Didn't they?
Bet or no bet, no self-respecting hit-man would live in a place likethis.
He gestured vaguely toward the kitchenette. "I'd offer you a drink, but the fridge only has mustard and mold."
I felt a twinge of panic. "You haven't touched it, have you?"
He gave me a wry smile. "What? The mustard?"
"No, the mold," I said. "That can be dangerous, you know." Yes, I sounded like a priss, but mold was no laughing matter, and I hated the thought of Griff getting sick.
He gave the fridge a dismissive glance. "Yeah, that's why I keep it shut."
Earlier today, when I'd given him the full details of my loan fiasco, I'd felt like a giant loser. Sure, the debts had piled up under my dad, not me. ButIwas the one who'd gotten that stupid consolidation loan, figuring that with enough hard work, everything would be fine.
It wasn't.
And it was getting less fine with every passing day.
Like a total dumbass, I'd believed the financing company when they'd told me not worry about the September deadline, promising that I could refinance it for a longer term once I had a good tourist season under my belt.
Yeah, right.I'd gotten nothing in writing, and they'd already reneged. This meant that every single penny of the loan would be due in one big chunk – and not terribly long from today.
To Griff's credit, he had listened without judgment or pity. He'd actually made me feel better, telling me that somehow we'd work everything out.
It was the "we" part that had made me go all misty.
Did I believe him?
I had at the time. But looking at this place, I wasn't so sure.
I mean, if he had any financial sense at all, why would he be livinghere?
The bet. Yes, I know.
But no matter how many times I reminded myself of what he'd told me, I couldn't quite make myself believe it.
There had to be more to this story.
Right?
I was still sorting through it when he looked toward the nearest window and muttered a curse.
It startled me back to the present. "What's wrong?"
He frowned. "I've got company."
I forced a laugh. "Don't tell me it's Sierra."
When he replied with only a strange look, I felt compelled to add, "It was a joke. Obviously."But was it?In my own mind, I wasn't so sure.
Griff gave me a smile that never reached his eyes. "Yeah, funny."Except it wasn't.I could tell by the set of his jaw and way his sharp gaze returned to the window.
My stomach gave an odd little lurch. What if Sierrawashere?
I moved forward to see for myself. To my infinite relief, I saw no sign of Sierra. But Ididsee a good-looking blond guy on a bike. He looked expensive – like Griff – or rather, like Griff had looked the first time I'd laid eyes on him.
Recalling Tessa's description of Griff's so-called friend, I asked, "Is that Ryder?"
