Page 54 of Beautiful Betrayal

“No,” Kara says. “He just asked your decision on her involvement. Everyone is not you. Everyone doesn’t put their woman before themselves. That you do only makes me want to help you and protect her all the more. Blake feels the same, I promise you.”

“Protect Mia above all else. I don’t care if I rot in jail for crimes I didn’t commit. Do you understand me?”

“Yes,” Kara says. “I do. I’ll protect Mia. You have my word.” Her eyes lift to my shoulder and I realize then that Mia has opened the door.

Chapter thirty-five

Mia

Protect Mia at all costs.

Grayson’s words linger in the air as I step to his side and face the woman who’s in front of him, who I assume works for Blake Walker. “And I’d ask you to protect him over me at all costs,” I say, my hand going to Grayson’s arm, and just being able to touch him again is like heaven on earth. “I guess,” I add, “that’s called love, right?” I turn to Grayson, push to my toes and kiss him.

He pulls me to his hip and stares down at me. “Most definitely love,” he says, his voice low gravely, affected, and then without looking away he adds, “This is Kara, Blake’s wife, and an ex-FBI agent who will be undercover as a temp in Ri’s office today.”

“Kara,” I say, reluctantly pulling away from Grayson to turn and face her before offering her my hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“A great pleasure to meet you, Mia. And right now, I need to get you wired.” She indicates a roller bag she’s grabbed on the heels of following me. “I have your clothes, as well. Hopefully, I chose well.” She looks at Grayson. “Can Mia and I have a few minutes?”

“As long as you don’t plan to corrupt her into doing something stupid,” he replies dryly.

I give Grayson a gentle nudge. “I’m not that corruptible,” I say.

“No,” he says, “that’s not the problem.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’ll just go on into the bedroom,” Kara says, “if that’s okay?”

“Of course,” I say, stepping aside to allow her to enter, and even as she disappears I step in front of Grayson. “What did that mean?”

His hands come down on my arms and he drags me to him. “You have nothing to prove, you have nothing to repent with me. Don’t go in there with Ri trying to make something up to me.”

The words hit a nerve that I didn’t know existed. He’s right. I do want to make up for leaving him. I left him after his father died. “I’ll be smart.”

“Woman,” he bites out. “That is not a reply I like. We had this conversation. You’re going to want to protect me. Resist.”

“You’re letting me go. That must mean that Blake satisfied your expectations this morning.”

“He brought up every concern I had and then some.”

“And then some?”

He caresses my cheek. “They know what they’re doing or I wouldn’t be letting you go. You know that.” He turns me to the door. “Go talk to Kara. I need you to know how to protect yourself while you’re there today and I want to talk to Blake about how they’re monitoring you while you’re there.” He smacks my backside and while that would normally send an erotic chill up my spine, it doesn’t.

I suddenly want this day over with more than ever.

That gets me moving and I hurry back into the bedroom to find Kara standing by the bed where she’s opened the suitcase she’s used for my things, that isn’t mine at all, and pulled out the three outfits she brought me. Grayson shuts the bedroom doorfor us behind me and I mentally choose the basic black skirt and royal blue blouse to wear today. I hate that I do it because Ri complimented me on that blouse, but today is all about making him feel that I’m team Ri without going overboard and raising suspicions.

“Let’s get you dressed and wired first,” Kara says, her hands settling at her hips. “I just need you right here in front of me and if you don’t mind, in only your bra and panties. Sorry, I know you don’t know me but I need to get this right and fast.”

I laugh. “If I had those things on, that would be fine,” I say, “but I don’t.”

She laughs. “Those are the best mornings. I brought you basic stuff, including those items, most of your bathroom toiletries, but not much else. I had to be discreet. I literally packed it in a duffle that I dropped out of your back window.”

“Talk about resourceful,” I say.

“But not early enough.” She glances at her watch. “We’re pushing it for both of us to get there.”

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