“We’ll be in shortly. Thanks, man.” Morgan glanced at me as I pulled my phone from my purse, needing to check my messages. “He has a lead,” he whispered, covering the phone with his hand.

“Thank God,” I mumbled, glancing down at my screen.

My hands began to shake as I checked my messages. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to slow my breathing. I swallowed down the bile that had started to rise in my throat.

Race,

The time is coming. Meet me tomorrow at 7 p.m. if you want your tape back. Come alone or I’ll email it to your boss. I bet he’d like to hear you moaning like a whore.

I couldn’t read any more.

I couldn’t breathe.

“We’ll stop in the office later. We’re doing a few things today.” There was a long pause. “Yeah, I have her with me. You told me to keep an eye on her.” More silence. “Don’t worry, man. I got it.”

I turned my phone off and tossed it back in my purse.

“Looks like we’re a step closer to solving your case,” he said.

“Thank God,” I replied, knowing that either way, it would be over tomorrow night.

“Ready to do some shopping?” Morgan asked.

Pulling at my lip, I stared at him as he spoke but didn’t hear the words.

“Race,” he said, touching my leg as his forehead scrunched.

I blinked a few times, trying to clear my head. “Sorry. I zoned out.” I couldn’t look at him.

“What’s wrong? You look pale.”

“I’m just hungry,” I lied.

“You want to skip shopping and go grab some lunch?” he asked as his thumb stroked my knee.

I shook my head, still not making eye contact. “No. Let’s shop and then we’ll grab a bite to eat.”

In my heart, I knew I should tell him about the e-mail. He needed to handle things and get the video from the bastard who had threatened me, but I couldn’t risk everything going to shit and it landing in the hands of my boss.

But I wasn’t ready to ruin our day together.

“Okay, Race. This is your show. I’m fine with the few items I have, but have at it.”

“You need to make it more like a home,” I said as I finally brought my eyes to his.

“I’m a simple guy. A couch and a television are all I need to survive.”

“Just let me get lost in a little shopping today. What’s my budget?” I asked, rubbing my hands together. I pushed all thoughts of tomorrow night out of my mind, focusing on Morgan.

Tomorrow I’d go there, retrieve the video, and be done with it.

It was that simple.

Everything would finally be over.

My life could return to normal.

“I’m not giving you a total. Let’s see what you find and we’ll go from there.”

Retail therapy would help. Lots of retail therapy. “If you say I have one hundred dollars, I’m going to throw myself into traffic.”

He reached in his back pocket and pulled his wallet out. “Let me see how much I have.” He opened it, turned it upside down, and shook it until a few bills fell into his lap. “I have one hundred and seventeen dollars. Dazzle me with your ability.”

“Oh God.” I rolled my eyes.

He stuffed the money back in his wallet. “I have a credit card, princess.”

“Thank God. I know the military doesn’t pay well, though, so I don’t want to go crazy.”

“I think I can handle anything you throw at me. It’s IKEA anyway. I could probably decorate my entire place for one hundred and seventeen dollars.”

“Hardly,” I scoffed as I threw the keys at him. “It adds up quickly.”

“Show me your mad skills.” He smiled. “Hey, thanks for not wrecking Elvira.”

“I would never. I can’t wait to drive her home. Now, let’s go spend your money.”

“After you,” he said as I climbed out of the car and gently closed the door. As we entered the store, his mouth fell open. “Holy shit.”

“What’s wrong?”

“We’re going to be here all day.”

“Nah. We’ll make it quick. What do you need?”

“I don’t know,” he said as he followed behind me.

“Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out as we go,” I reassured him, happy that I’d be able to lose myself in the wonders of IKEA.

“I’m all yours.”

My chest tightened at his words.

I have a problem.

I liked Morgan.

No, that wasn’t totally true.

I wanted Morgan.

Strike that.

I had a crush on Morgan.

Spending time with him had made me want him more. The moment I’d met him, I’d felt my attraction to him, but I tried to tell myself that it was only physical.

“I’m all yours,” he repeated as he grabbed a cart.

He made me want to go back on the promise I’d made of swearing off relationships forever.