Free Conned by Jessica Wilde Page B

breakfast."
    "Oh."
    "Then we're going to look at an apartment."
    "Oh."
    His voice faded and she assumed he was climbing the stairs
when he said, "Gotta make sure my girlfriend approves of where we
live."
    Oh.
    Her head may have been saying she was pleased that he
treated her like he would anyone else, but her heart stuttered anyway, telling
a completely different story.
     
    ***
    They pulled into the parking lot of a good sized apartment
complex, but that wasn't what made Emily's stomach roll. It was probably the
nicest set of apartments she had ever had the choice of living in and she
wasn't sure what to do with that.
    Over the years, she lived in plenty of dumps, especially
when it was just her and Rayce, but had always hoped to find somewhere nice
that she could be proud to call home. This place was definitely making her feel
like that dream could happen.
    "I know it's not the biggest," Conall muttered
from the driver's seat. "But it's the only place around that was willing
to forgo the lease agreement and stays in the area so you can be close for
work."
    She hadn't forgotten about Ash's assurance that her mother's
old friend from way back would let her work as a substitute teacher at the
middle school. Something she was anxious to start. She missed the kids in
Denver and knew that the next few months would go a lot faster if she kept
herself occupied with the same kind of work.
    "It needs to appear as if you are here to stay a
while," Ash had said. "Margie will put in a good word with the
teachers and you'll be staying busy, I'm sure of it."
    She turned to Conall who was now watching her carefully as
she took in the apartment complex. He had been quiet throughout breakfast, but
was pleasant for the most part. She got the feeling that he didn't want to be,
but she didn't blame him. She was putting his family in danger whether he
thought that was true or not, and what he didn't know would certainly
piss him off. She was lucky he had taken on the assignment in the first place.
    "It's actually more than what I expected, Conall. It's
really nice."
    He didn't seem to hear her answer and added, "It would
be better to have a house, easier to keep you safe, but due to the situation,
this is the best I can do."
    "Conall," she said firmly and put a hand on his
arm. That's when she noticed his hands were still gripping the steering wheel
and tightly by the looks of it. He flinched at the connection and she pulled
her hand back quickly as if she had been burned, which wouldn't surprise her.
She'd felt a brief hum of electricity whenever they touched and it wasn't
unpleasant. "It's great," she declared. "It's certainly a lot
nicer than a lot of other places I've lived in. If you think I will be safe
here, I'm all for it."
    He narrowed his eyes at her and suddenly looked angry.
"What kinds of places have you lived in?"
    She hesitated, not sure if that information had been in her
file or not, but decided it didn't matter and she was going to be completely
honest about as much as she could.
    "My brother and I couldn't exactly afford luxury and I
was too busy working to really care where I spent my nights, as long as we were
safe. Rayce didn't care either, until he got older. But by then, he had ended
up with the wrong crowd and rarely came home… wherever home was."
    Conall's eyes softened, but it didn't make her feel any better.
It was mortifying to talk about her past and how badly she had failed her
little brother. He hadn't had the life she wanted him to and because of that,
he was headed down the wrong path. She knew deep down there wasn't anything she
could have done, but it still hurt.
    "This place will work," she finished and reached
for the door handle.
    "It's not your fault, Emily."
    She stilled at the sincerity she heard in his voice. He may
not speak much, but when he did, it wasn't wasted on meaningless words. Instead
of arguing with him she just nodded and gave him a weak smile. "Thanks,
Conall. I know differently,