Unremarkable (Anything But) by Lindy Zart Read Free Book Online Page A

masked, it showed through in his weary tone.
    “Okay.”
    Exhaling loudly, he let the water out of the sink. “Thank you.”
    The cool graze of fingers ran down his shoulder and he stiffened. “I should be the one thanking you. You always manage to save me, in some way.”
    He glanced over his shoulder at her. Honor stared back, her rose-colored lips parted, something in her eyes raising warning bells in Isaac’s head. “I am almost ten years older than you.”
    She backed away, her brows lowering. “Why are you telling me this?”
    Turning completely around, he rested his hips against the counter and crossed his arms. “Do I need to be telling you this?”
    “I don’t…no. No .”
    Isaac nodded. “Keep your hands to yourself then, Rochester, and your simpering looks too.”
    “Simpering? Simpering? I do not simper!” Honor’s jaw clenched. “And if I was , it wouldn’t be at you! I was trying to thank you. That is all . You’re old and—and rude and I would never simper at you. Just so we’re clear.”
    Biting back a grin, he said, “Oh, I think we’re clear.”
    “And stop calling me Honor. You can’t do that—you can’t keep going back and forth between my first and last name. It’s confusing. It makes me think maybe you actually like me a little bit, as a—a friend, nothing more ,” she quickly added, “and then you’re snapping at me again or whatever. So let’s just keep it simple. I’m Rochester. You’re Nealon. Forever. ” She drew the last word out, her eyes flashing with anger and indignation.
    Without meaning to, Isaac laughed at the look she aimed at him.
    Honor drew herself up, her features twisted in surprise. “You know how to laugh?”
    The laughter cut off. “Shut up, Rochester.”
    She tried to hide a smirk as she turned away, but he saw it. “Showering now.”
    “ Finally she listens.”
    Isaac changed into a pair of jeans and a black tee shirt and boots, his eyes going to the closed bathroom door across the hall as he left the bedroom; the sound of spraying water evidence that Honor was heeding his words for once. He didn’t know what was going on with her, or what she even was anymore, but fear for her was predominant over any other thought or emotion.
    He couldn’t let them get her again—Isaac couldn’t lose the brave girl with the Snow White beauty, not another time. He’d barely survived the last six months; he wouldn’t survive it a second time. Part of him thought if he kept her safe, maybe the good deed would cross out all the bad he’d committed, even unintentional as they had been.
    Talley showed up while he paced the length of the small living room. He’d changed into his police uniform and carried a weariness Isaac knew he did as well. “Where is she?”
    “Showering. Any problems?”
    Rubbing a hand through his short brown hair, Talley shook his head. “No. They practically let us walk out of there. I think the resistance effort was more for show than anything. And why isn’t anyone looking for her? The place has been quiet, too quiet. No one’s mentioned anything, not according to my source. It is as if she was never there and she never left. I don’t like it. And the way she moved—” He got a helpless look on his face. “I can’t explain it. It wasn’t natural. None of it makes sense.”
    “I agree. It’s not adding up.” He felt into his back pocket and pulled out the baggie. “This was in her neck. I’m going to have James check it out, see if he can make sense of it. Can you stay while I’m gone?”
    He took the baggie from Isaac and held it near his face, frowning as he gazed at the small, bloodied tracking device. “She had a GPS on her?” His hand lowered. “Did you notice her eyes?”
    “Of course I did,” Isaac muttered, expelling a noisy breath. “And now they’re blue again.”
    Talley’s eyebrows lifted.
    “I removed the chip and her eyes went back to blue. That tracking device isn’t just a tracking device.