Page 48 of Captive Lies

He wasn’t even looking at me, just typing on his computer. When I hadn’t budged, he spared me a glance. “Anythingelse?”

I wanted to grab the paperweight and launch it at his head. Instead, I said, “I should have known better than to believe your words andpromises.”

He frowned. “What are you talkingabout?”

“‘No matter what happens, I’m on your side?’ Ring a bell?” I scoffed. “Just because your ego was bruised that I didn’t tell you everything, you try to punish me with this closed-off version of you. Don’t make me regret coming backhere.”

“That sounds like a threat,sweetheart.”

“Yes. Keep telling yourself that,honey,” I repeated his statement with equal mockery. I didn’t wait for his response and left hisoffice.

18

Blaire

Ididn’t knowwhat time Grant came to bed, but when I woke up, he wasn’t beside me. Maybe I was pathetic to feel relieved at seeing the indentation on the pillow and the rumpled sheets that indicated he’d slept beside me. I might have also dreamed the kiss on my forehead, but I was clinging to hope that it wasreal.

I changed into yoga pants and a sports bra. Working out alleviated stress and Grant was definitely stressing me out with this uncertainty between us. I needed a blast of endorphins. When I shuffled into the kitchen, Collette was taking a tray of biscuits from the oven that smelled heavenly. I mentally rearranged my workout routine. Fat-burning cardio was more effective on an empty stomach, so I was ditching that for lifting weights because I was going to eatfirst.

I parked my ass on the kitchen island stool as I snuck a piece of bacon in my mouth. I grabbed a still-hot biscuit and dropped it on a small plate. Collette was Grant’s French housekeeper and she was a domestic goddess who could give Martha Stewart a run for hermoney.

“Where’s Grant?” I asked, soundingnonchalant.

Collette frowned as if surprised by my question. “He’s in New York. He called me early this morning to tell me to be sure to prepare breakfast for you and your securitydetail.”

“Oh.” I stared at the steaming biscuit. I knew it was Monday, but he usually left in the afternoons forManhattan.

“Grant said it was an emergency,” the housekeeper explained. Her gentle tone only made me feel worse. Sure it was an emergency. He needed to get away from me.Being left behind doesn’t feel too good now, does it?A taunting voice said. Karma definitely was abitch.

I looked up at Collette and forced a smile and then forced myself to take a bite of the biscuit. It burned my tongue, so I swallowed it, but it burned my throat instead. The housekeeper slid a glass of orange juice toward me. The look on her face wasn’t exactly pity, but I hated that look, so I continued to stare intospace.

I lost the desire for small talk. Tyler and the other security folks came and went from the kitchen. I nodded when they greeted me, but that was all I could muster. I quickly ate my biscuit and more bacon, then I went to the gym in the basement to work off myangst.

Almost two hours later,I was done. I killed myself on the squat rack and finished off on the stair machine. I would feel this later. Bent over, leaning on my thighs, my sweat dripped from my forehead to the mat. I felt euphoric. Grantwho?

The Fray blasted in my earphones singingOver My Headand I bobbed my head to its catchy rhythm. My eyes caught Tyler tapping on the glass door and holding a phone. I didn’t have one except the burner Liam left me. My heart jumped. Who else would be callingme?

I wiped the perspiration from my back and walked toward the door. Tyler walked in and handed me the phone. “It’s Mrs.Thorne.”

“Thanks, Tyler.” It looked like today would be a day of forced smiles as I tried to hide mydisappointment.

“Amelia,hi.”

“Blaire,” she said. “Marcus toldme.”

“Oh.” I didn’t know what tosay.

“I’m also disappointed in my son,” she continued. “Why is he in NewYork?”

“It’s Monday and business as usual,” Ireplied.

“Oh, Blaire,” she commiserated while calling Grant some names I hadn’t heard before. And then she started making excuses for him, as if trying to convince me not to give up on him. “Men can be so funny about their pride, especially these Thorne men. Sometimes you have to have the patience of a saint. They usually get out of their funk in a day or three. Marcus was the same way when he wasyounger.”

“I have to commend the senator for being open-mindedyesterday.”

“Well, Marcus took a lot of work in the beginning,” Amelia confided with a smile in her voice. “Tell you what? Why don’t we meet for coffee andshopping?”

“Amelia, I’m kind of onlockdown.”

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