Page 2 of Forbidden Whispers
Maggie kept the easy smile on her face but inwardly seethed at the reminder of the mysterious negative reviews that had recently popped up online.
“What happens after that first date?” Sandra asked.
“Well, I chat with you both to get feedback. If things went well, and you’ve already made plans to get together again, great! If not, it’s important that I get good feedback on your impressions, likes and dislikes, so that I can fine-tune future matches.”
Their conversation continued a bit longer as Maggie answered a few more questions. But in less than half an hour, she had another signed contract in her hand. She stood to bid Sandra farewell and then sat back down in the booth, ready to relax and enjoy her own coffee and the rest of her cinnamon roll. But just as she lifted the delicious confection to her lips, her phone buzzed with a call.
She grinned, answering it with a tap. “It’s great to hear from you, Noah! Are you calling to tell me how great it went with Valentina last night? I had such a good feeling about you two.”
Chapter 2
Maggie stood beside Noah Riley at the entrance to Valentina’s condo with her mouth hanging open. Her gaze moved from him to the trashed living room and back to him again. She’d already been there for two full minutes and hadn’t yet said a word.
Then, just as he opened his mouth to speak, she started to sputter, “Wha...wha...what happened?”
When he didn’t answer right away, she turned the full force of her wide-eyed, golden-brown gaze on him.
He gave a small shrug. “I don’t know.”
She gaped at him. “You don’t know? What do you mean you don’t know?”
“I’m sorry. But I just don’t know. For some reason, I can’t remember anything from last night,” he said. “I wasn’t even certain where I was until I saw a picture of Valentina beside her bed when I searched the place.”
Maggie’s gaze scanned the room again, falling on the wine and glasses on the dining table. She looked at him accusingly. “Did you get so drunk last night that you blacked out?”
Noah shook his head. “I don’t drink.”
“Uh-huh,” Maggie said, looking doubtful. Her eyes swept once again over his messy hair, bloodshot eyes, bruised face, and rumpled clothing. “And where is Valentina?”
“I don’t know.”
Maggie took a deep breath and ran a hand over her face, clearly thinking. “You say you’ve searched the entire condo?”
He nodded. “Every room.”
“What about...other places in here.”