Page 31 of One Shade of Gray
He settled and shifted his hands to his lap, knees facing me. I didn’t bother worrying about my state of undress. I could have been wearing my best suit, and it wouldn’t change his opinion ofme.
“So, was there something I could help you with, Mr.Vale?”
He nodded and rubbed his hands up and down his jeans like his palms were sweaty. And yet nothing else about him spoke of nerves. I enjoyed the way he cast doubt on what I thought he might be feeling. Making me unsteady and unsure. An interestingtactic.
“Yes, actually. I want to know what your intentions are with mysister.”
Finally, we’d come to it. “Izzy is a wonderful woman. I hope to spend more time with her. At present, she seems uncertain if she wants to spend more time withme.”
He tilted his head to the side, and that same weighed and measured look Izzy gave me fell across his features. Oddly disconcerting, given the presentsituation.
“And if she tells you she doesn’t want to see youagain?”
I shrugged and wished I had my tea, so I would at least be able to fiddle with something, look away from his scrutiny. “Then of course I’ll respect her wishes. I would never purposefully harmher.”
The note on the counter made that statement more than a lie. I’d definitely hurt her when I left. But causing her pain to protect her, I hoped, was a different kind ofsin.
He gave me a nod that included the tilt of his shoulders. Something I’d witnessed countless times in good ol’ American boys. He was trying to make me feel safe. In doing so, he was making me even morenervous.
“Was that all you wanted, Mr.Vale?”
He waved at me with a smile. “Please, call me Jake. No need for formalitieshere.”
Hopefully, he would leave before Izzy came out of the bedroom half naked. His ideas on formalities might be entirelydifferent.
He slapped his hands on his thighs and stood. It occurred to me finally that he’d arrived at my door. Even at this hour, he shouldn’t have been able to get past my doorman without a call to mefirst.
Unease began to trickle up my spine as I stood with him. He headed toward thedoor.
“I’ll see you out,” Ioffered.
“Thanks, that’s kind of you. I’m off to see Izzy in a minute. She didn’t know I was coming, so I expect she will be mightysurprised.”
And he will be too when he realizes she’s not athome.
I opened the door for him, holding it as he stepped across the threshold. He held his hand out once more, and I grasped it toshake.
When I met his eyes, all signs of the jovial man were gone. In his place stood a steely eyed brother about to mess up his sister’sboyfriend.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Gray. I already know I can’t kill you. Which means this is going to be a lot moreinteresting.”
I was sure I didn’t want to know but I asked anyway. “What will beinteresting?”
A sharp jolt hit my ribs, and I went down to the floor. I rolled, intent on getting up, but the room spun, and I flopped to my back. Jake’s face hovered over mine for a flash of a second, and then darkness sucked me into her coolembrace.
14
Izzy
The warm sunon my face woke me. I reached out my arms and rolled to my back, tingling and aching in all the good places. When I opened my eyes, I sought out Gray but he wasn’t in bed. The lingering scent of boiled over water on a hot stovetop hit me, and it occurred to me he might be a morningperson.
Ugh, yet another strike against that sexybastard.
I rolled over and grabbed his T-shirt off the floor. Mine had been destroyed, so he’d have to survive if I borrowed his. I slipped it on and went in search of myunderwear.
“I’ll take some of that tea, please,” I called out as I extricated the lace from my leggings and slipped them on. I spun to face him with a smile that died on my lips when I turned to find the kitchenempty.
“Gray?” I called out looking around for a flash of movement.Nothing.
