I hightailed it back to my apartment with Tony in his souped-up truck right behind me. He had to be overcompensating for something.

Broadrick's motorcycle was still in the space next to mine, and I scowled at it while getting out of the car. I flashed Tony five fingers as a sign I'd be right out and grabbed Not Brent and Samantha, lugging them both back into the apartment. I didn't miss how he offered me no help.

Someone had clothing in the washer and dryer, and the loud vibrations covered my steps as my entourage trudged our way down. I heaved Katy's box into the room first, setting it on the floor next to the kitchen and then giving Broadrick a wide sweep of my arms, silently asking why the hell he was still there.

Not Brent ran to him, jerking the leash from my hands, and then the traitor jumped on his lap as Broadrick hurried to disconnect from a call without saying goodbye. He had propped himself on the couch and didn't move a muscle as I stormed past him.

I had so many questions to ask, but I didn't have time and figured he wouldn't answer them, anyway. He never answered my questions. Why would he start now?

But who the hell was he on the phone with?

A woman?

The military?

The people he was selling military weapons to?

I marched on to my bedroom and his body covered the doorway right behind me. I never even heard him get off the couch. If I didn't hate him so much right then, I would have asked him to teach me his secrets.

"Who was that?" I asked right before stepping into my small closet.

Nothing held back my curiosity. It's why I became a PI. My damn need to know shit always caused trouble. But it wasn't right he got to keep secrets while squatting in my apartment.

He didn't answer, and as I pulled my shortest skirt from a hanger, I stuck my head back out of the space and said, "Never mind. You'll only lie."

It didn't matter what Broadrick said. I couldn't trust a word out of his mouth.

I undid my jeans, using the wall to keep me up as I kicked out a foot and fumbled around. With Broadrick's green eyes on me, I stuck my ass out and then slipped on the skirt.

Damn, had I gotten taller? The hem barely covered my ass. This thing shouldn't be legal. When was the last time I wore it?

High school?

Shit. I paused and fixed the skirt, staring at the wall with worried eyes, my head full of thoughts. Was this maturity? Finding a skirt too short? I refused to become so boring at a young age. I'd have to do something fun and irresponsible to make up for it.

Broadrick and I glared at one another in silence as I hiked the skirt higher. As long as I didn't bend over, it would be fine.

I raced past him, pushing him out of my way, and retrieved Katy's box from the living room before tugging it back into the closet with me. She needed to stay safe and I couldn't trust Broadrick. The last time I asked him to babysit, he left his charges to sell military weapons to criminals in a field like a common thug.

I had clothes piled up in the back of the closet, but I kicked them out of the way to make room for the box and then, after storing her safely in the back, kicked the clothing over to conceal her. Definitely a better solution than Broadrick.

It's official. A pile of clothing was more reliable and trustworthy than my ex-boyfriend.

Fan-freaking-tastic.

"Where are you going?" Broadrick asked, resuming his carefree, leaning position against the doorframe while watching me intently.

I jerked a white tank top from a hanger. With my back to him, I tore off my t-shirt and pushed my arms through the tank top, pulling it down and pushing the girls up for better cleavage.

Unlike him, I wouldn't lie. I also wouldn't give all the details.

"On a date," I said with an evil smirk he couldn't see from my position.

My outfit definitely constituted sexy... or slutty. It depended on your definition of the words. Regardless, it was still Maine in January and while I prepared to risk frostbite for my first chance at working with a bounty hunter, I wanted to give myself a fighting chance at survival. Currently, I had way too much skin exposed.

But how to fix it?

I scanned the closet and spotted my answer in my favorite denim jacket. Perfect.

It fit like a dream and covered my arms and shoulders so I'd have some buffer against the wind.

I had to be close to running out of time, so I kicked off my shoes and grabbed the tallest heels I owned. A black strappy pair. I marched past Broadrick, pushing him out of my way again.

He grabbed my arm, only stopping my escape because I allowed it. "No, you aren't."

I dropped the heels to the floor and slipped my feet into them. "Yes, I am."

"With who?" he asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "That's none of your business. Just because we slept together one time doesn't mean we're in a relationship. That ship sailed for us."

"No, it hasn't."

I jerked my arm from him and stood at my full height-full disclosure: the heels helped-making sure to not drop his eye contact. "Listen to me, Broadrick, and listen well. Yes, it has. What you have done is unforgivable."

A girl could only have her heart broken so many times.

He glanced at me, his eyes full of an emotion I refused to name because it looked a lot like hurt and pain. "You're serious?"

We stared at each other, my time ticking away. "Are you going to tell me about the guns?"

His eyes hardened, his brows drawing together. "No."

"Then, yes. I'm serious."

He slammed his lips against mine. His tongue trailed over my lips and my toes did that traitorous curling thing again. I opened my mouth to grant him access but then snapped it shut and pushed away from him with my heart racing. The hussy wanted more.

I left Broadrick standing in my living room with Not Brent sleeping on the couch and climbed my way up the stairs and into the main hallway. The bitter winter chill threatened to freeze my bones as soon as I opened the door to outside and I sprinted for Tony's truck to avoid dying this early on the mission.

It was only a few steps to his vehicle, but I swore all my leg hair grew back in the journey. I pulled myself into Tony's truck, trying to regain my broken heart. Every time I looked at Broadrick, it hurt again. I thought I'd gotten over our breakup or at least learned to mask it better, but with him so close I couldn't hide the feelings.

And I hated him for it.

"What's wrong, princess?" Tony asked as I slammed his truck door.

"Nothing." I buckled my seatbelt. "I'm only dating women from here on out."

Tony raised an eyebrow as he put the truck in gear. "You let me know when that happens and I'll be there for moral support."

I laughed, a soulless, sad sound, but still a laugh. "I bet you will."

The front door to my apartment home opened. "Let's go."