Page 21 of Dangerous Secret

“We’ve only learned about these two, but it’s always a possibility.”

True, especially knowing what she did about the family. She was going to have to tell Grayson soon. It was just that if the secret wasn’t handled right, Anthony would suspect it came from her, andrevengewas one of his favorite words. He excelled at retaliation.

“Homer and Marge still sucking face?”

She laughed. “No, they floated away. What are you doing?” Was that okay to ask? She really liked talking to him and didn’t want to hang up.

“Sitting on my deck. You’d love it here tonight. There’s a storm in the distance, and the waves are crashing on shore. The sky above me is still clear, so there are thousands of stars.”

“I love the beach when it’s storming. I just have my little lake, so I’m jealous of your ocean.”

“You should come over sometime.”

Was he asking her out on a date?

“We need to talk some more about the Pressleys and how to proceed, and this is as good a place as any to do that.”

Not a date, then. There was no reason to feel disappointed, yet she did. Even if he did ask, she’d politely decline… She was pretty sure she would. The last thing she needed in her life right now was a man. “Okay. When’s good?”

“Up to you.”

“The sooner we get things rolling, the better,” she said. “Does tomorrow night work?”

“Sure. I’m going to pick you up.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I’d prefer it. I want to make sure we’re not followed.”

“Oh.” She shouldn’t have to worry about being stalked.

“I want you to leave by the rear of your building. Carry a bag of trash to the dumpster. I’ll pick you up there at four. That’ll give us time to get back to the beach and have a drink before dinner.”

“Okay.” She hated this cloak-and-dagger stuff, and it rankled that she had to be secretive even though she was free to go wherever she wished with whomever she wished. She wanted it over.

“Do you like seafood?”

“Love it, why?”

“I’ll throw some shrimp on the barbie,” he said with an Australian accent.

He needed to stop making her smile.

Chapter 9

Grayson was relieved they hadn’t been followed from Harlow’s apartment to his place. Interestingly, she hadn’t commented on the Jaguar he was driving. It was a demo, the latest model, and he’d wanted to check it out.

The only vehicle he actually owned was his Jeep Wrangler. Why spend money on a fancy car when he had luxury cars at his fingertips? Not once had he considered selling the dealerships. They were his father’s pride and joy, his sweat and tears during the hard years. But Grayson didn’t want to take over, so he’d promoted Sam Cohen to CEO of the company, and left the day-to-day running of the dealerships in Sam’s capable hands. Sam had worked for his father from the day the first dealership opened. He’d been a SEAL teammate of Daniel Montana’s, and Grayson trusted Sam with the business. Hell, he’d trust the man with his life.

“Are we going to your friend’s house?” she said when he came to a stop in his driveway.

Why would she think that? “No, this is…” Right, he’d told her he knew the owner the last time he’d parked here with her. “This is my house.”

“Oh. I guess you really do know the owner, then.” She grinned as she opened the car door. “I want the VIP tour.”

She bounced up the steps to his porch ahead of him.Tonight, she wore a blue-and-white-striped sundress and white flip-flops with crystals on the straps. Through photos, he’d seen her go from a beautiful, happy woman to a wary mouse who hid herself in ugly clothes. In front of his eyes, she was shedding her mouse skin and transforming back into the beautiful, vibrant woman in the pictures of her.

He followed her up the porch stairs, doing his best not to notice the sway of her hips. His eyes refused to obey. She was taller than the average woman, maybe five-eight or so. He told himself he would not imagine those long legs wrapped around his but imagine he did. He sighed in defeat. He was attracted to her, more than he’d ever been attracted to any other woman.

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