Chapter 69
Anna
I was halfway to the fridge when I spotted him, sitting in near-darkness at the kitchen table.
I stifled a gasp. It wasn't even Flynn. It was Jack Ward.
I couldn’t make out his expression, but his voice was filled with amusement as he said, "Busted."
I knew it was a joke, but it rattled me just the same. Still, I tried to laugh. "Uh, yeah. I guess you caught me, huh?"
"I wasn't talking aboutyou," he said. "I was talking aboutme."
"Oh." Other than that, I didn't know what to say. I squinted through the shadows to ask, "So, what are you doing?"
"Same as you."
I hesitated. "Sneaking pie?"
"Sothat'swhat you're doing?"
"Actually," I admitted, "I'm not sure thereispie." I perked up. "But therecouldbe." Ever since my random pie comment the other night, theredidseem to be more baked goods in the fridge.
"An optimist," Jack said. "I like it."
"So if you're not sneaking pie," I said, "whatareyou doing?"
"Plotting."
All things considered, this wasn't a surprise. He'd written three books in a row that had shattered countless sales records worldwide. Between those books and the related movie and merchandizing rights, which rumor had it, were considerable, he was probably the richest person I'd ever met.
Did that include Flynn?
Maybe.
Not that it mattered.
"But wait a minute," I said. "You said that we were doing the same thing, butI'mnot plotting anything."
"Sure you were," he said. "You were plotting how to get the pie –withoutbeing seen."
Okay, on this he had a point. And now that I'd been caught, I made a move toward the nearby light switch, only to stop in mid-motion when he said, "Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't turn on the light."
I hesitated. "Why not?"
"Because it's better this way."
I tensed. "Better how?"
"Don't worry," he said with a laugh. "I'm not interested in getting my ass kicked."
"Sorry, what?"
"It's not what you think," he said. "Something's going on outside, and I don't want to draw any attention."
