpse, and he was well hidden, but the light peeking through the trees reflected off something on his clothes.

I continued stretching, making my movements a little more obscene. I wasn't sure why I was putting on a show for him. He was following me. But things like this gave me a thrill. When I was ready to go again, I decided a little game of cat and mouse was in order. I took off at a fast pace, weaving in and out of the trees. I didn't dare look over my shoulder, knowing even one look would give away the game.

Now that I knew he was back there, I tuned in to the noises around me. The snap of a branch, the rustle of leaves, his footsteps on the soft forest floor. He wasn't dressed properly for a run, and that gave me the advantage.

I put on a burst of speed and pushed harder than I had the entire run. I wove in and out of the trees until I was sure I had lost him. Of course, if he was any good, he'd track my footprints. There was a tree up ahead that would be perfect as a lookout. My feet hit the bark and I catapulted myself up to a low-hanging branch, then hoisted myself higher until I was hidden by the branches and leaves.

My breathing came out harsh and uneven from the run, but I was high enough up that he wouldn't hear me. A few seconds later, he stopped jogging right in front of the tree, studying the landscape as he searched for me. I held my breath, wondering if he would see me hiding up here. The seconds ticked by as he bent over and looked at my footprints.

The dark stranger had me intrigued. His black hair was slicked back and sharp angles cut across the side of his face. But it was his muscular form that really had me drooling. I needed to know more about him. Why was he following me? And what would he do if I dropped out of the tree right now?

His head tilted back and I nearly gasped at the sight of his face. It was the man from the rooftop. The same man I'd fought and handcuffed to the roof. He was here, following me on a run. Was this because I'd bested him? Or was it revenge? Either way, this wasn't good. I'd never allowed my work to follow me to Nolan's place. I'd have to leave and make sure I led him far away from this place.

I thought I saw him grin right before he took off ahead of me. Once he was out of sight, I shimmied down the tree and took off for home. I'd have to get packed up immediately and get the hell out of here. I wouldn't be able to wait for Nolan to get back. There was no time for goodbyes.

I pushed even harder, desperate to get to the house and grab my things. I needed a shower, but there was no time for that. I had no idea what his intentions were, and I couldn't allow him to hang around Nolan's house. I'd get a head start and lead him away, then lose him on the road.

I was panting hard by the time I reached Nolan's house. I ran up the stairs and flung the door open, making sure to set the alarm as soon as I stepped through the door. If he was still watching me, he'd take note of how I was acting. I had to pretend everything was fine.

I took my time at the fridge, grabbing a water as I studied the security feed on the monitor. He was outside, hiding in the trees. And he wasn't alone.