Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
I unlock the phone and open Instagram, ready to tell Mason nice try, but it’ll be really obvious when all my social accounts were started today. But there are two hundred posts on “my” Instagram, dating back years. Most are photos of places I “traveled” to and there are photos of me dating back five years.
“How?” I ask, slowly moving my head back and forth.
“I’m a federal agent.” He says and winks when I look up and meet his eyes. “I can’t give away all our secrets.” He looks down at the phone. “The number you were using is already set. If Enzo texts or calls, it’ll go to that phone.”
“Wow. Okay, I’m starting to think those spy movies aren’t so far off.”
He laughs. “Some of them are, and some are behind in what we can actually do. I actually cannot tell.”
“It’s good to know our national security secrets are safe with you.”
He settles back on the chair and puts his feet on the coffee table.
“What are you doing?”
“I booked a session,” he starts. “Aren’t you going to ask me how I’m feeling?”
I narrow my eyes. “No. I’m busy.”
“I’m a paying customer?”
“Really?” I click over to his file. “Because it says here your insurance is covering this.”
He shrugs. “Good thing the US Government takes mental health seriously.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Fine. You want me to treat you like a real client then I’ll go over an intake form with you.”
Letting out a dramatic sigh he rolls his neck to the side. “You don’t look busy.”
“That’s because I’m sitting here talking to you,” I shoot back and pick up the phone again, scrolling through the rest of the Instagram photos. “The photoshopping is really good.”
“They were done by the same person who puts out all those UFO photos that get “leaked” anytime Big Brother wants to distract the public from what’s really going on.”
I laugh again, looking up for a moment. My eyes meet Mason’s and my smile grows as something rushes through me. I’m starting to like him—as a friend, of course. Nothing more.
“You could have just taken photos from my real profile, but those could be traceable.”
“Exactly. You’re just different enough not even facial recognition software would like you.”
“Ahhh, that’s why I’m wearing sunglasses or have something in front of my face in all these.”
“Yep. And that’s a warmblood, not a thoroughbred in the photos.”
“Small detail I’m surprised you noticed. Most people wouldn’t know the difference.”
“My brother is an equine vet,” he says. “And both my sister-in-laws are crazy horse people like you.” It’s one of the first times he’s offered up personal info like that. “I actually grew up on a farm.”
“Around here?”
“In Michigan. Not too far, though.” He raises his eyebrows. “I’m surprised you don’t know that.”
I chuckle. “You don’t have much info out there. Your sister, Rory, does have photos of you on her Instagram. It’s pretty cool Chloe Fisher is your sister-in-law, too. I love her books.”
“Dammit, Rory,” he huffs, pretending to be annoyed. “Nah, it’s okay. And Chloe is cool and down to earth.”
“Could you get me signed books?”
“If you go on another date with Enzo, I’ll have her personalize her entire collection for you.”
“Ohhh, so now we’re going from blackmail to bribery?”
He smirks. “Is it working?”
“Maybe.” I pretend like I’m considering it. “I do like to read and it’s been a while since I’ve added to my signed book collection. But that’s assuming Enzo is going to text me.” I wrinkle my nose.
“You don’t think he will?”
“He hasn’t yet.”
“Text him.”
I open my mouth to say I would never, ever text a man first like this but then snap it shut, remembering this is fake. I have to put my values aside and do what I can to keep digging.
“He really has a place at the Wrigley Building,” Mason tells me. “Just in case he does try to take you back there.”
“Under his name?”
He shakes his head. “A family member’s name who is not of interest.”
“So that date was helpful?”
“It was.”
I tip my head, looking at Mason. I want to know all the details but understand he can’t give them to me. I probably know more than I should, though I kinda do need to be looped in on most of what’s going on.
“The woman you said hired you to see if Matthew was loyal,” he starts. “What did you end up telling her?”
“I said he hit on me and denied having a girlfriend.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. No one likes to hear that, though they have to already know. No one hires a PI when you’re happy in your relationship.”
“But you’re not a PI.”
I roll my eyes and let out a breath. “Thanks for reminding me.”
“You could just get your credentials. You already have the background requirements met.”
“I know.” I roll my chair back a bit and open my laptop. I really did need this next hour before I have another therapy session to work. I’m behind on creating content and need to come up with an outline for tomorrow’s podcast. I have a solo episode to record instead of having a guest on, and my plan was to answer some of the most commonly DM’d questions I get. It’s easy and won’t take long to put something together, but I still need to put something together so I can have some flow to my rambling.