Page 79 of Driven to Love

“I could lock you up in a cell to keep you out of it.” Simon’s jaw ticked. He eyed Nash a minute longer, then his posture relaxed. “But, in cases like these, time is of the essence, and I could use the help.”

“Good.” Nash pushed off the desk and stood.

“Steele, survey and report back. That’s it.”

“I’ll do what needs to be done.” Nash strolled out of the office, leaving the detective grumbling behind him.

“Listen, Corey, I didn’t know Mark was still married. He told me he was getting a divorce.”

“Mark? Who the fuck is Mark?”

Well, crap. “Never mind.”

“So, you’re a homewrecker, too.” He pulled a knife out of his pocket.

Her eyes grew wide. She couldn’t blink. She just stared, waiting for what he would do next. He picked up a chunk of wood beside the wood-burning heater and started whittling. The casual move was in direct contrast to the way his intense stare stayed on her.

Okay, he wasn’t gonna hurt her… yet, but it was time to switch paths. She let out a slow breath and pondered her next words carefully. Hatred flew from his gaze as if it could pierce her with one look. She fought the urge to flinch. She needed to stay strong. Showing fear would only feed his power addiction, which she was sure he had.

He set his whittling down and stepped closer to her, knife still in his hand. “A woman like you doesn’t care what she does to a man. Leads them on, toys with their hearts, and then drops them with no warning, no word.”

He had a point. She’d dated a few guys who didn’t go beyond the first date, but something in Corey’s eyes made her think this wasn’t just about him.

Addison had been in a few relationships, had a few flings, but as far as she knew, they were fine with it. She didn’t have any pining exes out there. She opened her mouth to tell him that, but the hatred on his face had her closing it again.

“You don’t remember, do you?”

At least they were getting somewhere. He was talking.

She waited for him to continue. When he didn’t, she said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Corey.”

She kept her voice calm, not snarky like the tone in her head. If she wasn’t tied up right now, she would slap him silly. Maybe even pull one of her Tae-Bo kicks out, a roundhouse to the jaw.

The fuzziness was fading, but the plastic ties and cords held her tight.

“Corey. I’m Corey Miller.” His voice was clear and low.

“Yes.” Either Corey was having a memory lapse, or she was missing something, because she knew his name.

“Slim.”

She graduated with a Slim Miller. Maybe he was related to Corey. But why would he be bringing up Slim? They never went out. Heck, she hadn’t seen him since high school.

“Corey, are you related to Slim?”

“That’s what you guys all called me, but my name is Corey.”

Shut the front door! Slim was Corey? No way. She’d known Slim from the time they were little, and she had never heard him called anything but Slim. Now that she thought of it, maybe she had heard his name was Corey once. Thinking back, she barely knew him. They didn’t run in the same circles.

“Come on. You weren’t that drunk at prom that you don’t remember.” He gave a dry laugh, one loud bark that cut through the small interior. “Prom party? Senior year?”

She scrunched her face, pondering old memories. Her prom date was Brent, and he was an ass. At the after party, he put the moves on her. She kicked him in the balls and got a ride home with…

Recognition hit. She looked at Corey. He grinned—a sad smile.

“Yeah, now you remember.”

“That was you?” He helped her out of a horrible situation, and… her shoulders slumped. She gave him a kiss on the cheek, thanked him, and told him she owed him a pizza.