To celebrate the release of Bait it is now also available in an audio format boxset with Just Like This & A Memory Away at the introductory price of 9.99 for a limited time.
To download your boxset, or for individual works of Taylor Lewis in audio format, please visit the authors website at
Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far in my writing. You are appreciated more than you can imagine.
Chapter 1.
Kyle Gerritsens morning was already pretty crappy and it didnt look like it was going to improve any further when his best friend and assistant manager burst into the office they shared, slammed the door shut and plastered her back up against it to hiss, Quick, out the bathroom window!
He lifted the cold cloth from his eyes from where he was trying to alleviate the tension headache that had been crippling him since he had arrived at his boutique to find the front window smashed in and the front half of the shop covered in glittering shards of glass. Kyle looked at Megan and said, Excuse me?
The cops are here! Megan, her mocha skinned face flushed to an unhealthy hue, gestured wildly for Kyle to get up and get the hell out. Ill hold them off. Get out of here, Gerritsen.
Kyle stared. Megan, Im the victim here. Traditionally that means I actually want to see the cops. We called them, remember? He dropped the cloth onto his desk and stood with a weary sigh. He lifted a hand to make sure his artfully tousled auburn hair was still looking wonderful mindless vandalism and horrendous crimes against defenceless fashion was no excuse for being badly presented after all and said, Take a load off, sweetie, I think the pressures getting to you.
Kyle, you ass, Megan shoved away from the door and crossed the small space dividing them. Trust me, you do not want to see this particular cop. Ever! You need to get the hell out of here while you still can and...crap! Her eyes fell on a large photo frame sitting prominently on the desk top by the discarded face cloth. And you need to take that with you!
Megan picked up the photo frame containing a picture of his little son and Kyle yelped when it was slammed against his slender chest. He barely had time to fumble his hand up to secure it before Megan was spinning him in place and shoving him in the direction of the staff bathroom and the small window therein that led out into the back alley running behind the shop.
Have you completely lost your mind? He dug in his heels in protest when Megan ignored him and continued to shove him relentlessly forwards. Megan, stop, whats going on? Youre being ridi....
They both froze when a sharp knock sounded at the office door and a deep, masculine voice said, Miss Jones, is everything alright? There was a pause and then a slightly more impatient knock sounded. Miss Jones? You in there?
Out in a minute! Megans voice wobbled with nerves and sounded ridiculously loud in her agitation. Just, uh, powdering my nose!
What? Kyle hissed into the silence following this pronouncement. Megan, whats going on? I dont understand. Youre acting crazy.
Trust me, Megan muttered grimly as she commenced trying to shove Kyle into the bathroom once more. You think this is crazy, you just aint seen whats on the other side of that door yet. Thats a whole lotta freak out, hold the sanity, just waiting to happen. Youre gonna thank me for this later.
Kyle , rebounding painfully off the side of the tall filing cabinet standing to the side of the bathroom door, profoundly doubted it and tried to slip out of Megans maniacal grip, Megan, I swear....
They both jumped and loo ked round when the office door opened and a tall, well-built man stepped inside. Sorry, said the man, not looking it in the slightest. I heard voices. Youre Gerritsen, right?
Kyle frowned, at a loss as to why Megans hands had suddenly tightened to claws on his shoulders, and said cautiously, Yes? He flinched when the hands tightened ever more and twisted out of Megans hold, frowning when she muffled a moan in her throat and shot him a stricken look. Im Kyle Gerritsen.
The man nodded, flicking Megan a disgruntled glance before crossing the office with his hand outstretched. Detective Jonah Goldman. Ill be heading up the investigation. You okay to answer a couple of questions?
Kyle gave Megan an even more wary look when she widened her eyes at him and mouthed No, no, no ! urgently before turning and shooting Detective Goldman a blinding smile. Coffee? I hear you guys practically run on that stuff. Follow me back out to the shop and....
Im good. Goldman nodded at her and then turned his face into profile to yell out the open door. Lopez, in here. Move your ass!
And then Kyle got it .
Megan , God bless her heart, caught him as he stumbled back and stared in horror at the man before him. Recognition flooded over him in waves and the hands gripping his sons picture went damp with clammy sweat. Keep it together. Her voice whispered in his ear, low and tight with tension. I will kick your ass if you punk out on me now, Kyle.
Kyle stared in stunned recognition at the line of strong jaw and the familiar curve of full lips and managed to nod his head shakily. He flinched back when Goldman turned to face him again and raised an eyebrow curiously. You okay?
Meeting the eyes that were the mirror image of his sons , Kyle nodded wordlessly and wished desperately that hed followed Megans advice when she had burst into the office.
Jonah eyed him narrowly. You dont look it. His eyes skated over Kyles pale face and took in the rigid line of his body and the way his arms were folded defensively over the frame clasped to his chest. You in shock?
You have no idea , thought Kyle wildly. Why the hell is this happening to me ?
Yes! Megan said loudly, making a valiant attempt to distract Jonahs upsettingly piercing stare from Kyle. Shock. Thats it! Hes in shock. Very, very....