The Liberation of Alice Love - Abby McDonald [117]
“We should get back,” she said brightly, pulling her sandals on again. “Before I get so tired you have to carry me to the car.”
“I could manage a piggyback.” Nathan grinned. He got up and offered his hands: pulling Alice to her feet, and then further, close against him.
“Thank you, for everything.” She stopped for a second. “You’ve been…really great, helping me out with this.”
“Hey, it’s been my pleasure.” He gave her a lopsided grin, clearly flirtatious again. “It certainly made my life more interesting for the while.”
“I think your life was interesting enough,” Alice managed to tease, beginning to walk. “Jaunts to the Caymans, Switzerland…”
Nathan laughed. “I wasn’t talking about the travel.”
Alice felt herself blush, just a little.
“But you’ll drop it now?” Nathan’s tone became more serious. “I know you wanted answers, but every case has a natural life span. This one is just…over.”
Alice nodded, so she wouldn’t have to lie again.
“So I guess this means you won’t need me to bail you out anymore…” He carefully slipped his arms around Alice’s waist.
“That was one time!” she relaxed against him, banishing the sense of guilt. “You’re not going to let me forget it, are you?”
“Nope.” Nathan’s eyes were playful, but they were still intent enough to make Alice’s breath catch. As he lowered his lips to hers, she smiled to herself.
Ella, for now, could wait.
Chapter Twenty-six
And that, it seemed, should have been the end of it: Nathan wrapped up his investigation, the bank refunded her savings, and Alice’s credit rating was restored to its former faultless glory. To anyone else, it appeared that Ella’s brief swath of havoc had been mended, and there was no need to spend any more time dwelling on it all.
But Alice couldn’t let go.
Over the next few weeks, she found herself busier than she could remember: working hard at the agency to establish her new clients and to keep on top of the pile of regular contract tasks, dashing across the city for drinks or dates with Nathan. But through it all, Ella remained a constant presence, lingering in the back of Alice’s mind. Soon, her frustration grew. The dead end that had been Kate Jackson almost seemed to taunt her; she knew there was some vital lead she’d overlooked, a piece of data that might just reveal everything, but no matter how many hours she pored over her files, she just couldn’t find it.
“Earth to Alice!”
Somebody snapped their red polished fingertips mere inches from her face; Alice jolted back to reality to find Cassie staring at her expectantly.
“Oh, sorry!” She slipped down from her stool and greeted her with a hug. “Hi! How are you?”
“I’ll be better with some vodka inside of me.” Rolling her black-rimmed eyes, Cassie shrugged off her leather jacket, revealing a wisp of a white silk that was almost entirely transparent under the spotlights of the cramped, tiny club. “God, it was mayhem on set today. It’s like they’ve never seen Brad in the flesh before.” She paused a moment, letting her gaze drift over Alice’s figure-skimming black jersey dress, draped low to show more than a hint of cleavage. A knowing smile spread over her face. “So, come on, what’s his name?”
“Hmm?” Alice blinked.
“The man you’re fucking.” Cassie gave her a mischievous grin. “’Cause it’s obvious you’re getting something.”
Alice laughed. “I’m not! Well, yet,” she added, with a meaningful look. “And his name is Nathan.”
“Thank God!” Cassie exclaimed, summoning the bartender with a dramatic hair-toss. “I was beginning to think you’d taken vows. I was going to offer Vitolio’s services, for the good cause.”
“Cassie! I can’t believe you.” Alice laughed. “What are you, his pimp?”
Cassie relaxed against the bar. “There’s no need to act so scandalized, darling. We’re in an open relationship, all totally above board.”
“Really? That works for you?”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“But don’t you get jealous—when he’s out with other women?”
Cassie shook her head. “Oh, he doesn’t actually see anyone else. It’s just a technicality—so if I meet somebody…Well, I won