Page 62 of Dangerous Secret

“That’s all right. Is everything okay?”

“Before we get to that, I need to do this.” He slid his hand behind her neck and brought her to him.

She knew his kisses now, the taste of his lips, the feel of his arms wrapped around her, the heat from his body. She almost regretted knowing him. If she’d never met him, she wouldn’t have to miss him the day they parted to return to their own lives. That day was near, and the knowing was bittersweet. She’d have her little boy back, but she wouldn’t have Grayson.

A low hum sounded deep in his throat, and she melted against him as he deepened the kiss. But then he let go of her and stepped away. She wanted to pull him back, to steal all the moments with him she could. Their connection was intense, a magnetic force almost impossible to resist. In the end, though, she would because she had to.

He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. “I shouldn’t be here. I could have told you this over the phone, but I can’t seem to stay away. And I wanted to be with you when I told you that I saw your son today.”

“What? You saw Tyler? How was he? Where did you see him? Did you talk to him?”

“Hey, hey. Take a breath, sweetheart.”

She pressed her hand against her pounding heart. He’d seen her boy. It wasn’t fair. She was Tyler’s mother. Why couldn’t she see him? “Tell me everything.”

“Come sit a minute.” He took her hand and led her to the sofa. When they were seated, he said, “I saw him at Pressley’s house. I was with Benny… You know who he is, right?” She nodded, and he continued, “We were leaving when Tyler ran up to Benny, excited to see him.”

“He likes Benny. Benny’s always nice to him and sometimes sneaks him a peanut butter cup.”

“I like Benny, too. He seems like a good man.”

“He is. Tell me the rest.” She wanted every sliver of information about her son.

“Tyler ran up to us. Said he was hiding from Ava. I take it from your sour expression that you don’t like her?”

“That’s an understatement. Anthony hired her against my wishes. She’s the one I caught kissing him in front of Tyler. Tyler never liked her.”

“Can’t say I blame him. Before we could talk to him, Ava showed up.”

“What did she do?” Ava refused to see Tyler as a little boy who should be laughing and enjoying his childhood. She expected him to stay in his room and be quiet.

“She told him that his father wasn’t going to be pleased to hear that he was disobeying her. Tyler begged her not to tell his daddy. Then she took him away.”

“Oh, God.” She buried her face in her hands. She should have taken him and disappeared when she’d left Anthony. Before Anthony had lied about everything and gotten full custody.

Grayson wrapped his arm around her back and tucked her next to him. “I know it’s hard for you right now, but it will be over soon.”

She leaned her head against his strong chest. “It is hard. I should’ve disappeared with him the day I left.”

“That’s not the answer. You’d always be looking over your shoulder, and that’s no way to live. I want you to trust that I’ll get your boy back for you.”

“I do. I really do, but—”

“What if the worst happens and I don’t make it happen?”

She nodded.

“Then I’ll help you and Tyler disappear.”

“You’d do that for me?” Who was this man that he’d break the law for her?

“As a last resort, but it’s not going to come to that.” He put his finger under her chin and lifted her face. “Trust me, Harlow.”

She hadn’t had someone in her life she could trust since… Actually, had she ever?

Chapter 29

Dressed in black pants, a white button-down and a blazer to hide his shoulder holster and gun, Grayson stood outside the black Mercedes sedan the next morning, waiting for Pressley to appear. He’d had a text from Pressley’s secretary earlier that the Mercedes was Pressley’s choice today. The other two cars were a black BMW XM and a black Range Rover. None of Grayson’s dealerships sold Range Rovers, and he was hoping that would be the car of choice. He’d love to drive one.

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