Free B00MV3HMDW_EBOK by Kennedy Layne Page B

out of exiting the vehicle when he didn’t immediately shut off the engine. She gave him a questioning look. “Friendship is a delicate thing. A person needs to know when a relationship isn’t healthy, when it’s stable, and when to move things to another level.”
    Taryn wasn’t sure what just happened, but it suddenly felt like Ethan was referring to someone else other than her aunt. She stared at him, refusing to acknowledge what was right in front of her. His dimple was nowhere to be seen and the green flecks of his hazel eyes shimmered under the parking lot security lights indicating the significance of his words. The weeks blurred together and slammed into her chest like a 230 grain hydra-shock slug from her .45 ACP. Numerous thoughts ran through her mind as she tried quelling her panic at the direction this night was taking. He didn’t just get to decide something of this monumental proportion without her agreement and springing this on her now, in the middle of a goddamned case that was linked to her father, didn’t cut it. Bottom line—they shouldn’t be having this discussion. Period.
    “I’m going inside now,” Taryn said, keeping her tone as even as possible for fear that she would say something she’d regret come morning. She exited the SUV and had made it to the sidewalk before finding that Ethan had done the same and was standing in front of her, blocking the path to the front of the hotel. She held up her hand to stop whatever he was going to say. “Ethan, don’t say another word. I mean it. You’re my best friend and I need you to be there for me…in that capacity.”
    Taryn stared at the man who meant the world to her. Actually he was more important than that, which was why he didn’t get to alter their foundation. There was still time to make this better. Hadn’t she just been thankful that her world wasn’t imploding? Now she stood here looking at the match that could detonate everything they’d shared into pieces. He didn’t have to light it. They could each retire to their own rooms and start fresh in the morning. This could easily be forgotten and swept under the rug with several other moments like this from their pasts, although she couldn’t think of one of this mammoth of a magnitude. She inhaled slowly, knowing full well this could be fixed.
    “Taryn—”
    “Why don’t you check in with Crest while I go and do some research on Madeline?” Taryn walked around him, making sure she wasn’t close enough for him to try and stop her. “It can’t be too difficult to find out who she is. Let’s meet in the lobby at zero seven hundred.”
    Whether it was a good or bad thing, Taryn left Ethan standing on the sidewalk. She didn’t slow down as the automated doors slid open nor did she look to see who was on duty for the night. She was always cautious when entering buildings or a new location, particularly since Ryland was still out there. Bypassing the elevator bank, she slammed open the stairwell door and walked up multiple flights of stairs until she’d reached the floor above her floor. She crossed to the opposite side and descended via a second flight of stairs to her own floor. Altering her approach had been ingrained in her since her first class in counter insurgency training at the academy. Besides, it gave her mind time to think. Had she not been in the shape she was in, she figured she’d be sucking in oxygen by now. Unfortunately she was breathing hard but for an entirely different reason.
    Taryn pullout out the hotel keycard and slid it inside the slot, waiting for the green light to appear. Once it lit up she turned the handle and then found herself safely secure inside of her hotel room—at least from outside threats. She leaned against the door and desperately tried to think back to what she’d said or done to make Ethan think it was all right to change the status of their relationship. They’d always been partners whenever she ventured out into the