Page 31 of His Reckoning

“I’m writer broke,” I correct.

Cole raises an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

“It means I make a living, but I still think about the price of storage units.”

“That sounds stressful,” Cole replies.

I sigh. “It builds character.”

Cole nods thoughtfully. “Meanwhile, Sawyer buys buildings when he’s bored.”

“That’s not true.”

“You bought an airline.”

“That was strategic.”

Cole looks back at me. “See what I deal with?”

I laugh but Sawyer does not.

Cole pockets his phone and looks around the apartment. “So,” he says, “I have a question.”

Sawyer sighs. “That’s never good.”

Cole gestures between us. “She’s a writer.”

“Yes.”

“What kind of writer?”

“Romance,” I tell him.

He looks at Sawyer. “And now she lives in your penthouse.”

Sawyer picks up another suitcase. “Yes.”

Cole grins. “That’s incredible.”

“Why?”

“Because she clearly doesn’t like you.”

“I don’t dislike him,” I say.

Sawyer pauses.

Cole looks delighted. “Really?”

“He’s just …”

I glance at Sawyer. He’s watching me now. Waiting.

“Kind of full of himself. Which doesn’t matter since I’m not interested in emotionally unavailable men.”

Cole bursts out laughing.

Sawyer closes his eyes for a second, like he’s reconsidering every decision that led to this moment.