For a moment, she considered not answering, but then, she was done hiding from reality. She’d face this head-on.“I hope you liked those flowers I sent,” the caller said. “See how easy it is for me to get you there? It doesn't matter if you have that boy toy following you around. Now, I want my money.”“I want my proof,” Vanessa replied, hoping that she sounded brave enough. “It seems like you might be having trouble coming up with that.”“Ask Christopher's assistant for the ledger. The other ledger, the one he keeps locked in the safe behind his desk. That’s where you’ll find your proof.”She took a deep breath. “Was Chloe in on this with him?”“She knew. Whether or not she received a cut, I have no idea. But it’s probably likely she did, as money to keep her mouth shut. If she knows where the three million is, I would be surprised if she doesn’t take it and try to run.”Wincing, Vanessa shook her head. It was bad enough to learn that the man she’d thought was an upstanding— if remot
“Drug cartels? Money laundering?” Chloe shook her head, her voice full of simmering anger. “How could you possibly believe Christopher was capable of such awful, illegal things? He was an upstanding business leader with political aspirations. He would never have done anything that might jeopardize his chance of becoming governor! He believed in what he was doing and wanted to make a difference.”Vanessa couldn’t tell if the other woman truly believed her words or had become a damn fine actress. “Whether you like it or not, it would appear Christopher was involved in all this,” Vanessa began. Their catfish arrived just then, and she had to wait until the waitress left before continuing. “I have someone making threats and demanding this missing money. Christopher cleaned out our joint bank account before he was killed. Someone shot out my back window and ruined my car and apartment. So don’t sit there and try to make me believe you’re completely in the dark. You were Christopher's assis
“Yikes.” Chloe raised her hands up in the classic gesture of defeat. “You win. I’ll show you where he kept all his private, top-secret files. I know where he kept the key.”Finally, they were getting somewhere. Chloe led the way into Christopher's office, opening his middle desk drawer and retrieving a full key ring. “It’s one of these,” she said, turning to the back wall and removing a large, framed picture that concealed a safe. Instead of a keypad, it had an inset lock.Chloe began trying keys. Her fourth attempt turned out to be the right one. “Here we are,” she said, opening it. Once she had, she stepped back, allowing Vanessa to see the inside.Instead of stacks of cash, there were several large envelopes and folders, stuffed with papers. Vanessa moved forward, half-afraid of what she’d find.“I’ll leave you to it,” Chloe told her, backing out and closing the door behind her.Vanessa transferred everything from the safe to the desktop, then she pulled up a chair. As she’d suspe
“Apparently. Which explains a lot.” She didn’t elaborate, but he got the idea. “His parents are super religious, so I’m guessing that’s why he felt he had to keep it a secret.”“I get that,” he mused. “Plus, with his political aspirations…” They both fell silent. When Vanessa spoke again, a tinge of sadness colored her voice. “I had no idea he wasn’t living an authentic life. He always seemed so confident, so self-assured, as if he knew exactly what he wanted, where he was going, and how to get there. I wish he had told me the truth.”“Would knowing have made any difference in how you felt about him?” he asked, not sure he really wanted to know.“Yes, it would.” She took a deep breath. “I’m not sure if you realized this, but Christopher and I were never close. I would have understood his complete and utter rejection of me much better if I’d known he was in love with someone else.”His heart squeezed. He hated to think of Vanessa being rejected, especially by the man she’d married. “
He let his gaze roam over her, unable to keep from wanting her as much as he wanted to breathe. He thought back to earlier, when he’d realized she wasn’t in the house and the awful, paralyzing fear he’d felt.“We need to talk,” he said, jamming his hands down into his pockets to keep from touching her. Raising her head, she eyed him. Absent-mindedly, she tucked a silky strand of her hair behind one ear. “About what?”“You taking off like that. It’s not safe. I know you’re aware.”Slowly, she nodded. “I just needed some space.”Though she likely hadn’t intended them to, her words wounded him. “Don’t do that again.” He kept his tone curt. “If you don’t want to be with me, then just say it.”Eyes wide, she stared. “What’s wrong with you?”He almost abandoned the idea then and there. After all, with the undercover assignment still hanging over him, he couldn’t come out and declare his undying love right now. There were so many intricate layers and he knew it could all come crashing down
No. She forced herself to take a breath. It wasn’t suffocating at all. Truthfully, it was relaxing and nothing like the other times she’d attempted to do a little cuddling."I'm sorry…. I…. I couldn't sleep," she said softly, "It's okay," Alaric replied, "I couldn't sleep either," There was silence for a while before Vanessa spoke again. “Can I ask you a question?” she asked, staring at the moonlight. “Anything.”Her heart sped up at his quick response. Alaric was…well, he was nothing she had expected.“The scar on your shoulder? Were you shot?”His thumb smoothed over her hip, and she liked the constant, idle motion. “Yes. About four years ago.”“How?” She winced, feeling awkward. “Sorry. That’s none of my business.”“It’s okay. I was doing a job. A white-collar was about to turn state evidence and wanted security before he met with the police. Thought the guy was paranoid, but turned out, he wasn’t.” His chest moved in deep, slow breaths, the effect lulling. “When I was taking h
Spinning around, he stalked out of the bedroom and started toward the stairs, when he stopped. It was barely audible, the soft sound, but he heard it coming from the extra bedroom he’d put Vanessa in. A huge knot formed in his stomach as he stepped forward, pushing the bedroom door open.Vanessa was unaware of him. That much was certain. She was wearing pink lacy panties, and her hair fell forward in soft, dark waves as she got one arm through her white blouse. Did she think she was really going to work?“What are you doing?”Her chin rose as she turned to the door. A faint flush stained her cheeks, her eyes wide without the glasses. “Don’t you know how to knock on a door?”“It’s my house.”Her lips turned down at the corners. “You still should knock!”Walking into the room, he stopped a few feet from her and folded his arms. “Vanessa, you cannot be getting ready for work.”“Whatever,” she muttered, turning around and giving him an eyeful of that perfect ass. His sex responded, swelli
The moment he said those words, he knew how true they were. She had him.Her mouth opened, but he snaked an arm around her waist and carefully hauled her up against him and kissed her.He kissed her in a way he’d never really kissed a woman before.It was a sweet brush of lips and tender pressure, a kiss of reverence, and it shook him to the core. His hand shook as he smoothed his palm over her cheek, slowly deepening to the kiss. He expected her to fight him, but her lips parted and her tongue flicked over his first. His arousal surged hard and heavy, but he slowed it down, not wanting to hurt her or to send her running again.But she wasn’t running now.Vanessa looped her uninjured arm around his neck, her hand delving deep in his hair, holding her to him. The kiss turned fiercer, harder, and it was all her.“Stay here,” he coaxed, letting his hand slip down, over the curve of her breast, to her hip. “Stay here and I’ll make sure you don’t think about anything.”Vanessa shuddered ag