Blue-Collar Billionaires: The Complete Series, page 74
My eyes widen slightly before I remember his comment about maintaining a poker face.
“Hello! It’s so nice to meet you. Luke has told me so much about you.”
She glances at him with a fond smile. “He has? Well, that’s nice to hear.”
Luke leans forward. “I didn’t have time to eat anything earlier and Seven’s hungry, too. We’ll take whatever the lunch special was today if there’s any left.”
Anita clasps her hands together. “Of course! I’ll bring you some of the corn chowder and some bread.”
She takes one final glance between us and then practically skips off.
He glances over at me. “That wasn’t as bad as I expected.”
“You told her I’m your girlfriend because…”
“What else was I supposed to say? Hey Mom, this is my best friend that I didn’t know was a girl until an hour ago?”
“I see your point.”
We sit in silence for a minute before he blurts out. “Were you ever going to email me back?”
My eyes roam around the diner, taking in the people eating their goodies and talking with their companions. How can I make him understand? Someone like Luke has always had a place, always been surrounded by people who love him.
But none of this is usual for me.
The idea of unconditional love and acceptance is about as comfortable as a new shoe.
“I was going to email you back. But I needed time to figure out how to approach you. I wasn’t ready to let it go yet.”
“Let what go?” he asks.
“You.”
We’re interrupted then as Anita sets down a glass of water for me, two bowls of steaming soup and a plate of bread. Luke thanks her and she leaves but not without another pleased smile in my direction. It warms me, that smile, and without saying another word it seems that Luke understands.
He lifts his chin toward the bowl. “Eat. We have a lot of work to do later.”
Obediently, I take a big spoonful of soup, my toes curling as the creamy broth hits my taste buds.
“Work? I have no work to do. I finished with my last client before I came here.”
The last part of the sentence dies in my throat when I remember I’m not supposed to tell him that. I cover with a little cough and reach for my water.
He hands me a piece of bread. “Work is probably the wrong word. We have stuff to do. First, we have to figure out this whole thing with the FBI.”
“You’re going to help me? Even after … everything?”
“Of course I’m going to help you.”
He looks uncomfortable but finally meets my eyes. He doesn’t exactly look happy with me but there’s something there that melts all the tension and stress of the past twenty-four hours until I’m suddenly very tired.
“Thank you, Luke.”
He pushes the bread plate closer and turns back to his bowl, a slight blush coloring his cheeks.
“Don’t thank me yet. Just eat. If you’re good, you get pie.”
* * *
After I finished my bowl of soup and more helpings of bread than was probably wise, Anita brought out pieces of pie that were almost as big as the plate. I’m stuffed and replete, the warmth of the pie making me sleepy.
Most of the other customers have left except for a few die-hards in the corner booth and the other waitress has gone home for the night. Anita takes off her apron and hangs it on a hook by the swinging door into the kitchen.
That must be some kind of signal I’m unaware of because Luke tenses. He grabs my hand and then tugs me out of the booth. After retrieving his laptop from behind the counter, he pulls me toward the door.
“Well, we’re going to go. Night, Mom!”
Anita waves and I’m sure I must look like a deer in headlights as I follow Luke out into the soft night air. He’s still got a hold of my hand and the warm pressure around my fingers is really distracting. But I don’t say anything, just let him lead me across the gravel parking lot to a sporty little black convertible.
“Cute car.”
He shrugs. “I figured I should spend my money on something other than computers for once.”
I settle into the plush interior and let out a sigh of appreciation. How different would things be if I spent my money on a few more creature comforts? If I could save up a little nest egg and make a place for myself somewhere? No more chasing the craziest job offers, no more risks for the highest payout.
But as sweet as that sounds, the things I’m working for mean more to me than my own comfort. Anything else is just a fantasy.
“So, where are we going?”
Luke fastens his seatbelt and waits until I do the same before he pulls out of the parking lot. I’ve never been to Virginia before but West Haven reminds me of several of the small towns in New Jersey where I lived as a kid. Lots of trees, cute little houses that look like they hold happy little families.
Places I never belonged.
“My apartment is close by. I usually hang out at the diner just so that my mom isn’t alone at night. But now I’ve hired her private security, which she doesn’t know about.” He glances at me.
“Hey, I won’t tell her.”
“So I don’t have to stick around as late anymore. My brothers recommended I do that last year and it’s taken a lot of stress off my mind.”
We take a few more turns and then he pulls up in front of a modern apartment complex. Considering what I know about his situation, it’s not as fancy as I was expecting but then maybe Luke is like I am. Saving his money for more important things than impressing others.
I follow him inside and up two flights of stairs. He opens the last door on the hall and ushers me inside. There’s a small lamp burning on the side table next to a beige couch. The rest of the apartment is dark.
Luke walks around, turning on lights and then sits down on the couch. Unsure of where to go, I perch on the edge of the cushion next to him. All of my stuff is still back at my hotel.
“You could have used anybody’s name for your emergency contact. So, why me? After that email, I was pretty sure you didn’t want us to meet.”
I close my eyes, fighting exhaustion. When I open them, Luke is watching me. His dark eyes make me feel things. Things I’m not ready to examine just yet. But he deserves an explanation, especially after the way I blew him off.
“When we first met online, all those years ago, it was at a time when I’d just been put into a new foster home. Remember when I told you that I don’t like staying in the same place for too long?”
He nods slowly, his eyes following my every move. I can feel him assessing me, trying to figure me out.
“I remember. I figured you just didn’t want to be tied down.”
“Being tied down isn’t the problem. I’ve just never had anyone who wanted me to stay. The first family was fine until they took custody of their nephew. Then they couldn’t keep us both.”
He shakes his head. “Sorry. That sucks.”
“I was moved around to a lot of different situations that were temporary for various reasons but as I got older, it was harder and harder to place me. And when things got really bad …”
My hand goes up to my cheek again and Luke’s eyes follow the movement. His jaw clenches. Suddenly, he doesn’t look so easygoing anymore.
“Someone hurt you?” he growls.
“One of my foster fathers … I accidentally knocked over his drink. And well… the bottle was handy, I guess.”
His face twists into a mask of outrage. I look away, unnerved by the display of such raw emotion. This is why I don’t discuss my past. It’s just too hard.
“I don’t know why I just told you that. I don’t talk about this stuff. Ever. Anyway, after that my grandmother took us in until she died. She had a lot of health problems but she did her best. Those were good years.”
“Seven.” His head falls forward. “I didn’t know it was like that.”
“No one did. But you helped me through it.”
His face betrays his shock. “I didn’t do anything. I mean, fuck. I wish I’d known how bad it was and maybe I could have helped. I don’t know how but I would have done something.”
He runs his hands through his hair, leaving his fists on top of his head. He looks so frustrated. His concern touches me.
“You did do something. You were my friend. No matter where they moved me, they couldn’t keep me away from a computer forever. You were the one place I could always come back to.”
“The one person you could call,” he says, echoing what I’d said to him earlier.
His face is so expressive. Every emotion shows in his eyes. He’s fighting some sort of internal battle and I know my deception has damaged the trust between us.
But over the years, through all the bad stuff, our connection was the one thing I could count on always being there.
Waiting for him to decide whether to trust me is agony. But when it finally happens, I can see it in his eyes before he even opens his mouth. Even though it’s what I want, it’s also one of the most painful moments of my life because I know before it’s all over I’m just going to hurt him again.
He turns to me, his dark eyes intense.
“So, tell me what happened with this job. Exactly what happened.”
* * *
He settles back into the couch to listen, resting one leg over his knee.
I’d really rather not recount the story but I can’t deny that I would be curious in his place. Especially since I’ve always been the savior in our relationship, strange as it is.
“I was contacted through my website to do a security analysis by a new company last week. The guy seemed legit on the phone and filled out my survey no problem.”
“What kind of things do you ask on the survey?”
“The usual stuff. What their expectations are and what kind of security protocols they currently have in place. Usually that gives me enough information to devise a plan.”
He nods. “After that, they asked you to come here?”
“Not at first. I attempted to access their server immediately, then tried the usual methods to gain access. I sent an email to one of the administrative assistants listed on their website claiming her account had been compromised and she needed to sign in immediately. She took the bait. It only took me ten minutes and I was in.”
Luke is nodding along with everything I’m saying. What I’m describing is hardly a sophisticated hack, just your standard phishing expedition. They’re so popular because they work the majority of the time unless you claim to be an African prince in possession of a stolen fortune.
If you craft a phishing email well, you can gain access to almost anything.
“How did the warehouse come into it?” He stands suddenly. “Do you want some coffee? Tea? Sorry, I’m not a very good host.”
It’s funny that he thinks so when I’m more comfortable here than I’ve ever been anywhere else. Talking to him in person feels just as natural as when we’ve chatted online. It’s so surreal to have a conversation and be able to watch his facial expressions and hear his tone of voice.
“No, I’m fine.”
I stand and follow him into the kitchen. After he sets the coffee to brew, I pick back up the story I memorized beforehand. I have to tell it just right or it won’t pique his interest.
Curiosity is the downfall of almost all hackers and Luke is no different.
It’s what I’m counting on.
“Anyway, I was scheduled to meet with them in the afternoon but I arrived a little early. I had already figured out how to get in to the system earlier but because I connected again from that location, that’s how the FBI knew where I was. I’m not surprised they were able to trace me but I wouldn’t have thought they could subpoena my IP address from the phone company that fast.”
“They have priority so they can move pretty quickly when they need to,” Luke comments absently.
“Yeah, I figured that out when they burst through the door. Scared the hell out of me.”
He pulls down a mug from one of the cabinets. “It’s all going to be okay. You know that, right? Agent Walker is intense but I’ve worked with him a few times before and he’s fair. Mostly, anyway. They’ll find who hired you. But I bet we find them first.”
I pretend to think about it for a few minutes.
“Do you think that’s a good idea? Will you get in trouble? I’m sure the FBI doesn’t like anyone poking around their investigations.”
He laughs. “You only get in trouble if you get caught. I once changed the date of one of my meetings with Agent Walker on his calendar because I forgot about it.”
“Did he ever figure out you hacked him?”
Luke gives me an incredulous look. “His password was his dog’s name. What do you think?”
Despite how serious this is, I can’t help laughing along with Luke. I know how tempting it is to do those kinds of things just because you can. Most people have no idea how vulnerable they are to being manipulated by people like us. Everyone is one password away from having their entire lives hijacked but most have no idea.
It’s probably better if they don’t.
He brings his coffee to the table in the living room and then collapses back down on the couch. I sit next to him, inhaling his scent. Already it feels second nature to be this close to him, feeling his warmth.
“You’re tired.”
My eyes pop open at his voice and I jerk upright. I hadn’t realized I’d slumped over.
“Sorry to fall asleep on you.”
“Don’t apologize for being a normal person. Anyone, except for weirdos like me, would be tired by now. Especially after everything you’ve been through today.”
He stands and I watch as he disappears into the back. A few minutes later, he reemerges with a towel, washcloth and a T-shirt folded on top. I accept the bundle and trail him to the small bathroom in the hallway.
“I can get your stuff from the hotel while you get ready for bed. Where’s your key?”
“You don’t have to do that.”
It’s an instinct borne of selfishness because suddenly I don’t want him to leave. I have to soak up all the time with him I can.
Before he hates me.
“It’s no problem.”
Reluctantly, I pull the key from my pocket. I don’t really love the idea of Luke carting all my stuff around but it’s nice of him to offer. I’m exhausted and practically falling asleep on my feet.
“Just hang out here and I’ll be back. By the way, is there anything else you remember about the guy who called you?”
I hesitate just a beat. “Not really. Oh yeah, he had an accent. Sounded Irish I think.”
Luke pauses, and then nods his head. “Irish? Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Definitely.”
He taps the doorjamb and then walks back down the hall but I still see the look on his face.
Intrigued.
Mission Accomplished.
Chapter Six
Luke
Retrieving Seven’s stuff from the hotel didn’t take long since it looked like she’d barely unpacked. I combed the room carefully, making sure that her laptop bag and suitcase were all she’d brought. By the time I got back to my apartment, the light was off in the bathroom and I couldn’t hear any movement in the guest room so I left her stuff up front. It’s late and she probably needs sleep more than anything in her suitcase. I move quietly down the hall and into my room.
I pull out my cell phone as I drop down on the bed. My thumb moves over the screen until I have my father’s number on the screen. After months of ignoring his attempts to make contact, I’m put in the position of calling him. I really don’t want to do it but I haven’t stopped thinking about what Seven said.
Irish. There’s no way that’s a coincidence.
Before I can think too hard about the consequences, I hit the number. Fuck it. I’ll just leave a message and deal with it tomorrow. It’s late and I’m not really expecting an answer so I’m startled by the soft, well-modulated voice that answers almost immediately.
“Hi. Sorry, this is Luke Marshall. I need to speak with my father.”
“He’s already asleep. Would it be okay if he called you back tomorrow? I’ll give him your message first thing in the morning.”
“Sure. Thanks.”
I hang up, surprised at how awkward that was. Talking has never been my strong suit but I’m particularly unprepared in this case. What am I going to say? The only piece of information I have in this case is that the guy sounded Irish, which tells us basically nothing. For all I know, Seven got the accent wrong. It could have been a Welsh accent or something completely different.
I peek out into the hallway. The door to the second bedroom is closed and it’s all quiet. She didn’t ask for anything so I assume she’s okay. The entire time I’ve lived in this apartment, I’ve never had guests so I’m sure my hospitality leaves much to be desired.
I close my door and then strip quickly, tossing my sweatshirt onto the end of the bed and stepping out of my jeans. I walk into the hall in just my boxers. Goosebumps spread over my skin as the cool air hits me. I walk quickly because it would be just my luck for Seven to step into the hall at this exact moment and catch me half-dressed. Not that I’m in bad shape. The second bedroom she’s sleeping in is my office but also doubles as a gym since I have free weights in there. Since I’m sitting so much, I put extra effort into my workouts to make up for it but I’m still not used to walking around shirtless.
Under the hot spray of water in the shower, I let my head fall forward and enjoy the steam. I soap up and then wash my hair. My hand fumbles the bottle and it hits the floor. I pause but I don’t hear anything so hopefully the noise didn’t wake her. It’s so weird to think that she’s right on the other side of the wall.
Weird but also slightly arousing to think that she’s so close while I’m naked.
The thought makes me fumble again and I finally just set the bottle on the floor of the shower. Imagining her on the futon wearing my shirt and a smile is way too easy. It screws with my head that she’s so beautiful but it doesn’t feel right to be thinking about her that way. It’s like she’s trying to take up two spaces in my head, friend and fantasy, and I can’t reconcile the two.
