Page 126 of Moonlit Colorado

Ainsley crossed her legs, leaning back casually. Like this washeroffice instead of the one inmyprivate hotel suite.

Rather than answering my question, she said, “I came because your brother has gotten himself into some trouble. It’s become a real issue. Not just for Knightly Global, but for my family as well.” Ainsley picked up several glossy photos from the desk. I hadn’t noticed them before. “Here,” she said. “Take a look at what Kip has been up to.”

“No, you showed up here. You’re going to explain yourself.”

“Justlook.” She held the photos out.

I exhaled. Dammit, I was way too tired for this.

Between her and her sister, Ainsley had always been the more reasonable one. Clever, but with a sense of humor. I’d considered her a friend.

But her showing up like this, unannounced? It didn’t feel like a friendly visit. This was my turf, and yet I was on the defensive, and I didn’t like it one bit. The fact that I’d known Ainsley almost all my life was thesolereason I hadn’t thrown her out.

I knew a power move when I saw one. I just didn’t know yet what Ainsley really wanted.

“Come on, Dane. We don’t have all night.”

Glaring, I snatched the photos from her hand and looked.

They were of Kip and Nina Badowski. Talking together. Kissing. These images were strikingly similar to the deep-fake photos that Grace had received of me with Nina. But something told me these ones were the real deal.

Kip, what have you done?I thought.

“Where did you get these?”

Ainsley waved her hand. “That’s not important right now. I think we can agree Kip has shown a serious lack of discretion. He was seeing this woman, Nina Badowski. Paying for her services, to be more accurate.”

Oh, hell. So he’d been a client of Nina’s. Like Dirk Lancaster. Which explained both their names being on that list.

I tossed the photos back on the desk. “Was this before he got together with Bristol? Or after?”

“It’s cute that you think the timing matters. But for what it’s worth, it was before. He hasn’t cheated on my sister. This couldn’t have worked out better for her. In fact, to hear Bristol tell it, Kip has been very compliant.”

“Compliant? That doesn’t sound like Kip. Do you mean…” My mind worked fast, trying to put it together.

Then, suddenly, it clicked.

I muttered a curse. “Bristol is blackmailing Kip with these photos.”

I had suspected their marriage was a business arrangement because I hadn’t seen any kind of affection between them. But this was so much worse.

The corner of Ainsley’s mouth twitched. “You guessed it. My sister has been busy.”

Bristol had been the worst even when we were kids, but I’d never expected her to be such a snake. Then anger ignited in my chest as I thought through the full implications.

Bristol was blackmailing Kip…and using the photos to do it.

“Is your sister the one who sent those photos to Grace, but doctored to make it look likeIwas the one with Nina?”

Ainsley shrugged. “Bristol is awful, we all know that. I told her not to be so petty. But she’s jealous of Grace.”

“Youknew?” I dug my fingers into my hair. “Do you have any idea what it was like for Grace to see those? To think I lied to her? I could’ve lost her over that bullshit.”

I thought of the woman I loved in my bedroom right now, and all I wanted was to get Ainsley out of here. I didn’t want Grace to hear any of this crap, not tonight. I could deal with my family’s treachery tomorrow.

I pointed at the door. “I don’t have the patience for this, Ains. Either tell me what you’re really doing here, or get the hell out.”

She stood up, placing her palms on the desk. “I wouldn’t be here unless I had no other options. Kip’s actions have had some unfortunate consequences, and I need to know whether you’ll work with me on sorting all of this out and making it go away.”

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