Page 111 of Dangerous Temptation
‘What are you looking at?’ he asked.
The view from up on high was spectacular. The fourth-floor balcony looked right down into the lake. With no wind, the water was like glass, reflecting the stars overhead. They were shining like a million bright pinpoints of light.
‘It reminds me of the evening you came home, only then it was the sun reflecting off the water.’
He rubbed his chin against her shoulder. ‘I remember, but I was too busy checking out the sexy little brunette gyrating on my dock.’
She smiled. She’d taken to doing her yoga in the gym. It was too cold to do it outside any more.
‘What else is going on inside that head of yours?’ he asked.
She shook her head. She didn’t want to spoil the night. It had been close to perfect. ‘Nothing.’
He pressed his face into her hair. ‘I know you better than that, Siren.’
She sighed. ‘Seeing all these wealthy people partying and enjoying themselves … It makes me wonder …’
‘Wonder what?’
‘Don’t be angry.’
He leaned over further to look into her face. ‘What’s bothering you, Elena?’
She tilted her head back against his shoulder and looked at the sky. ‘Is your grandfather out there somewhere, going to parties and throwing money around? Is he in a chalet on a mountaintop with a sherry in his hand?’
Alex blew out a long breath. ‘Don’t get yourself worked up over what-ifs.’
‘I can’t help it. After all you went through, after allwewent through, it’s just not fair.’
‘Life’s not fair, baby.’
‘I just want to see justice served.’ For the Ponzi scheme … but maybe more for what Alex had gone through as a child …
‘It has been.’
Three words. Soft and clear.
Her heart dipped right into her stomach, and she went very still. ‘Alex?’
He tensed. ‘Damn it.’
He hadn’t meant to let that slip.
Questions started flying through Elena’s head at dizzying speed. There’d been so many harsh rumours. So many suppositions and lies. Most of them had been refuted.
Most …
Except for the one Caroline Woodward had thrown at her that had hurt the most.
Her arms tightened around her waist. ‘What are you saying?’ she whispered.
A rough sound left his throat. Time passed, stretching out until the chill went through the jacket all the way to her bones. When he pressed his mouth against her ear, she felt like she was about to shatter.
‘He’s not enjoying any riches. He’s dead.’
Her mind just stopped. ‘You?’
‘No. Not me.’
