He kissed me, gentle as ever, his fingertips caressing my neck. I felt him smile against my lips before pulling away. He headed into the kitchen and started fiddling with a coffeepot. “I’d offer to make breakfast”—he craned his neck to glance at the clock on the microwave—“or lunch, but I really have to get to the station.”

“No worries,” I told him, standing and following him into the kitchen. I stopped at the island and leaned on the counter with my elbows. “I can fend for myself.”

Garth laughed, low and throaty. “I have no doubt, but I’m trying to impress you.”

I snorted. “Stop trying,” I said. “I’m thoroughly impressed. Honestly, I had no idea you were so . . . creative.” It was the best word I could come up with to sum up all we’d done the previous night.

He glanced at me over his shoulder, eyebrows dancing.

My neck and cheeks heated.

“I’m going to hop in the shower while the coffee brews,” Garth said, turning and making his way back to the bedroom. “Join me if you want . . .”

I grinned. Oh, I wanted.

Chapter Ten

Garth was out of the condo by eleven. He left me his personal cell phone, taking only his work phone with him. He also left me with a key to his place, along with the warning that I should only leave the condo if it was absolutely necessary. Like, emergency necessary.

I can be rash, but I’m not stupid. I was fully aware that lying low had to be my top priority, and it was a little annoying that both Dom and Garth expressed concern over me leaving the condo. Like I just wouldn’t be able to resist frolicking out the door and gallivanting all around the city. Like my self-control was nil. But I had zero plans to gallivant. I mean, come on, I’m not even the gallivanting type.

Even so, I wanted to get the inside scoop on that meeting between Nik and Dorman. The longer I pondered the three cards I’d drawn, the more I thought that maybe, just maybe, I needed to be included in the meeting in the Tent District, even if I was only there remotely. Both Nik and Dorman had been incorporated into the designs, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that their appearances were significant, like they were pointing me toward the meeting. It was more of a whisper from the universe than a scream, this time, but that didn’t make the message matter any less.

As soon as Garth shut the condo’s front door, I rushed to the sectional to retrieve my backpack and unzipped the front pocket to dig out a black Sharpie, then I grabbed Dom’s compact and crossed to the kitchen island. I set him up on the corner, giving him a good view of the wall beside the TV. If I didn’t let him watch what I was attempting, he’d bug me nonstop.