Page 6 (1/2)

"Actually, I own the whole da the lake And, well, about half of the town” He grinned “But who's counting?"

"Apparently, you are,” she said, her tone dry “You're certainly arrogant enough to be Garrett Slater"

He chuckled “I was born this way Nothing I can do about it” He forced his tone to re Garrett wanted to do was frighten her more than he already hadmore than he likely would when she discovered his true identity

Thinking of the danger she was in—the danger she knew nothing about—he took a small step toward her and extended his hand to her “Let me help you inside"

Her gaze shifted suddenly as so"

Glancing down at his right hip, he saw a crimson stain on the white towel he'd wrapped around his waist His gaze returned to her striking face “It's nothing"

She stared at hi In fact, it looks pretty bad"

And then it occurred to her

Garrett could see the change in her visage, the questioning and uncertainty that entered her eyes The way her body suddenly trembled so violently told him she had just made a correlation that was not only inconceivable to her, but which was also probably thelife

"Oh, holy shit” she said on a sharp breath Then, “Where'd the dog go?"

Garrett too

k another small step toward her Serena's body shook visibly and she pressed her back against the coluetting partially rained on, but he could see that the sturdy wooden beam provided her some measure of stability

In a low, even tone, he said, “There was no dog"

Her arms finally dropped all the way to her sides and the iron rod claers “I saw it,” she whispered “I hit it And then I helped it into the back of my truck” Her deep blue eyes narrowed on him as she said, “I felt the blood He hit the corner ofI felt the blood on ers"

She lifted her right hand, but of course there was no evidence of what she spoke The rain had washed the blood away