Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 128260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
“What is this?” I asked as Carson approached.
“Just a more private place for us to park so no one can get in and run our license plates. Dylan doesn’t usually park in here. His background wouldn’t look interesting to anyone. But the rest of us do, and we keep a few extra vehicles here as well.”
I nodded. Well this certainly made the fact that Carson was involved in a bona fide secret operation suddenly very real.
We walked through a door and up a back staircase that opened into a hallway. Carson grabbed my hand as we rounded the corner and waited for an elevator.
When we stepped on, Carson pulled me to him and kissed me, hard and wet. He broke away and smiled down at me as I swayed on my feet. “God, I love elevators,” he said.
I laughed, grateful for the moment of lightness before we walked into what, for me, was an unknown situation.
I followed Carson through lavish hallways to what looked like an office door. He knocked and opened it before getting any response, and then took my hand as we stepped inside. Three men turned toward us. The first man, tall and muscled, with black hair, was wearing a deep frown on his face. I’d seen him before, outside Carson’s office door after he’d given me an orgasm against the well. I didn’t remember his name though. I’d barely remembered mine after that interlude. I shifted my eyes away.
I recognized Dylan, although he looked slightly more rumpled than a couple days before and like he had been running his hand repeatedly through his messy, blond hair.
I also recognized Josh Garner from his mug shot. I had thought he was a good-looking guy when I first looked at the picture, but it didn’t do him justice. He was…well, he was no Carson Stinger, but he was easy on the eyes, that was for sure. He had dark-brown, slightly spiky hair, a strong jaw, and, yup, dimples. I knew this because he was walking toward us smiling.
He bumped Carson and Carson took a step to the side at the impact, and then Josh stepped in, holding out his hand to me. “Hi, I’m Josh,” he said, smiling what I was sure was his best panty-melting smile. Cocky for someone facing life in prison. Still, I could admit the smile was disarming and I gave him one in return.
Carson stepped back next to me and pulled me to him before I could reach out for Josh’s hand. “Yeah, fucker, this is Grace Hamilton, the prosecutor on your case. She was on board to help you, but you just reminded me why it might be a better idea to let her do her job well.”
Josh laughed, dropping his hand. “Down, boy. I was just making the lady’s acquaintance.” He winked at me. “Also, I think it’s in my best interest to get on her good side.”
“She’s on my good side, and that’s the best you should hope for,” Carson said, giving Josh a searing look and moving us past him to the other guys. But I smiled at Josh again as we walked by.
“Grace, you met Dylan,” Carson said, gesturing his head to where Dylan was standing.
“Your car is gassed up and parked in the garage, Dylan,” I said. “Thank you.” I hoped he could see the deep sincerity in my eyes. His grin as he looked back and forth between me and Carson told me he did.
Carson gestured to the taller man, “This is Leland McManus. He owns Trilogy.”
“Hi, Leland. Nice to, er, see you again,” I said, and he nodded, saying, “Hi Grace, nice to officially meet you.” His expression held a slight bit of amusement. He had the most piercing blue eyes I’d ever seen. “It appears you both had a nice trip?” he said to me and Carson.
“Yeah, you could say that,” I said, smiling up at Carson.
He smiled back, his eyes soft.
“Okay, lovebirds, we all get the picture. There wasn’t a lot of skiing going on in Snowbird,” Josh said, joining us and rolling his eyes as he looked around. “Let’s get down to business here.”
Dylan coughed, and Leland stifled a laugh. Carson furrowed his brow at Josh, but one side of his mouth quirked up.
A cell phone rang, and Leland pulled it out of his pocket. “Hello?” He looked over at Josh and tipped his chin. “Okay, he’s on his way down.”
He hung up the phone and looked at Josh. “Your services are required, doc.”
“Okay. Anyone want to assist me here?” Josh asked.
Leland held up his hands and backed away. “I’ve got a hotel to run.”
Dylan did the same. “I’ve got computer programs processing data that need monitoring…”
Josh rolled his eyes again. “Wimps. Carson?”
“I don’t mind helping,” Carson said. “As long as Grace is okay coming along?”