Page 43 of Ravish

“Spill what?” Damn, was she an open book with everyone? First her aunt and now Colby.

Colby gave her that hard, Dom look she wondered if Max had taught him. She let out a sigh. “It’s nothing.” Why was she going to confess anything to him?

He tilted her chin up and stared at her. Lara squirmed. “Do they teach you that look in Dom school or something?”

Colby leaned his head back and let out a roar of laughter before looking at her again. “Why, yes, they do. Talk.”

Lara squirmed in his lap. “I’m just being silly.”

“Something has you upset, so let me be the judge if you’re silly or not.”

“Why does it matter so much?” The more she thought about it, the more she thought she’d imagined the guy taking pictures today.

“Are we in a relationship?” he asked.

“I’d like to think so.”

“Part of a relationship is talking to the other person, especially when something is bothering them. I can’t fix it if I don’t know about it.”

“Why would you want to fix it?” She tilted her head.

“Because I’m a man.”

Lara let out a laugh. “Such a guy thing.”

“You bet. Now tell me.”

“I’m blowing this out of proportion; I know I am. Keith stopped by the café yesterday afternoon, right before I closed.”

“What did he want?”

“To make a nuisance out of himself.”

“It was more than that, or you wouldn’t be upset.”

Lara wrinkled her nose. “He told me I was being watched.”

Colby stiffened. “By who?”

A tremor slid up her spine at his quiet words. “Colby, you can’t confront him.” She could see the headlines her father would make sure happened.Local Leather Shop Owner Attacks Banker’s Son.

“He threatened you.” Colby’s voice was hard and cold.

“My family is always threatening me.” The minute the words left her lips, she froze. Colby stiffened even as his arms tightened around her. “That came out wrong.”

“I don’t think so.” Fingers nudged her chin up. “What have they done before?”

Lara sighed. “I’m considered the black sheep of my family. I told you how they’ve reacted to things I’ve done in the past.”

“Yes, but you never mentioned any threats.”

“It’s just little things, like my mom calling me over for dinner and pushing Walter at me even though we’re divorced, and I’ve told her we’re not getting back together. Or my dad, who was angry I insisted on certain protections in my business loan from his bank.” Yeah, that hadn’t been a fun conversation. “You saw how Keith and Walter were with the bikers. It’s stuff like that.”

“They’re making your life hell,” Colby whispered.

“They try.” Having Colby’s arms around her made her feel safe. “I think this was just Keith trying to rattle me, and it worked.”

“It was more than his words, wasn’t it?”

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