Page 62 of Trick's Trap

“It won’t exist. Trust me, I’ve been dealing with these people my entire life. They know how to cover their tracks. Even if my father’s death was messy and unexpected, they have so much money, so much power, it would be impossible to find anything that could help us.”

He leaned over, pressing a hard and unexpected kiss to her lips.

“What was that for?” she asked.

“For acknowledging it isourproblem.”

His lips compressed, a calculating expression darkening his eyes. “Do you think framing them could work?”

Tahlia shook her head. “Not really, but if you’re contemplating my stupid plan, then you’re as desperate as I am. No matter what dirty trick I came up with, my uncle Lucas would come up with something worse.”

He rubbed her back. “We’ll think of something. In the meantime, we shouldn’t let your family get in the way of our future. In fact, getting married to me might make them think twice about coming after you.”

“How conveniently you forget they threatenedyouthis time.”

“I can take care of myself. And not to brag, I’m connected to some powerful people. Never discount the advantages of influential friends.”

He rolled over, letting the sheet slip off him. As usual, there wasn’t a trace of shyness or discomfort over his nudity.

Why should he be ashamed?Patrick had a glorious body. He was tall and lean, fitter and more handsome than most models.

“For now, I think we should forget about your family. We’re in one of my most favorite places in the world, and you have only scratched the surface of what it has to offer. Why don’t we get dressed and go enjoy Monte Carlo?”

His bright enthusiasm chipped away at her misgivings and apprehension. “That sounds wonderful. Where do we start?”

He grinned. “With showers, but I’ll take mine first.”

“You don’t want company?” This was new.

“I do. I really,reallydo. But you should call Maia and Peyton.” He reached over and took his phone from his pants. “Do it from this. They’re expecting your call.”

Guilt swamped her. “Are they okay?”

He avoided her eyes. “Peyton’s fine. Just a little worried.”

Oh, no. “What about Maia?”

He handed her the phone. “She’s back on bedrest.”

“But she was off bedrest the last time I spoke to her!” Maia had even had lunch at the hotel a few days before Gina came to see her. Had Tahlia’s action stressed her out so much she needed to be confined to her bed again?

“Stop that. It’s not your fault,” he said. “Maia’s just tiny, and she’s married to alargeman. Calen towers over her. And since it’s a boy this time, one that is obviously taking after his father, prolonged bedrest was inevitable. Don’t worry. Calen has the best doctors watching over her.”

Her breath caught. “It’s a boy?”

He grinned and tapped the phone. “Call her now. She won’t care about the time change.” With that, he bounded off the bed, heading for the shower.

Tahlia spent the next hour groveling for forgiveness on the phone. Both Peyton and Maia were far too easy on her. They absolved her of any culpability for running out on them again. But she still felt awful when she was done.

It took Patrick less than an hour to put a smile back on her face.And he managed to do it without sex! she thought, beaming as he took her to the Terrasses de Fontvieille to view the royal car collection.

A racing enthusiast, Patrick went on and on about the Grand Prix, the famous formula-one race that wound through the narrow streets of the principality. Tahlia enjoyed the classic cars, but she was absolutely transported when he somehow finagled the keys to a vintage Porsche RSK Spyder.

“Don’t worry. This isn’t part of the normal collection,” he assured her. “I rented this for a few days from a local dealer. You can drive it around to the end of the lot. After, I’ll take over and we can do the whole Grand Prix circuit!”

“But Patrick, I don’t even know how to drive a regular car,” she confessed once the attendant who’d given him the keys was a safe distance.

“Shh,” he whispered. “Just take it nice and easy. And steplightlyon the gas.”

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