Free Bassist Instinct (The Rocker Series #2) by Vanessa Lennox

I’d have to kill you. You know how it is, I was the guy who spoke Arabic and French, and I didn’t have any kids who would miss me on Thanksgiving.” It occurred to her that none of them did have kids. Their parents made it clear that they felt trapped by their kids, and maybe taught them that they shouldn’t be weighed down by them. Fiona wanted kids, but hadn’t found the right father for them. Maybe it just wasn’t going to happen for her. She thought of Tate. Or maybe it would. The ease of those thoughts should have frightened her but they didn’t, and that should have frightened her, too.
    “Hey, Fi, you still there?’
    “Yes, sorry. I’ve had a very distracting day.”
    “What distracted you?”
    “I think I’ve been overstimulated, I’m not used to so much social interaction.”
    “I have a favor to ask. I have a friend who will need a place to stay, can you spare a couch?” Liam asked. She was not really sure what Liam did for a living, but she did know he was paid very well for doing some kind of work that he never spoke about. It was odd that she’d never even been to his apartment, he never told her where it was. She thought he must be CIA, but weren’t they allowed to say who they worked for now? Come to think of it, Dean was a little squirrely about what he did for a living, too. Tate hasn’t said what he did, either, what was it with the men in her life?
    “Yes of course, your friend can even have a bed.”
    “Thanks Fi, his name is Gooding, Sam Gooding; okay? He’ll call you tomorrow and pick up a key. You can trust this guy, okay?”
    “Okay, is something going on I should know about?”
    “Sam just needs a place to crash, and he’s a little quiet, but he’s a good guy, okay?” That was the third okay, this friend, or the real reason he was crashing with her was going to be a doozy, she thought.
    “It’s fine, give him my cell number, I am going to be out of the house for a bit tomorrow,” she said.
    “Thanks Fi.”
    “What time is it in Rabat?”
    “Five hours ahead of you,” he said.
    “Don’t you sleep?”
    “Nope. Hey Fi, how’re you holding up?” Liam asked.
    “I’m good, I’m just back from dinner at a student’s grandparent’s house. Her mother is Geneva Fleming!”
    “Is she a musician or something?”
    “She’s a writer, a damned good one. Anyway, it was a very entertaining evening,” she said.
    “I’m glad you went out and didn’t sit at home feeling bad. Wait a second, is Geneva Fleming married to Connor Damon?”
    “Yes she is, do you know them?” Fiona said and Liam laughed.
    “Was he there, too?”
    “Yes, they both were, and some other friends, too, all of them Irish. Why?”
    “No reason, but you’re a funny one, Fiona, do you ever flip open a People Magazine while in the waiting room at the doctor’s office?”
    “No, I usually bring a book,” she said. He chuckled again.
    “I love you, Fi. Don’t forget to trust Gooding with your life,” he said. “You sure this is okay?”
    “It’s okay, Liam. I am okay, too.”
    “I hope so, and in a few days I’ll see for myself. I’ll text you details. I love you, Fi,” he said.
    “I love you, too, bye,” she said and they hung up. Hmm, from “he’s a good guy,” to “trust him with your life,” was quite a leap. What’s going on?
    She locked up and made her way upstairs. After making the guest bed she undressed and climbed into her own. Her phone rang again and she answered. “Hello?”
    “Dr. Brooks? My name is Gooding,” a deep voice said into her ear.
    “Oh, hi. Liam told me you were going to need a place to stay,” she said.
    “Yes, ma’am, I thank you for opening your home to me,” he said. “Can I meet you at the house tomorrow morning?”
    “Yup, why don’t you come at 9:45 or so, I have to leave at 10:00. But I can show you around and give you a key before I go.”
    “Are you usually this open handed and trusting with perfect strangers?” He asked and she