Page 16 of Secret Bet

"Hmm. You don't want to answer yes or no? I can't judge as I didn't know yourfather."

To refill their glasses, he stepped away, for a moment, and traded with the waiter. "You call things like you seethem and don'tholdback."

She stilled. "Is that a statement or aquestion?"

He stared at her glass until she sipped. She followed his silent command. "Perhaps both. I don't know anything about you,Belle."

Her name sounded like someone else's on his lips. She flinched at the thought and squared her shoulders. "What's to know? I was in the Marines. I was once engaged to Colt,who will be your brother-in-law tomorrow, and now I'm here to cheer for their everyhappiness."

"Are you applying for sainthood, afterallthen?"

"No, and I don't deserve angel wings either, so don't get the wrongideas."

He stared at her as she gulped her drink. He then asked, "Why areyouhere?"

“For me.” Her shoulders tensed. "I needed to getclosure."

Hestepped closer, and all she could see was his muscles. Unlike the men in the military though, Peter chose to stay in perfect shape. Instead this muscular man pressed against her slightly, and she had a tremble rushthroughher.

"You'reholdingback."

Sanity was important to keep. She ticked her head. "True, but we're not close enough to share secrets,arewe?”

“Wecouldbe.”

“Hmm. I’ll think about it. And to answer your earlier question, I prefer to always tell the truth, no matter how it slices things betweenpeople."

He massaged his neck again and stared hard at her. "How were you going to marry Colt? I have known the country farm boy all my life, and I can't imagine someone as laid back and easy going as him with someone so full of depth andopinions."

"Are you calling Coltcountry?"

"Ialwaysdid."

She shook her head. "Your sister ismarryinghim."

His eyes were like a microscope that peered through her. Belle stepped away from him to breathe as he said, "Vicki's a sweetheart who follows her heart. You seem to hide from yours though you share your strong opinionsaboutlife."

“Actions define a person farmore than wishes.” She gulped her drink and then held out the stem. "Another glass, please. Your technique to seduce every female on the planetneedswork."

“Unexpected.” He poured and then opened the tray to offer her a piece of fruit. She just took the champagne and sipped. He placed the tray on the table and gave her a half smile. "Is that what I'm to do nowwithyou?”

“No, butyou weren’t supposed to be interesting in return.” She stared at the ocean again. The waters were black at night, but something splashed in the distance. She tried to see, but couldn't make it out. "However, I think I’m right, Mr. Morgan? Aren't women just accessories inyourlife?"

He stepped in front of her, and his shoulders tenses. "What is that assumption based on? And don't call meMr. Morgan again. I’m not myfather."

“Okay, no worries on your name.” She pointed as she spoke. "But my assumptions are based on all of this. The yacht. The million dollar smile. The ease at which you swooped me here. I was curious how a woman gets swept off her feet so Ifollowed."

He reached for her pointing finger and guided her arm back to her side. "Can your feet get swept,or are you always looking for a way to stay firmly planted on theground?"

Her feet ached to move, but she held her jittery body together. "I don't know. I've never beenasked."

"I find that hard tobelieve."

"I always get in my own way, Peter. I don't want to spend my life frivolously doing whatever pops in myheadnext."

His eyes widened as he stared at her. "So youare serious all the time and never venture into theunknown?"

"No. I'm here,aren'tI?"

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