Page 87 of Mr. Dangerous

"I thought you'd be happy abouttheidea."

"I am." I'd gotten a text from Alice that they'd lost yet another client while we were at Mitch's condo. I had to find out ASAP if Rob's grandmother really was behind this, and if so I had to put a stop to it. But would that mean confronting her or quietly exiting Rob's life? Either way, the thought made me ache. "If it actually goes back tonormal."

"What doesthatmean?"

I waved thequestionoff.

He sighed again. So I was surprised when he said, "It's late. We haven't eaten. Weshouldstop."

"I thought you only relaxed in CastleDelaney."

"It's going to be a lot more of a castle. Joe's got quite the security set-up on order for me. But for now?" He slung his arm casually over my seatback, and even though he didn't actually touch me, I felt a shiver of desire and tension run throughmybody.

"For now, you're safe with me, wherever we are," hepromised.

I wished that was true for myheart.

* * *

Back at the house,I found Alice waiting up for us when we cameinside.

Alice looped her arms around my neck. "I was worriedaboutyou.”

"You should be," I said, gently disentangling fromherarms.

"What doesthatmean?"

"It means Rob almost got us arrested. Did Mom check in onmycats?"

"Yes."

"Why are you still here?" I chided Alice. "You have work and homework and a million thingstodo..."

"I'm not leaving you to swim in the pool and eat Thai delivery onyourown."

"Are you worried after all?" I felt a flat edge of fear, a reminder of that moment I'd run from the man in theelevator.

"I likefreefood."

"Speaking of. I have to run this to the fridge." I took the leftover pizza box from Rob and headed back through the house into thekitchen.

Rob's grandmother set the kettle on the gas stove with aclatter.

I stopped abruptly in the doorway. I was still unseen, but it would obvious if I walked away now with the pizza box that I was trying to avoid Rebecca. That I was afraidofher.

In such a big house, how was it possible I couldn't get away from the woman? I had been thinking about what I would say to her for hours, but now that we were both here, I didn'twantto.

Rebecca turned, raising her eyebrows. "Hello, dear. Would you like a cup of teaawell?"

I squared my shoulders. "I would love one.Thankyou."

I headed over to the big stainless steel fridge and set the pizza box on an empty shelf. Someone had spilled orange juice in the fridge. I stared at the small, sticky orange spot for a second and then forced myself to close the door without wipingitup.

I didn't owe these people perfection. Notrightnow.

Honestly, the Delaneys would probably be better people if they all cleaned up their own messes anyway. Like Rob had been trying to do when he headed intotheNavy.

"Are you all right?" Rebecca asked, hertonecool.

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