“Hey.” She waited until he turned his head her way. “I’ll tell you what I’m going to do, Mr. Glover. I’m going to find a lawyer and sue your ass … and all your other parts.”
Noah smirked. “Get in line, lady.”
She gasped softly but in the next breath came back harder. “No wonder people don’t like you. But believe it, I’m going to sue you. You, the city for hiring you, and your mother for not rearing a nicer son.”
His lips twitched. “You’d sue my mother?”
“Okay, not your mother.” She began rubbing the place between her brows.
.…
She has impeccable brows. Now why the heck did he think that?
“I’m sure she tried her best.” Oh, right, his mother. “But you, yes.” She pointed a finger at him. She didn’t wear nail polish. “You ruined the lives of women who were counting on me.”
Noah frowned hard, drinking in the details of her slim figure again. “You saved my life? How much do you weigh?”
Those big dark eyes snapped with hostility. “Screw you.”
He forced himself to take a deep breath. “Sorry. That was rude. I’m just thinking you don’t look strong enough to have been able to move me.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Look, I’m grateful you were there last night. I’m grateful you came to see me. But can we put this conversation on pause so that I can move on to other priorities? Because, believe it or not, there’s something more pressing on my mind than chatting up a beautiful woman.”
“No. You don’t get to do that.” Her hand was moving again, that slim finger waving back and forth in front of her. “You’re going to stand there in that funky gown and listen until I’m finished.” She took a step toward him. “And stop smiling at me. Don’t you take any of this seriously?”
Noah took a breath. “I take all of this very seriously. I didn’t attempt suicide. I certainly wouldn’t harm my dog. And I didn’t take the drugs or the alcohol willingly.”
“No, the Jack Daniels and coke just snuck up behind you and did a beatdown until you gave up. You think I haven’t heard that excuse before?”
His eyes widened. “Who are you?”
“You don’t need to know my name. I just came to tell you that you lack the integrity of a tapeworm.”
He wanted to laugh but it hurt to after having his stomach pumped. “Are you always this sweet and sensitive?”
He watched her take a deep breath before she continued. “Look, I don’t mean to be insensitive about your suicide attempt. I have a great deal of sympathy for people who are in such deep emotional distress they would even consider giving up their lives to end the pain.” She paused again. This time a shadow skirted her expression. “You look like you’ve got all the resources you need to get help. So do that. Get some help, okay? And please don’t ever get a pet again until you’ve gotten the help you need.”
His expression hardened. “How about you mind your own business? I’m fine.”
She straightened to her full height, sympathy ebbing from her gaze. “See. That’s why I didn’t accept your apology. Your dog may be sleeping soundly with no idea what could have happened, but I can’t look at him without—”
He perked up. “You have Harley?
Carly rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “What?”
“My dog—do you know where he is?”
“I … I’d rather not say. And anybody willing to burn up his dog doesn’t deserve one. I think I’ll call all the local shelters and have them put you on a watch list. No more dogs for you.”
Noah felt his teeth grinding. “I didn’t try to burn up anything.”
She cocked her head forward, tossing bright gold curls over her brow. “I know about the confession.”
She’d hinted at that before. Now it dawned on him the importance of that fact. Durvan said it had been kept out of the paper. Someone was leaking information. “Who told you about that text?”
His question was a snarl, startling her. By the look of fear that entered her gaze she must have remembered too late she was supposed to keep that information to herself. But she rallied quickly, her lids lowering over her fear.
“I just heard. Around.”
He bit off a quick string of profanity meant to impress with its viciousness. She just watched, still and alert as a cat confronted by a bulldog. Fear didn’t rattle her. He was impressed.
Switching tactics, he lilted his head to the side, much like his dog did when trying to figure out what he was saying. “I’d like you to tell me who gave you that intel.”
She shrugged. “Confidential source. But you can trust him.”
Him. “Right.”
She hung onto the door latch a few seconds longer. “There’s more to this, isn’t there?” Her voice was quieter, curious.
He held her gaze. “I had no intention of committing suicide last night, or any night. I’d like to tell you more, but it’ll just draw you deeper to this mess. I don’t think I can ask that of you.”
She seemed to consider this, then folded her arms. “I’m already involved.” She stood patiently.