Page 29 of Conner's Choice
“In due time, Elizabeth. Detective Stone has eyes on him while he lays the groundwork for your case and the Parkers’. You should probably change your clothes.” He grabbed her suitcases and led her to the master bedroom.
The cottage belonged to Christian’s mother Jaime and had stood empty for years. He left her outside the master bedroom, giving her the privacy she needed to change, and went into the living room to wait for her. Several minutes later, she joined him. Elizabeth had changed into a pair of jeans and a pink sweater. She had let her hair down so that it brushed her shoulders. His heart swelled with how lovely she was.
“You look pretty. In fact, you were the most beautiful woman at Mayor Monahan’s birthday party tonight.”
“Not true.” She brushed aside his compliment. “Chelsea Sherwood and her trio of blonde daughters were by far the most gorgeous women there.” Her eyes narrowed a little. “And you were certainly enjoying Colleen Sherwood’s attention.”
Conner chuckled. “So, you noticed.”
“I did. Maybe you prefer blondes.”
“No. There’s only one woman I prefer.” He started to move toward her, but then his cell phone pinged with a text message. Conner lifted his eyes. “It’s time.” He held out his hand, and she grabbed it as if she were drowning. “Remember what I said. I’ve got you.”
Forty minutes later, Conner pulled into the Warners’ driveway. He leaned toward her and pressed a gentle kiss against her soft mouth. “You can do this, Elizabeth. I’ll be right here waiting for you.”
Elizabeth’s fear settledin her stomach as she entered the house and turned off the security alarm. Her cell phone was set on camera mode when she climbed the staircase and paused outside the bedroom door. She heard Alexa’s groans of pain and pleasure and wondered what Kevin was doing to her. Quietly, she pushed open the door and started snapping pictures of Alexa tied to the bed while Kevin used some sex toy on her she’d never seen or imagined in her life.
Alexa spotted Elizabeth first and emitted a sharp gasp of surprise. “Oh, my God! Lizzie!”
Lizzie. Of course.Anger and disgust swept through her. “My name isElizabeth.”
Kevin swore and untied Alexa. “Shit! What are you doing home?”
Elizabeth smiled in sweet satisfaction. “Oh, honey, I’m not the stupid fool you always believed me to be. I know all about your affairs. And now I finally have proof of at least two of them. Lexi and Alexa. I nailed you, Kevin, and it feels exhilarating.”
He cursed but didn’t make any attempt to stop her when she left.
Wearing only Kevin’s dress shirt, Alexa raced down the stairs after Elizabeth. “Wait!” she cried, her voice high and desperate. “What do you intend to do now, Lizzie?”
“For a lawyer, you’re pretty dense, Alexa. My name isElizabeth. And what I intend to do is make you as equally responsible as Lexi for the destruction of my marriage.”
“It was never my intention to hurt you,Elizabeth,” Alexa declared in a placating tone.
“Hurt me? You liberated me, Alexa. Take my advice. Distance yourself from Kevin. You have no idea what’s coming.” Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and left the house.
Elizabeth slid onto the passenger seat of Conner’s Jag, leaned back, and closed her eyes. At first, hysterical laughter bubbled inside of her. But then, her laughter turned into loud sobs. She cried all the way back to the cottage.
Conner escorted her to the door and, in a voice without warmth, bid her good night.
“Don’t you want to come in?”
“No. I’d rather not.”
So attuned to his moods Elizabeth knew something was bothering him. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“Don’t lie to yourself, Elizabeth. You still have feelings for Warner.”
The harsh accusation took Elizabeth by surprise before she realized he’d misunderstood why she cried. “Now who’s jealous, Conner?” she teased him.
“Stop it. I’m not in the mood for your games,” he growled. His jaw clenched in anger.
“No? So, you’re not in the mood to hear the truth?” She deliberately baited him.
“No. The fact that you cried for a common murderer like Kevin Warner makes me sick to my stomach.”
