Page 20 of Dirty Rumors

Most people have spare stamps lying around and a roll of tape. This feels…excessive. Like Carson is up to something odd.

Those women said that Carson was always mailing strange things.

Have all my warnings to myself been right all along? Have I made a terrible mistake getting this involved before I really know Carson through and through?

I broke my rule that I shouldn’t date until I’m twenty-five and know myself better. Until I know what I want.

And until I know what to do with a guy who is obviously hiding a huge secret.

12

CARSON

Iwake up to an empty bed. I don’t like it. It’s never felt empty before, but after falling asleep with my adorable Nikki in my arms, my world has changed forever.

Sitting up, I see that her pillow and one blanket are gone. I throw on shorts, brush my teeth and wash my face, then go to the living room. She’s sitting quietly on the couch with a mug of tea.

“Good morning, kitten. Sorry, did I snore?”

“N-no.” Her body language is stiff. Uncomfortable.

Dropping onto the sofa beside her, a cold, heavy stone settles in the pit of my stomach. If she regrets what we did last night, I’ll never forgive myself. “Can you tell me what’s up, kitten? I loved falling asleep with you in my arms.”

Nikki looks up at me, her lovely brown eyes wide and worried. “Have you heard the rumors going around town about how your grandfather was a bit…odd?”

My chuckle doesn’t seem to relax her. “Heck yes. When your family has been parked in one place as long as ours, there will always be gossip.” I smile warmly, trying to think of anythingthat might have upset her. “Why? Did you hear something that made you uncomfortable?”

She’s so sexy in nothing but panties and my t-shirt, and I hate that her fingers are twisting the hem of it nervously. “I heard some women talking about how your grandfather was always mailing out eight by ten envelopes. He wouldn’t tell anyone what it was about. That’s strange, right?”

“Kitten.” My voice softens as I reach out to squeeze her knee gently. “I know all about that. I promise you it was something completely innocent.”

“Can you tell me what it was?”

Leaning in, I drop my voice to a whisper. “It’s an ancient family secret. Almost as dark and deep a secret as your special agent assignment. You promise not to tell a soul?”

“Of course.” Finally a hint of a smile touches her eyes.

“I’m only telling you because I want to be included in your mission to control the flow of information in this town.”

I brush her soft hair away from the shell of her ear before I lean in to whisper. “My grandfather knew half of the people on the mountain, because they all came to him to get their cars repaired. Sometimes he’d give people huge discounts or make up a story about how he happened to have a certain spare part back in his home garage, so there was no charge for it.”

My fingers run along her collarbone as I murmur, “I think Grandpa may have felt a little guilty about our family having plenty, while certain other people didn’t have nearly enough.”

“That’s sweet, but how does all the suspicious mail fit in?”

My grin finally makes her smile. “He would wrap up cash in newspaper and mail it to people who he knew were having a really tough time. He always included a note asking them to keep it a secret, and never tell a living soul.”

Her mouth falls open. “So your grandpa is basically…Santa?”

I laugh loudly. “A bit, yeah. Thinking about it, he even had the beard for a while.” My lips graze her temple. “I don’t think he does it anymore, since he doesn’t leave the house very often. He loved helping people, though. And I think he secretly loved the rumors that he was an oddball.”

Nikki turns to me, biting her bottom lip. “So… I didn’t mean to snoop. But I was getting a glass of water, and I saw a bunch of tape sticking out of a drawer and I wanted to fix it. And…all the mailing supplies. Do you send people cash as well?”

She asks so tentatively that it practically breaks my heart. I hate that she’s so nervous around me, even still. My huge sigh of relief seems to confuse her. “Come with me, kitten. I need to show you something.”

Taking her hand, I lead her down to the basement door. “I don’t have the same kind of cash lying around that Grandpa apparently did. We do give deep discounts at the shop to people who really need their vehicle for work, and occasionally pull the same stunt saying we just happen to have that part on hand.”

I open the door and snap on the light, and Nikki gasps. “But this is why I’m always mailing parcels.”

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