Page 27 of Exposed

Her fingers tightened on the phone. “Yes, of course. I already said I’m sorry for not getting back to you, what more do you want?” She tucked her clutch between her arm and side and wrapped her free hand around her body.

“I want to know where you are.” His voice was rough and tired.

Guilt gnawed at the inside of her stomach. She tore her gaze from the black sky that closed in around her and focused her gaze on her rhinestone-encrusted shoe. A soft glow shone from a light to her left, catching the shimmer in her dress. There weren’t enough lights on the deck.

Uneasiness settled like a rock in the pit of her stomach. She glanced to her right, but the door she’d exited remained shut. Luckily, Carlos hadn’t come looking for her yet.

She tapped her finger against the cool skin of her arm. Half-truths were better than none. “I’m on a cruise, okay?”

A beat passed. “A cruise?” Skepticism raised his voice an octave. He chuckled. “I don’t know if I should laugh or be pissed.”

“I met someone, and we decided to go on a trip. Why on earth would I need to run that by you?” Annoyance added more bite to her words than she’d intended. She didn’t like lying. But if he wouldn’t support her decisions, he had no right to know about them.

“It’s common courtesy so people don’t worry about you. And you met someone? Like a guy?”

Maddie dropped her head back against the wall with a softthunk. “No, like a monkey.” The bobby pins in the bun at the nape of her neck jabbed her in the scalp. She moved her head until it was more comfortable.

“You’re not funny.”

“Really? Because you’re acting ridiculous and I find it funny as hell.” She breathed a long, low exhale and massaged between her eyes. Dammit, she’d probably just smudged her makeup.

“Dana told me you’re working on a case. So which is it? A cruise with some guy, or work?”

She suppressed the urge to say that both were true. “I’ve told you more than you need to know. I promise I will text you in a couple of days, and I will call when I get back.”

“Ethan, let her be and come to bed.” Riley chided from the background. Gratitude lifted the weight on her shoulders. Maybe he would listen to Riley.

“I need to get back to dinner, okay? Say hi to Rye for me. Love you.” She punched the screen with her index finger and disconnected the call.

She slipped the phone back in her clutch and moved away from the wall. For years, she had tried to get through to him, but nothing worked. The only thing she hadn’t done was talk to Riley about how overbearing Ethan could be with her career choices. Maybe she would be able to talk some sense into him. No wonder Nate was so damn scared to be with her. Ethan would go off the deep end.

Her teeth nipped into her bottom lip at the image of Nate in his tuxedo. A soft chuckle tickled her throat, before being swallowed into the soft lapping of the waves below. He’d looked so damn sexy and irritated about being dressed up. She’d expected him to be at dinner with Ashley, but seeing him had taken the edge off her nerves. A vein had pulsed near his eye when she’d turned around as he was getting champagne.

Anticipation swirled deep in her loins. No matter the need he radiated, no matter the intensity in his eyes or set line to his jaw… he’d never give in.

A small, orange glow ahead stopped her in her tracks. Her breath sucked in and her hand fluttered to her chest.

“Who was that?” Tony stepped out of the shadows, his tall, dark form moved toward her.

The heavy scent of cigarette smoke floated beneath her nostrils. She blew air out her nose and took a step back. He moved closer. Alcohol radiated from his pores and her eyes burned. He stopped in front of her, and his broad, dark shape blocked out the glow of the moon. Fear tickled up her spine but she lifted her chin.

“My family, not that it’s any of your business.” She shoved her shoulder into his ribcage and sided past him. His rough fingers closed around her bicep and he reeled her around.

“I’m not stupid.”

“Could have fooled me.” She yanked out of his hold and moved away from him. “Take a hike Tony, before I tell Carlos that you’re harassing me.”

He flicked his cigarette over the rail and spit on the deck. Her lip curled in revulsion.

“I’m not done talking to you,” he growled.

“Yes, you—”

His forearm circled around her throat and he brought her back against his chest, cutting off her air supply. His fingers trailed across her shoulder and down the neckline of her dress. Heat spread through her and she grabbed his hand, twisted it sharply to the side, and tore out of his hold. He dropped to the ground on his knees, his head flew back, and he yelped. His arm shook in her hand and the tendons beneath his skin jumped in protest.

“If you touch me again, you sonofabitch, I’ll tear your arm right off and feed it to the fishes.” She let him go.

He let out a low cry through gritted teeth. His free hand clutched his injured wrist and his breath came out in rough, erratic pants.

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