Page 25 of Dangerous Secret

“I feel so awful about that. Do you know what happened to her?” After he told her how they’d found Miss Etta and what they were doing for her, she was blown away by these men. Because of Anthony and the kind of people hesurrounded himself with, she’d forgotten there were good people in this world.

“I haven’t been able to locate George Pickens yet,” Cooper said. “Miss Etta said he moved away. She thinks to somewhere around Charlotte. I’m going through the tax records now, searching for anyone else they might have pulled this stunt on.”

“And I’m playing golf and collecting gossip on your ex, Harlow. So far, he’s not coming across as an angel from the things I’m hearing,” Liam said.

Cooper mock scowled. “Why does he get to play golf, and I’m stuck in a dusty records room?”

“Because I’m prettier than you,” Liam said. “You know it’s true, so stop your sulking.”

Cooper snorted. “I don’t sulk.”

“You sulked when the team ate those cookies you thought you’d hidden,” Grayson said. He put his hand on her arm. “Word of warning. Never mess with Cooper’s food.”

“Noted.” His hand on hers sent heat traveling along her arm, and she glanced up at him. His eyes were on hers, and in them was something she couldn’t quite place, but it seemed important to know. For a moment she got lost in those eyes and forgot they weren’t alone.

When he took his hand away, she had a sudden longing that she couldn’t explain. Anthony’s hands had been cruel on her, often leaving bruises on her arms from gripping her so hard. He’d enjoyed humiliating her with his words. Because of her husband, she’d gone years without wanting the touch of another man. Now she was hungry for it. And not with just any man, but this one. Grayson.

It was the worst possible timing for her girlie parts to be waking up. Maybe Anthony was right, and she was a hussy.She slid her chair back. “I should go home.” She’d go home and have a good talk with herself. Get her head straight.

Grayson put his hand on the arm of her chair. “We’ll go in a few minutes. I want to hear the conversations you recorded with Pressley.” He lifted his chin toward his friends. “Be gone with you.”

Cooper stood. “Up, O’Rourke. We have places to go.”

“We do?” Liam said.

Cooper rolled his eyes. “Dude’s clueless.”

“I have a clue.” Liam shot her a mischievous grin. “Let’s head to Faberville and see what trouble we can stir up.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Cooper said.

After they were gone, and she was alone with the man who was stirring up the stomach butterflies that were supposed to be dormant, she dared not look at him or those lips she’d probably dream about kissing. She got the burner phone from her purse, found the recordings she’d air-dropped from her personal phone, handed it to him and then walked down the stairs of his deck, going far enough away so that she didn’t hear Anthony’s voice again.

She didn’t need to be wanting Grayson’s mouth on hers, but as she walked along the edge of the ocean, that was all she could think about.

Some minutes later, Grayson caught up with her. He slipped his hand around hers and pulled her to a stop. He looked down at her with eyes that gleamed with emotion. “I was a SEAL. I’ve done things in the name of my country that I never want to tell you about. I never enjoyed what I had to do.” He brushed back the strands of hair that the wind was blowing across her face. “But, Harlow, I saw the photo of the bruises on your arm, and after listening to those recordings, I think I might enjoy putting a hurt on your ex. If that disturbs you, I’m sorry.”

“I wouldn’t be sorry,” she whispered, unable to tear her gaze away from his.

“Would you be sorry if I kissed you?”

“I don’t think so.” Truthfully, she couldn’t think at all, not with the way he was looking at her, as if nothing existed for him but her. She wanted to know how it would feel to be kissed by a kind, honorable man. One kiss couldn’t possibly hurt, right?

He lowered his face until his mouth was an inch from hers. “You can tell me to stop.”

She didn’t, and he closed the distance until his lips were on his. It was a soft, gentle kiss at first, but as the seconds ticked by, it became more passionate. His hands found their way to her waist, pulling her closer to him, and lost in the moment, she wrapped her arms around his neck. The rational part of her brain screamed a warning that this wasn’t a good idea, but…just a few seconds more, and she would have the memory of the best kiss she’d ever had. Then she’d stop, and this could never happen again.

Time got lost, and she didn’t know how much elapsed between thinking she needed to stop and when he lifted his head. It could have been hours for all she knew. He took a step back, taking the heat of his body with him. Even though it was a warm night, she was chilled without the warmth of his skin against hers.

He gave her one of his soft smiles. “I won’t apologize and say I’m sorry because it would be a lie. I can’t bring myself to regret that kiss. But I know you’re thinking it can’t happen again, so it won’t.” His smile grew. “Unless you ask me to kiss you.” He took her hand. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”

She wished he wasn’t a mind reader and would kiss her again without her asking. Because she wouldn’t allow herself to ask.

Chapter 11

Grayson hadn’t planned to kiss her, but he hadn’t lied. He didn’t regret it. How could he? She’d tasted sweet, like the berries and spice from the wine she’d been drinking. And her lips had been soft and warm against his. She’d stilled when their mouths touched, but then when she’d responded… Well, it had taken all his discipline not to scoop her up in his arms and take her to his bedroom.

She’d been silent on the ride back to her apartment, and he’d left her to her thoughts because he had his own rumbling around in his head. The most vocal one was, when could he kiss her again? He’d told her she’d have to ask, and he’d hold to that, but he wished he hadn’t said it. No, it was the right decision, even if it was the last thing he wanted to do.

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