Page 78 of 7 Dirty Lies

Chapter23

Iusedthat six weeks to their fullest.I helped Ted and Charley get settled at home with Angie—who I was convinced was the cutest baby who ever lived.I visited my parents.I spoke with my lawyer, Edita, about any future problems I might have headed my way because of said parents, and we strategized a way to move my name as far away from them aspossible.

And then I flew across the ocean to be with my sister for awhile.

“Tea?”Adam asked from thekitchen.

“Nope.Butthankyou.”

“Biscuit?”

“Always.”

Elizabeth was settled beside me and we’d been talking forhours.

“I’m going to work on the car,” Adam said as he handed us each a plate.“I’ll be back to make dinner.Enjoy your time together.”He leaned over and kissed his wife with a long lingering kiss, then patted my head on his way outthedoor.

She locked her eyes on me.“I still can’t believe you’ve fallen in love.Where do you think thiswillgo?”

I shrugged.“Forever.It will just go onforever.”

She smiled.“I like to hear that.I think Grandma wouldloveit.”

I felt a flush race over my skin.“I thought of her the daywemet.”

“I like to think she’s been looking down on both of us, making sure we found men likeGrandpa.”

“You think Adam and Colt arelikehim?”

She nodded and snuggled deeper into her fuzzy blanket.“I do.You don’t remember him,doyou?”

He died a couple of years after Grandma in a car accident.Some said he was too heartbroken to live without her.I tried not to think about it.“No.Just flashes from timetotime.”

“Well, he was awesome.He adored Grandma.He was fiercely protective of her and their privacy, which as we both well know isimportant.”

Crap.I hadn’t even thought of how Colt was going to react to red carpets and paparazzi.I could only imagine it wouldn’tbeeasy.

“Was he into carslikeAdam?”

“No but he was a wonderful cook.”Adam’s mother was a famous chef and had taught him.I always loved visiting because we ate well.“Grandpa loved technology.He was really big intocomputers.”

I loved that there were still things to learn.“Colt loves his ranch.I swear they’re one andthesame.”

“When do I get tomeethim?”

“I was thinking maybe after you do Christmas with Adam’s family you could fly out to theranch?”

While Colt had very reluctantly agreed to our physical separation, he’d been very adamant that our online relationship stay active.We emailed constantly.It was his idea to bring mysisterout.

“I think that can bearranged.”

“And how are youandAdam?”

“I’m going to pretend that wasn’t a totally obvious change of subject.”She sipped her tea.“We’re wonderful.We’re spending his off season enjoying being hometogether.”

They were nearly done with a massive restoration of a historiccottage.

And by cottage I clearly meant estate.With a barn for Adam’s cars, a massive library, and plenty of acreage to wander forhours.

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