Page 137 of Tangled Kisses
I step out of the shower and glance down at a message on my phone.
Speak of the handsome devil.
Griffin: Made it. Already miss you so much it hurts. So, wedding or baby first? You pick. I’m down for both. And tomorrow sounds perfect for either, belleza.
I laugh, pressing the towel tighter to my chest as I read it again. My smile is ridiculous—full-blown, face-splitting, hopelessly smitten.
Before I answer him, my eyes drift to the nightstand.
The envelope sits there. Crisp. Unassuming.
And containing a $150,000 check.
A new start and a real shot at everything Griffin and I want. Freedom. Stability. A future.
I press my palm over the envelope for just a second, sealing the promise in my heart.
For a beat, I consider telling him about the money, but I’d rather wait until I see him in person.
My phone beeps again.
Griffin: Well? Don’t keep me waiting, beautiful.
Maybe both if you hurry back home.The thought alone makes me grin. Knowing my man, that would be enough for him to dump Lauren on the side of the road.
Actually—not a bad idea.
I giggle and tap open the keyboard, ready to fire off a sassy reply, when there’s a knock at the door.
Through the peephole, I see Sabine’s face, her eyes wide and unsure.
Lovely.
I crack the door an inch. “Something wrong?”
She doesn’t answer right away. Her gaze flits behind her, then returns to mine. “You’ve got a visitor.”
“A what?” Who the hell would visit me here?
“A man. Says he’s here for you.” She leans in, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Reese, I don’t like him.”
My stomach flips like a fish out of water.
“He’s waiting in the sunroom. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. Capri’s out with a client, and—well, I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Did you get a name?”
But I already know the answer.
Her expression is grim. “Vander Hale.”
“Shit.” I hiss through my teeth, gripping the doorframe.
“Damn it.” Her lips purse at my expression. “That’s what I was afraid of.”
I force air into my lungs as trembles reverberate through my body. “Can you stall him for five minutes? I need to—God, I need to get dressed.”
She nods. “I’ll do what I can. But he’sintense.”
