CHAPTER TEN
CAYLEE
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I feel like I’m going to be sick.
Louisa is missing.
The cops and Louisa’s mom, Mrs. Rockfield, were in the waiting room when I got back to the clinic. She was hysterical.
Mrs. Rockfield is a top lawyer in the state and clearly got someone’s attention as it’s been much shorter than the normal window required to report a missing person.
No, none of my business, I guess, so I just went over and comforted her.
“I was a couple of minutes late,” Mrs. Rockfield cried. “I said I’d meet her outside the coffee shop downstairs, as there is space to pull the car up, and she wasn’t there.”
My stomach dropped.
Where could Louisa have gone?
“She’d messaged me a photo while I was driving.” Mrs. Rockfield shoved her phone into the cop’s hand.
I leaned over and saw the selfie with Louisa’s new white smile just as her father came storming in.
“Is she here?” he demands.
“No.” Mrs. Rockfield shook her head, her body trembling.
I placed a hand on her arm. “I’m sure they will find her.”
“Did she say anything to you on the way out?” The cop with green eyes asked me.
“No.” I tried to remember anything that might be helpful. “Wait, she said she had a boyfriend.”
“No, she doesn’t,” Her mom replied.
“I heard her say that, too,” Amy interjected.
The cops shared a look. “Write down all her friend's names and numbers. We’ll start there. She could be with the boyfriend. Or—”
“She never goes anywhere I don’t know,” Mrs. Rockfield says.
The cop just nodded. I bet they hear that all the time, because the fact is, this time she has.
I wanted to agree with Mrs. Rockfield because Louisa is a good kid. I never picked up any rebellious tones. She was excited that her mom was going to see her teeth.
Then again, teenagers are sneaky.
Maybe she was with her boyfriend.
“Have you found her?” Brad came out to the waiting area. “Damn kids, aye.”
I frowned.
“Dr. Thornton,” Mrs. Rockfield, who I’ve long suspected has a crush on him, walked over to him. “There you are. Did she say anything?”
“Nope. Caylee walked her out to reception, and after that, I never spoke to her. Did she tell you anything?”
I felt the weight of the room was on me and paled as I began panicking.
What if something I’d seen or heard could find her? What if not taking her downstairs meant something terrible had happened?
“I’ve told them everything.” My cheeks had heated, hating the way Brad redirected the attention my way.
He’d been way too flippant for my liking.
I’d been surprised.
Brad has an amazing relationship with his patients, young and old, but I’d have expected a less nonchalant reaction.
There was another girl a few months back that went missing, but I wasn’t working that day. Had he expressed more concern then?
“There’s been an increase in the number of missing children around here,” the second cop told us. “But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Go home and see if she shows up. We’ll visit some friends and spots she normally hangs out at.”
Mr. and Mrs. Rockfield nodded reluctantly.
“Bring her in for a free whitening treatment when you get her home,” Brad offered, and everyone just kind of blinked at that. “I’ll drive her home myself if I need to.”
What the hell.
Did he not understand the situation?
Sure, she might be with her boyfriend, but until we knew, this was a concern.
The Green-Eyed Cop studied him, then slid his device into his top pocket, and they said goodbye. When everyone left, I grabbed some junk food from the lunchroom despite feeling ill and chugged down a coffee.
The rest of the day dragged as we waited to hear any news. It never came.
Now I’m standing in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection, wondering if I should cancel my date with Jake.
I’m wearing one of those outfits that says I dressed up but not that much. A pair of blue jeans, an off the shoulder white top with simple silver jewelry. My hair is wavy, so I ran some product through it and added lip-gloss.
That’s it.
Kind of.
I shaved my legs, exfoliated and used my best moisturizer that plumps my skin. Sprayed my expensive scent and dug out my favorite Michael Kors sandals.
I can’t believe I’m going on a date with Jake Murphy.
Is it a date?
I keep calling it a date.
But it’s not really. It's two people who used to fuck catching up to discuss what happened when it fell apart.
It’s not a date.
Ugh.
I’m really not in the mood, but the opportunity to get answers may never come up again.
Cole has made it clear he doesn’t want Jake near me. I could tell my brother to back off, but he saw the pain in my eyes. Not much gets past him.
I don’t want to create conflict for the two alpha males at work, either.
She’s a relative.
Why didn’t Jake say that while we were together? He could’ve shown me the name, told me how they were related and what the issue was, and I’d be fine.
Mostly.
Leaving in the middle of the night frequently speaks to something serious going on. I’m not an unreasonable or insecure woman, so it irritates me.
Or he’s still lying.
Guess I’ll find out soon.
My doorbell rings, and I step away from the mirror.
Do not sleep with him, Caylee.
Drawing in a breath, I open the door and there he stands. All handsome, large and sexy.
“Christ, you’re gorgeous.” Jake says and takes a step, placing his huge hands around my upper arms and kissing my cheeks.
Our eyes lock when Jake straightens, and then they dip to my mouth.
Please kiss me.
Nope.
Bad start.
I clear my throat and take a step away, reaching for my purse. “Thank you. Shall we go?”
I have one rule for tonight.
Jake is not coming inside.
For three months he knocked on my door, took me in his arms and fucked me like no other man ever has. I want to see him follow through on this dinner and prove to me that he is only taking me out to explain.
If he tries to have sex, I’ll know he’s full of shit.
When Jake steps aside to let me walk out, his spicy aftershave filling my senses and mind with dirty thoughts, I’m a little surprised.
And pleased.
“Hope you like Japanese.” Jake’s palm drops to the small of my back, and I have to stifle the small moan.
His touch is magical.
Erotic.
“You know, if you’d taken me out to dinner before, you might know the answer to that.”
“Are you going to be sassy all night?”
“Absolutely.”
I glance over and see the corner of his lips twitch. His eyes drop to mine and they’re full of hunger.
God, he’s going to eat me alive.