He was staring at me somewhere between soft and sweet and knowingly and lustfully.

Belatedly it hit me, really hit me—I had sex with Asher.

Really great sex.

I’d seen him naked—gloriously naked. All his hard muscles and smooth skin. My palms had traveled his back, my hands had squeezed his firm ass, my legs had wrapped around his trim waist. My only regret was that in my haste to feel him inside of me, I hadn’t had the chance to explore all the goodness that was Asher with my lips and tongue.

“Sloane?” Asher called.

“Huh?”

“Baby, we’re leaving in ten minutes.”

That jerked me out of my fog.

“Okay.” Then a thought hit me. “How long do you think I’ll be gone? I don’t have a suitcase. I mean, I have a carry-on but that’s all.”

Asher studied me, and as he did, the sweetness slid out of his features and his expression turned blank.

“We’re going straight to the airport from here.”

“But I’ll need clothes.”

“I’ll buy you clothes in Idaho.”

That was nice of Asher to offer but it wasn’t going to happen. I could buy my own clothes.

“I also need—”

“Sloane, whatever you need, we’ll get in Idaho. We’re not taking the chance of going to your place then being followed.”

That made sense but still, I wanted some of my stuff.

“You’re taking this well,” Cole noted and closed his laptop. “I figured there’d be at least some sort of drama. Letty would’ve been throwing a hissy fit right now.”

I had no idea who Letty was but the way that Asher smiled upon hearing the woman’s name made me instantly not like her.

When had I become so catty?

“Yeah, well, I’m not Letty,” I snapped. “And I’ve seen enough movies to know what happens to the innocent woman who accidentally hears something she shouldn’t’ve. I’m not trying to be a two-part miniseries. I’m not stupid enough to turn down protection even if it means giving up my life for a little while. It’s not like I have anything tying me to California at the moment. And until Elise comes home, I’m more than happy not to be in my lonely apartment. Everything in there is a reminder my friend isn’t home.”

Actually, every time I stepped foot into my apartment it was torture. All I could think about were the horrors Elise must’ve been going through.

I would’ve moved but the apartment was Elise’s home, too. And I couldn’t bring myself to pack up her belongings. In my mind that was like admitting Elise wasn’t coming home and I couldn’t do that. I had to have hope. I had to believe my friend was out there waiting for me to find her.

“No, you’re not Letty,” Cole unnecessarily confirmed. “Thank God for that. I love that woman, but damn can she turn any situation into drama.”

If the way Cole was smiling was any indication, he was telling the truth. Wilson was also sporting a small grin, which was out of character for the man. I chanced a glance at Asher and braced for his smile but he was still expressionless.