Page 1 of Dangerous Secret

Prologue

Grayson Montana was good and buzzed. Wasn’t that the goal of spring break? A pretty girl in a bikini passed, and he turned, walking backward as his gaze locked on her cute ass. “That’s what I’m talking about.” He was in South Florida for the sun, the surf, the weed, the beer and the girls. So far, he’d crossed off everything on his list but the girls. That was okay, there was plenty of time for a hook up.

He’d be eighteen in two months, and he meant to go home not a virgin. It was his first time in Fort Lauderdale, and for a pampered boy from South Carolina who’d never been let loose on his own before, he was wide-eyed and lit.

His father—who owned eleven luxury car dealerships throughout the Southeast—had asked what he wanted as a graduation gift. Grayson was sure his dad had been expecting to hear that a Porsche or Dodge Charger muscle car was on his son’s bucket list. Nope. Grayson wanted to go to spring break in Florida. Besides, he already knew he was getting the Charger as a graduation gift.

The reason he’d asked for the trip was simple. His friends were going to Fort Lauderdale for spring break. He turned in a circle. Where were his friends? They’d been with himonly minutes ago, but he’d lost sight of them on the crowded beach. “Dudes, where are you?” he yelled.

“What dudes?”

Grayson narrowed his eyes at the guy staring back at him. “My friends. I lost them.”

“Lost mine, too.” The guy gave him a drunken grin as he lifted a red Solo cup. “And they have the beer. Not cool. I’m Cooper.”

“Grayson. I got some weed.”

“Even better.” Cooper glanced around. “Let’s go up there.” He pointed to a nearby parking lot. “More private.”

As they walked across the hot sand, Grayson wondered why he’d shared that he had weed. He didn’t know Cooper, so why should he share? He only had the one joint on him, and he should have saved it for himself, especially if he couldn’t find his friends.

“Where you from?” Cooper asked.

“Myrtle Beach. You?”

“Hotlanta.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Home of the best baseball team in the world. I’m gonna play for the Braves one day.”

Grayson laughed. “Lofty goal there.”

“It’s gonna happen. I’m good. Got a full-ride scholarship to college.”

“That’s impressive. What position?”

“Pitcher. You play sports?”

Grayson couldn’t resist messing with his new friend. “Yeah, I’m my school’s top-ranked badminton player.” He snorted when Cooper sputtered, trying to find something to say.

“Ah, really?” Cooper finally managed.

“No, man. Just messing with you. Track and field’s my thing.”

“Grayson…” Cooper studied him. “What’s your last name?”

“Montana.” Grayson grinned when Cooper’s eyes widened.

“Damn, dude. You set new records in the sprints at Nationals.”

“Yep.” His father was counting on him going to work at the dealerships, someday taking over. Grayson was torn. He didn’t want to disappoint his dad, and he did love cars, but…his secret wish was to become a teacher and coach. He was damn good at track and field events, one of the country’s best. He dreamed of teaching kids how to be as good.

He considered it a blessing that even though his dad would be disappointed if Grayson didn’t go to work at his dealerships, he would still support his son’s decision. His future could wait until he got home, though. For the next three days, he was going to have fun and not think about tomorrow.

Cooper pointed to the far end of the parking lot. “Let’s go over there.”

They stopped behind a pickup truck, and Grayson lit the joint. He took a deep drag and managed not to embarrass himself by coughing. He handed it to Cooper.

“You ever do any hard stuff?”

Grayson shook his head. “Nah, man. I work too hard to keep my body in shape to mess around with stuff like that. Truth, I don’t even smoke weed at home. I gave myself permission to enjoy my week of freedom. Smoke some pot, drink too much beer, meet some hot girls. You?”

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