Page 15 (1/2)

He turned to leave, but Paige grabbed his arm to hold him in place Te he wouldn’t shake her off

"It’s not about Joe," she told him "If you report him, you’ll have to explain the circumstances You’ll have to talk about the fact that they kissed Darcy will be huirl a break"

"There are rules to follow," Alex began

"Oh, and you’ve never once bent the human," she said "Just this once You’ve already lectured Joe He’s not going to screw up again"

"He shouldn’t have screwed up at all He knows better He can’t walk around thinking with his dick He needs his brain engaged"

She looked at hi this much of a bastard before"

"My only concern is Darcy’s safety"

"What about her happiness?"

"She won’t be very happy when she’s dead"

He was right, Paige realized They were talking about Darcy’s life, and there was no roo up?" he asked

She nodded "Darcy is my primary concern I want her alive and happy, but if I only have one choice, I’ll pick alive"

Darcy curled up in the library It was a quiet spot in the Marcelli house, and she liked the view she had of the vineyards out the east-facingShe also liked that she was completely and totally alone, and not scared about it When she’d returned froe she would stay in for the rest of the afternoon, which meant she didn’t have to deal with any security

Now, as she leaned back in the big leather chair, she breathed in a sense of peace Maybe it was knowing there were so many people around to keep her safe Maybe it was because her brain still buzzed with theinto a better house Whatever the reason, she didn’t care Feeling good was fabulous

She picked up her book, then set it down again She’d loved the feel of his body against hers It had been a long time since a man had held her as if he meant it She wouldn’t mind a repeat of the kiss andthe bases with Joe Not that he was likely to offer, but a girl could dream

The door to the library opened and the star of her sexual fantasies walked in He glanced around, then spotted her

"Oh You’re here"

She smiled, not the least bit put out by his sullenness From what she could tell, Joe hated everyone His attitude wasn’t personal "I’ve always adrace It’s so elegant"

"I’ a bad day"

"Should I take that comment personally?"

"What?" He closed the door behind him then crossed to the"No It’s not about, you know"

You kno interesting The big, bad Navy SEAL couldn’t say kiss? He prowled the rooe to tweak his tail

"I don’t know, actually What are you talking about?"

He glared at her "Our kiss"

"Oh That"

His eyebrows drew together, and she had a feeling he was going to start yelling at her All that energy, she thought, ued than afraid He ruuard for a second "He’s not so bad"

"He’s not sleeping with your sister"

"That’s true" She tilted her head "You’ve never claimed one of the Marcellis as fa into it It’s just Mia’s a baby She thinks she’s wild and tough, but she’s not"

"And you worry about her"

He stopped in lared

"Don’t worry," she said "My lips are sealed Besides, even if I wasn’t interested in keeping your secrets, I don’t want toI like it here"

"Don’t sound so surprised"

"I am I didn’t think I would There are too many people and it’s so wide open here But I like the whole family You should try to appreciate what you have"

"Look, I’ve heard enough of that to last a lifetime"

"If you were smarter, you’d realize how lucky you are to have found the Marcellis"

"They foundthee the subject?"

"We can, but I don’t want to Besides, if you hate e’re talking about, you could leave"

His silence told her he couldn’t But why?

"Are you hiding out here?" she asked

"I’ she understood She uncoiled her legs and rested her feet on the floor "Okay I’ll stop torturing you for sport, but I won’t change the subject You have a terrific family You’re crazy if you don’t appreciate that"

He looked at her "Why does itshe’d ever wanted "My family is small, and we’re not so close," she said instead