Wake Me Up (Love Knows No Boundaries) by Michelle Horst Read Free Book Online Page B

let it be Zac. I need my brother-in-law’s advice. I grin wide when I see his name on the screen.
    “You’re a godsend. ”
    I sink down i nto one of the couches in the living room.
    “I am? You haven’t sounded this ha ppy to report back in some time.”
    H e sounds lazy, but then I don’t blame him. We’ve been at this case for far too long, and I’m sure he’s in a hurry to head on home.
    “Actually , I need your advice on women,” I start, and I hear something drop in the background.
    “Hold on. I just kicked my coffee over,” he mumbles . I hear him shuffle some things around. “Now say that again. You, Aiden Holden, need advice from me, on women? You do realize I’m the one stuck between four walls the whole day. You’re the one out there between them.” I can hear the laughter in his voice.
    “Being surrounded by them and takin’ an interest in one is two different things,” I say, a little too sharp, and I rub my face. “We’re workin’ a case. I’m not even a real damn student. But … she’s,” I stop to think how I’m going to word this. “She makes me want to fall. Did Laurie do that with you?”
    There’s silence on the other end , and for the longest second I think maybe it’s too soon. Maybe two years is still too soon for Zac.
    “Yeah , she made me fall so hard that I’m still fallin’.”
    I take a breath , regretting that I brought it up.
    “Sorry, Zac. I shouldn’t have- ”
    “No, i f you can’t talk to me, who you gonna talk to? Besides, I’ll be falling till the day I see her again. The day I saw Laurie come up those stairs and I stopped her, telling her I was gonna marry her before I even knew her name, I meant it. I meant it because the second I saw her everyone else faded away. That’s when you know, Aiden, when everyone else fades away. That person wakes you up, rattles your cage and makes you fall all at once.” Zac sounds lost in his own words, but I know what he means.
    “I have a fight tonight.” I change the subject back to our case. “It’s getting close to the end of the year, so things should start heatin’ up.”
    “Good, we need to bust this open and wrap it up. Your roommate is coming tomorrow, right?”
    I glance at Emma’s closed door.
    “She landed yesterday,” I say, keeping my voice neutral.
    “She? What’s gone and happened to the he? I remember you clearly sayin’ it was a he.”
    “He turned out to be a very, very hot, British she.” I take a deep breath and lean back against the couch.
    “I s this where all the questions are coming from?” he asks, and I nod.
    He c an’t see me nodding like a dumbass, so I answer quickly, “Afraid so.”
    “C ould she help the case? If you played this right, she could make your cover more solid.”
    I sta rt shaking my head before he even finishes his sentence. But I’d be a hypocrite if I said I hadn’t thought of it myself.
    “What ? I go up to her and ask her to play along, possibly put her life on the line. Hell no. Katia has already taken an interest in her. I’m not dragging her in deeper.”
    As I say the words I close my eyes , because I know Katia, and what Katia wants she goes after, unless…
    “Then my advice to you is simple. Get a new roommate,” he states , as if it will solve the problem.
    “Don’t be a dumbass,” I snap. “I can protect her better if she’s here. Let’s see what Katia and C olton do. If they go for her I’ll consider it. Let’s just see first.”
    I’ll consider what exactly?
    “It’s your call. Let me know how tonight goes down.”
    I c an hear him smiling. I know he’s smiling because I’m using this case as an excuse to let myself get to know Emma.
    I set out two mugs for coffee after I’m done with the call. Not sure how she takes hers, I decide to test the waters.
    I knock three times , but I get no answer. Easing the door open, I step in halfway.
    “ Emma,” I call, but there’s still no answer.
    I walk in, and glance at her