Page 104 of A Secret to Die For

“But they’re so careful. Every lead is a dead end.”

“Yesterday, he was ready to fly to DC and send them to meet their friend from the pool house, consequences be damned.”

My heart lurched. “Did you stop him? Tell me you stopped him? He’d end up in prison.”

“I talked him out of it, temporarily at least. But I don’t think he cares about prison. Right now, he doesn’t think he has much to live for.”

“He has everything. People the world over envy him.”

“They envy his money, and money isn’t all that important to my brother. He was always happier living in barracks with twenty other men than in a mansion. He only quit the Marines because Dad put pressure on him to step up and do what was best for the family, i.e. for Dad.”

“I understand about family pressure.”

“People see the glitz and the glamour, but they rarely check under the hood.” Gracie grabbed another tissue from the nearly empty box. “What Garrett did to you was the most egregious breach of trust, and in your position, I’m not sure I’d forgive him either. But he really is devastated. I’ve never seen him like this before.”

“Contrite?”

“In love.”

“Oh.”

“Yup. He’s head over heels, and he’s also terrified you’ll never speak to him again.”

“I need time.”

“Absolutely. You know, I can understand why he doubted you, and it’s not a slight on your character. Graham Mandell is just so, so good at hiding the darkness within. I used to think of him as an uncle.”

“Before that night on the terrace, I don’t remember ever meeting him.”

“He’s caused so much hurt. Maybe someday, would you consider speaking with Garrett?”

“Maybe someday. I do miss him. I miss everything we had, but I’m not sure I’d be able to trust him again.”

“Can I ask a really personal question?”

I could always refuse to answer, couldn’t I?

“Okay.”

“So during my talk with Garrett, some things came up about my family that…well, they shocked me, and I’m just not sure… Can being tied up truly feel pleasurable? And, uh, spanking?”

Wow. That must have been a heck of a conversation. If I’d looked in the mirror, a ripe tomato would have stared back at me.

“Uh, yes?” Please, couch, swallow me now. “Yes, with the right man, those things can be very pleasurable indeed. That’s where the trust comes in.”

“Good to know. So, uh, we’ll never speak of this again, okay?”

“Agreed. Can I interest you in a coffee?”

“I’d love a coffee. And I understand there’s a guy here who customises shoes? Paulo? I have a friend who’d like his number.”

“He’s gay, and he also has a boyfriend.”

Gracie giggled. “Oh, this isn’t a romantic proposition. She made the shoes you ran away from my brother in, and she wants to speak with Paulo about collaborating on a limited edition. I also design shoes, by the way. If he can’t agree on terms with Riya, I’d be interested in poaching him myself.”

“He doesn’t work Wednesdays, but he’ll be here tomorrow. Are you planning to fly back to New York right away?”

“We’re staying at the Peninsula.”

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