Chapter Sixteen
Donovan saw the shock in Phoebe’s eyes. But it quickly turned to disappointment and he experienced a rare flash of guilt.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to spring it on you like that,” he said, softening his voice.
“How soon will you leave?” she asked, abruptly stepping away to pull on her jeans.
“I’m not sure. Probably in a couple of days.”
“Why can’t I just stay here? You said yourself it was safe.”
“Safe from people, but as I mentioned there’s wildlife around here, and it’s impractical. I can’t show you everything you’d need to know. Come on, I’ll take you on the tour.”
“I’m a quick learner,” she insisted as they headed to the stairs.
“Of that I have no doubt,” he quipped with a grin.
She didn’t respond, and as he led her through the expansive home he expected her to comment or ask endless questions, but she barely spoke. When he ushered her through the door into the indoor swimming pool, she paused for a moment, then walked past it and stared out the picture window. There was a clearing, but the magnificent forest loomed beyond.
“Hey, it’s not forever,” he murmured, moving up behind her. “And I’ll call when I can.”
“Donovan, you’re more than just a successful businessman,” she remarked, slowly turning to face him. “It’s a great cover, but you’re some kind of operative.”
“Operative?” he repeated with a chuckle. “You’ve been reading too many books and watching too much television.”
“That wasn’t denial—and before you say anything—I appreciate you didn’t come right out and say no. You didn’t lie to me. You haven’t lied to me once. You’ve been evasive, but you haven’t lied. That’s rare. You’re a very special man.”
Donovan prided himself on reading people, but as she stared directly into his eyes with an unfathomable gaze, he had no idea what was running through her mind. And he was slightly unnerved.
“It’s okay,” she said, smiling for the first time since they’d left the dungeon. “I know you can’t tell me stuff, and I’m sure you’re off to save the world—or at least a piece of it—and I can help you.”
* * *
Phoebe could see she’d caught him off-guard. That was expected. But he didn’t immediately dismiss the suggestion or laugh at her, and that was surprising.
“I don’t know why but I actually believe you,” he finally said, tilting his head to the side. “But I can’t talk about my work.”
“Don’t look so worried. You had me checked out and you know I’m exactly who I said I was. A nurse who loves an adrenalin rush—from life not drugs. I’m not some sneaky spy sent from an underworld criminal or foreign power. But there is something about me you don’t know.”
“Clearly,” he muttered, his frown deepening, “and I’m not sure I want to. I think it’s time we ended this conversation and—”
“I know when people are lying.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t know how, but I know. It’s a gift, though it’s also a blessing and a curse. I’ve had it since the day I was born. So you see, I can help you. Wherever you’re going, and whatever it is you’re about to do, I can be invaluable.”
His frown abruptly turned into a grin, then he laughed out loud.
“You really had me going there,” he said, shaking his head and chuckling.
“You think I’m joking? Try me.”
“I don’t—”
“Try me. I’m one-hundred percent accurate one-hundred percent of the time. I don’t claim to be some kind of clairvoyant, I’m not. I just know when someone is lying.”
“Okay, let’s see,” he began with a grin. “I had a dog named Spot when I was a boy.”
“True.”
“That’s just bizarre,” he muttered. “Whenever I mention that people think I’m making it up.”
“True. Keep going.”
“I don’t work for anyone but myself.”
She paused. He wasn’t lying, but there was a gray area. Gray areas were rare. But she’d learned not to overthink.
“True, though it’s a bit vague.”
“Vague?”
“You’re not lying, but it’s not one-hundred percent true.”
He tried not to react.
He did work for himself, but he was also working with Sam.
“My favorite color is blue,” he continued.
“That’s a lie.”
“What is my favorite color?”
“I have no idea, but if you asked me to guess, I’d say red…like my ass is right now.”
As he laughed, she began to giggle.
“Dammit, girl, you’re good.”
“Honestly, it was just a guess. I swear I can’t read minds. I simply know when someone is lying.”
“One more. Are you ready?”
“Donovan, I don’t have to be ready. It just happens.”
“I own a truck, an SUV, a Porsche and a Harley Davidson.”
“True, true, true…lie.”
“But I own a motorbike,” he added quickly. “You saw it yourself.”
“Ah, but what kind of motorbike do you have?”
“A Honda SuperCub,” he admitted.
“So…not Harley! And there is one other thing I can do.”
“I’m sure there are many things you can do,” he said with a sigh. “Go ahead, tell me.”
“I retain things. Like…if you write down a series of numbers, all I have to do is stare at them for a minute I can remember them. It’s as if my brain is a camera. That’s how I was able to fly through nursing school. I remember things.”
“Everything?”
“Not everything, but most things, especially if they’re important. But sometimes I can recall random stuff. It’s called having an eidetic memory.”
“Yes, I’m familiar with that. I do too.”
“Oh, my gosh, you do?”
“I wondered why you’re single,” he remarked, as if talking to himself. “Now I think I understand. It would be difficult for a man knowing he can’t tell you anything but the whole truth all the time.”
“Actually…” she murmured, lowering her voice, “when I start to care about someone, it sort of…changes. It becomes more difficult. I don’t know why. At least, that’s been my experience. I’ve had a couple of relationships, and that’s what happened.”
“That’s odd. So—if you were with someone and he wanted to give you a gift, he’d be able to keep it a secret?”
“Of course, and if I tried to find out by asking questions he’d just have to say I’m not going to answer that.”
“Ah, so that’s the secret. If you quiz me about something I don’t want you to know, that’s what I’ll do.”
“See? It’s not so terrible. But all that aside, please can I come with you? Pretty please? You won’t have to second-guess what anyone tells you. Just think about how great that would be. How can you say no?”