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Her hand whips out of mine, a flush darkening her face in a second. “Oh my god,” she mutters, pushing the phone she was holding in her other hand at me without meeting my eye. “Can we just chalk that up to a lack of coffee?”
I grin wolfishly. “I’m going to remind you about this on a weekly basis.”
Evie groans and buries her face in her hands. I can’t tear my eyes off her. She’s adorable. And it’s a relief to know that I’m not the only one whose brain has been short-circuiting lately.
But as fun as it is to banter with Evie, we have a serious task at hand, one we’ve been distracted from for too long. Jack is still out there.
I’m about to suggest we go back to work, but I never get the chance. My door bangs open with a clash at the far end of my office.
Evie and I turn as one. My arm reaches out instinctively to block her and push her behind me. Nobody other than Evie is ballsy enough to barge in here, and I’m sure I’ve made more than a few trigger-happy enemies in my lifetime.
But then I see a shock of rainbow braids and relax. It’s just Kara, Dalton at her heel. And then I see her face and realize maybe a gunman would be easier to subdue.
I resist the urge to go stand behind my desk as Kara and Dalton stride down the way-too-long aisle to meet Evie and me.
Kara’s anger fades somewhat on the journey. By the time she reaches us, she looks winded. “What the hell is wrong with this office?” she demands.
I raise an eyebrow. “Have you barged in here unannounced to give me decorating tips?”
Her lips press together in a frown. “No. I’m here to ask what the hell happened. You’re dodging my emails, pushing me off on your employees. I don’t need to have every conversation with you, but I haven’t heard from you at all since Europe. And since you won’t take my calls, I came myself. What gives?”
“It’s personal,” I say icily, irritation raising my hackles. Is this what happens once you start being nice to people? They start walking all over you? Well I may be growing a heart, but I’m not losing my goddamn backbone.
Evie gives me a look. “You need to tell them.”
“No, I don’t,” I say stubbornly.
“You promised to work closely with Kara, and now you’re not. She deserves to know the truth.”
I tear my glare away from Kara and look down into Evie’s calm, searching eyes. It only takes a moment in her gaze for my ice to melt.
I sigh heavily. Evie’s right. It’s bad business. And I need to get used to this. I’ve always been able to balance my business and personal life by never having any of the latter, but the times they are a’changing.
“My brother is missing,” I tell Kara. “I’ve been running around the city every night trying to find him, and my work’s been suffering.”
Kara’s indignation drops in a second; Dalton’s face mirrors hers. “Oh my god, Nick,” she says. “I’m so sorry. Have you filed a missing persons report?”
I shake my head. “No, he’s just mad at me. And I deserve it. But he’s blocked my number and hiding behind a Finsta, whatever that is. I have no clue how to get in touch with him.”
“You don’t think he’ll come around?” Kara asks.
I shake my head. “I really fucked this one up,” I admit. “And besides, he doesn’t hang out with the best crowd. I’m afraid he might make a huge mistake.”
Kara nods grimly. “I know what that’s like,” she says.
“Is there anything we can do?” Dalton asks. “We owe you one.”
I cock my head. Do they? The business deal had been pretty mutually beneficial… Oh, wait a minute. I recognize that triumphant, slightly embarrassed look on Dalton’s face. He’s also standing closer to Kara than a business relationship would deem appropriate. Apparently a week in Ibiza without Dax had done wonders.
I grin back, but then shake my head again. “Thanks, but there’s nothing you could do. Just can you deal with my employees for a bit? I promise I’ll be back on board with everything soon. I just have to take care of this.”
“Of course,” Kara says. “If you hired them, they’re good.”
Evie has been silent for a long time, looking at Kara and Dalton with a calculating expression on her face. Finally she speaks, slowly at first, “Wait a minute,” she says. “I think I actually know of a way you could help.”
I turn to her. “Really?”
“Yeah, Jack’s a fan of Kara’s, right?”
