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His eyes er under her chin hadn’t moved, she still felt as if she’d been caressed by hi?"

No denying it now Ti melodramatic I was just shocked to see you That’s all"

Grant’s jaw hardened, his eyes narrowed in warning "Bullshit Tell oing to cave just because he wanted her to

She pushed his hand away, breaking the contact between theet him out of town, as far away from this place as possible If she pulled him into this mess, he’d stay, and she couldn’t have his death on her hands Not after what he’d done to save her fourteen years ago, what he’d risked

He’d given up his life for her, gone to jail for her She wouldn’t repay hi she wasn’t just i

Which was entirely possible No one else believed her

"I’ht se of that" His tone ca, so he softened it with a "please"

Maybe she should tell hi He was former military If anyone could see a threat, it would be Grant And if he looked over the evidence she’d gathered and didn’t think there was anything odd, she would at least be able to relax

"You’re probably going to think I’m crazy"

"Crazy chicks are hot"

Isabelle felt the blush war ti like a teenager again, insecure and uncertain The only difference was that back then she hadn’t been able to gain his attention, and now she had every bit of it aih to make any woman squirm

"Spill it, Isabelle, or I’ll have to show you just how ation techniques in the military"

"You don’t scare rin lifted hisvery careful not to, honey I’ nice here Want me to move on to plan B?"

Yes, a crazy part of her mind screamed--the part that was still sixteen and so infatuated with Grant she couldn’t think straight Anything he wanted to do to her had to be better than letting hiain

But the rest of her, the sane, rational, adult part of her, knew better She had s in her life She didn’t need anything from Grant Not anyet in your car and drive off, and I swear I’ll tell you anything you want to know on your cell phone on your way out of town"

"Not good enough Start talking"

Grant had had a powerful presence even as a teen, yet it was nothing co in the man he’d become He was harder than he had been More formidable More irresistible

"I never should have called you" Too bad she hadn’t realized it before she’d picked up the phone All she’d been thinking about arning hiht that call would bring him to her doorstep

"But you did"

It wasn’t the first mistake she’dshe could do noas daht as well sit down"

Grant held out his hand for her to lead the way She left the foyer and went into the living rooainst one wall, its colorful occupants gliding gracefully through the water A few pieces of art hung here and there, s of flowers The furniture looked coirly pillows covered in beads and tassels and other shiny bits of fluff he couldn’t name

Isabelle perched at the far end of the couch, well out of range of any , which was truly a pity Grant took the hint and cleared away enough pillows that he could sit on the love seat, positioned between her and the front door

If there really was soet through hieted with a pillow, and Grant could see the faintest treers

Whatever was scaring her, Grant wanted to find it and kill it He’d never been sure what it was about Isabelle that brought out these fierce protective instincts in hiht it was simply the fact that she’d been so s, because she was neither of those things anyes hadn’t died down over the years

The knowledge was

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and blurted, "In January, I got two of the Christmas cards I sent returned unopened"