Page 62 of The Enemy Plot
I’m one happy man. When you’re dating a girl as wonderful as Alice Beaumont, it’s impossible to feel anything but sheer joy. She makes everything better with her flirty texts, beautiful smile, and eagerness to help. The girl works all day at her store and still finds the energy to help me out at the bar. I should tell her to go home, but I love being around her too much. And with every second I spend near Alice, my wounds heal justa little more.
When I trudge downstairs to pick up Lola from school, I notice Mr. Darcy on my counter again.
I sigh, shaking my head.
“Come here, big guy,” I say as I walk in. He meows loudly and revs up his purring the moment I take him in my arms. I cuddle him a little and walk him back next door.
Alice is arranging the books on the display table when I push through the door.
We just texted a few minutes ago, but I already miss her.
“Hey.” She smiles, then frowns when her eyes land on Mr. Darcy. “He was in the bar again?”
“Yeah,” I say, carrying him toward her. When I place Mr. Darcy on the floor, he saunters to his bedding area. Now that my hands are free, I take Alice’s face in my palm and kiss her soft lips. I’ll never get tired of this.
“I’m sorry,” she says against my lips.
“It’s fine.” I sneak another kiss. “It’s my fault. I have to replace the ripped screen on that back window. At least he never comes in when the bar is full.”
“Yeah.” She shakes her head, then looks at me, her eyes teasing. “Maybe you should stop cuddling him so much if you don’t want him coming around.”
I frown. “I don’t know what you’retalking about.”
“I saw you the other day,” she says with a small laugh. “You give him tons of love. That’s why he always comes to your place.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine. I might have a thing for that cat.”
Alice gives me a pointed look.
“And his owner,” I add, grinning, “the brunette with the disarming smile and incredible body.”
She giggles, wrapping her hands around my neck. “Much better.”
She closes the distance between us again, and with every brush of her lips on mine, she makes my life just a little bit brighter.
On the train ride back from school, Lola barely talks to me, and I try, unsuccessfully, to find out what’s wrong with her. I’m just hoping she’ll feel better tomorrow. If she doesn’t, I’ll have to call Alice for reinforcement.
She has her appointment with Dr. S., and when we get home, she locks herself in her room. She claims she’s doing homework, but I’m pretty sure she’s reading. Just before the bar opens, I knock at her door and tell her I’m going to work. She mumbles a response, and I let out a long sigh.
The bar is soon packed, and I work nonstop for the next three hours. Alice is staying home with Emma tonight, and I’m glad. I don’t want her to spend all her time working. As part of my nightly routine, I run upstairs to check that Lola is asleep since she has school tomorrow. But when I open her bedroom door, it’s empty.
“Lola?” I call, my scalp prickling with worry as I jog to the bathroom. Empty too. So is the rest of the apartment.
Panic starts to build, and I hurry downstairs. Maybe she was in the bar, and I didn’t see her. Even though she’s not allowed in when it’s open, she might have needed something. I scan the bar and check the restrooms, but I don’t think she’s here.
“Have you seen Lola?” I ask Maxime and Hayley, who are having a round of drinks with Caleb and James at their usual table.
Hayley frowns. “No, she’s not here.”
“What’s wrong?” Maxime asks, standing up.
I drop my arms at my sides, my breath wheezing. “I—I can’t find her.”
“Maybe she’s with Alice at our place?” Hayley suggests, and my racing heartbeat slows down just a little. Why didn’t I think of that?
I zoom out of the bar and ring their doorbell.
“Who on earth is ringing my bell at ten o’clock at night?” a grouchy-sounding Emma demands through the intercom.