Chapter 19

 

RENEE HAD SPENT much of the evening attempting to sober up her best pupil, which had sent her mood further south. As she sat on the seat beside a snoring Miranda’s bed, she was tempted by the hope that the girl would suffer a bit in the morning. At least then she might not be so stupid ever again.

Renee ignored the voice that reminded her she’d been in the same state not long ago. Aeron had been there for her. She was always there.

Renee sat there, in semi-darkness, as light from the hall seeped under the door. All she could do was think. Her mind kept replaying Aeron’s obvious dislike of Owens. She knew why Owens had issues with Aeron. She was meant to be a hardened criminal.

Owens was a typical alpha-female charmer. Renee had doubted she’d ever been told “no.”

It made her chuckle, the very un-Aeron cattiness. Granted some of it was for show. She was doing a remarkable job in her first undercover post. For some reason, Renee could feel an undercurrent. There was something else going on behind those deep beautiful eyes.

Aeron had reacted that way to someone before. In St. Jude’s, with Brad Jewel, and he’d been attempting to seduce Renee.

It was the same aggressive attitude, same body language, and same pointed show of physical prowess. If it had been anyone else, she would have called it proprietary, she would say Aeron was jealous . . .

Renee shook her head at the empty room. Aeron didn’t get jealous. She didn’t dislike people or get catty. No, that would make her . . . well . . . not Aeron.

Renee sighed and stretched out her neck. Aeron Lorelei confused her at times. She was stubborn, difficult, and oh so utterly adorable.

Renee hung her head. Why couldn’t she just stop feeling this way?

Hope wriggled in and whispered that maybe Aeron had sensed that Owens was making a beeline for her and wanted to show Renee she wasn’t happy with that. Logic told her not to be so stupid. If Aeron felt anything of the sort, she would just come out and say it.

Aeron didn’t do games.

Owens was different. There was something about that easy smile and charming manner that made Renee uncomfortable. On the surface all was as it should be. Owens had been diligent, interested in her students if not strict. She could just feel something wasn’t right.

Renee rolled her eyes and got to her feet. It would be wise not to get drunk anytime soon . . . or ever. It was bad enough she’d seen Nan, twice. Things were getting weirder every day. She had no reason to be worried when Miranda wasn’t in class. Sometimes she would practice alone on the top floor and forget the time. Yet, she knew.

Maybe she needed to see if Nan was around. If it was a delusion maybe it could tell her what she needed to be committed for.

“Roberta?”

Renee stared up at the ceiling for a moment, wondering if someone up there was enjoying making her life difficult.

“Yes, Nikki?” She plastered on a smile and turned to the door and Owens’s annoying clear blue eyes.

“I’ve fixed the redecoration effort.” Her smile was smooth. “Just came to check on our star pupil.”

Renee sighed. “Well, there’s nothing left in her stomach, that’s a definite.” Miranda murmured in her sleep. “I hope she plays well with a hangover.”

Owens leaned against the doorjamb. Her hands tucked in her jeans so her thumbs poked out. Manicured nails, short. “The principal will spit venom if she doesn’t.”

Renee nodded. “Good thing they drank themselves into too much of a stupor or I’d be worried about the long term implications.”

Owens raised her dark eyebrows. Her tanned skin had the smoothness of a model’s. In fact, Renee wondered just why she wasn’t a model. Most people would buy any product that she was selling. And now she was staring. Wonderful.

“She should be fine now.” Renee cleared her throat, ignoring the amused look on Owens’s face. “Thanks for the help.”

“Roberta?”

There was something about the tone that set alarm bells ringing. She felt a soft hand on her arm and slammed her eyes shut.

“Yes?” Squeaky at best.

“Are you . . . okay?”

Renee opened her eyes. She hadn’t been expecting the concern or the real genuine warmth in Owens’s voice. “Excuse me?”

“Riley,” she said, eyes clear and open but Renee’s instincts still didn’t believe it was genuine. “It’s got to be hard with your sister. I just . . .” She sighed and ran her free hand over her short hair. She hadn’t let go of Renee’s arm. “I put two and two together.”

And made five.

Renee swallowed the truth and the pinball machine of emotion thundering through her. Weird emotions, which were filled with too much energy, considering she was exhausted. “Serena and I didn’t get along. Riley had nothing to do with it.”

“She’s missing. You said . . . it’s no coincidence that Riley has showed up here, right?” Owens was too nosey for her own good. Far too inquisitive for a teacher. Renee’s defenses kicked in.

“If Samson is Riley, if she had an issue with my sister, it has nothing to do with me.” It sounded cold but she hoped it would make Owens back off.

The words “honey trap” flashed before her eyes. She could work with that.

“No?” Owens still hadn’t let go of her arm.

“No.” Renee removed her arm as not to spurn but not encourage either. She would need to keep Owens on side. “After my ex-husband, she’s nothing.”

Owens’s lips twitched in a smile. She wore clear gloss that caught the yellow light from the hall. “Right, because he was a criminal?”

Renee clamped her mouth shut. She hated anyone thinking that Aeron was anything of the sort. She was a hero, a beautiful, wonderful hero. “Far worse. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“So liking scum runs in the family?” Owens cocked her head. “Maybe there’s a better way?”

Renee had no intention of finding out what that meant. “If you find me a good man, send him in my direction, won’t you?”

She strode past Owens, not missing the amusement dancing across those glossy lips. Owens could see right through the act, Renee could tell that much.

Before Aeron, she could have pulled it off. She had blended into whoever she needed to be. Loving Aeron had done something to her. She couldn’t not be herself. The more her little Missourian was around, the more she was Renee Black.

Not helpful.

Aeron liked Renee, she drew her out with a smile or, like now, even the thought of her.

Renee wandered back to her villa. Her emotions were soaring and plummeting at random. Now she wanted to burst into tears and curl up in bed.

Not only had she gone and fallen in love with someone who was clueless about it but loving her had compromised Renee’s strongest trait.

Being in love had erased every skill she had undercover.

It sucked and it was mean.

She picked up a pillow from her sofa and punched it.

Really freaking mean.