Page 60 of What Doesn't Kill You…

"Technically," Violet said. "He belongs to himself. It's illegal to own another person."

Beside her, Rodrigo snorted then focused on his drink. Violet was pleased to see it came with a pink umbrella. Served him right for doubting her expertise when it came to cowardly men.

Lian ignored the comment and carried on as though Violet hadn't spoken. "He tells me you haven't decided where to live yet."

And just like that, they'd hit another damn landmine. "We might do the long-distance thing for a bit until we know where we want to settle," Violet said, hoping her gran would be satisfied.

She wasn't. Dark, intelligent eyes captured hers. "Violet Lee, you cannot have a marriage when you live in different countries."

Violet was genuinely bewildered. "I don't see why not. It sounds pretty damn perfect to me."

"No, it doesn't," Lian said. "Save your amusing comments for your mother. I see right through you."

"Really?" Violet challenged, even though she knew better.

"You're afraid," Lian said with understanding. "Getting married can be very scary for a strong woman." She smiled a soft, knowing smile. "Women like us, we need men who will let us be who we are, and refrain from trying to change us." She paused. "I find it interesting that you're both investigators."

"We do very different types of investigating, Gran. In fact, there's hardly any overlap at all." She was totally going to hell for the lies coming out of her mouth.

"It's purely an observation," Lian said, sounding suspiciously innocent. "Maybe, in the future, you'll be able to help each other with your very different types of investigations."

Violet's mouth was suddenly dry. "I think Max can dig up stories all on his own. He's managed fine for years without my help."

"Is that right?" Lian flashed a far too serene smile. "I imagine it would be difficult for each of you to resist getting involved in the other's obsessions. And it is very easy to become obsessed with issues of justice, is it not?"

Oh, Lian Ferguson was suspicious for sure. "Well, Max will have his reporting work in Canada, and I'll have Benson Security in Houston, and we'll have a fabulous time meeting up for holidays in between."

"A marriage made of holidays?" Lian mused. "That's an interesting notion. It almost doesn't sound real. Sorry, I mean, it sounds too good to be true."

Violet narrowed her eyes at her gran. The woman never said anything she didn't mean. Ever. "I'm sure we'll work it out," she said.

"I'm sure you will." Lian stood and stroked Violet's hair. "Just be careful you aren't so busy working it out that you forget about each other all together." With that she wandered over to join her daughter.

Max came around the table to take the seat Lian had vacated. "What was that about?" he said.

"She's suspicious," Violet said. "I'm not surprised. The woman has a sixth sense for subterfuge. We need to be really careful around her. I don't want her telling my mum about her suspicions. That would not bode well for either us or the mission. We probably shouldn't have told her we planned on living in different countries after our wedding."

"You told her that?" Max cast a glance her grandmother's way. "I told her we were settling in Toronto."

Sneaky woman. Violet went over everything her grandmother had said and, more importantly, the things she hadn't. Her heart sank. "She definitely thinks we're working together, and the wedding is fake," she said at last, coming to the only conclusion possible.

"Which is true," Max said helpfully.

"Yes," Violet told him, speaking slowly so he'd understand. "But she's not supposed to think that. It could get her in trouble."

His smile was wicked, and the dimples appeared, making her stomach flutter. Then making her want to vomit because she was pretty sure she'd never used the word flutter in her entire life before that moment.

"We should do something to put her mind at ease," he said, his voice low and dark.

"What do you suggest?" She sounded hoarse.

"Pucker up, Vi, I'm going to kiss you," he said. "Try not to climb all over me this time. Remember we're in public."

She started to growl, and he captured the sound with his lips. For a millisecond, she felt tense, aware her family were watching. Then Max angled his mouth, and she felt him cup the back of her neck, and suddenly she didn't care who saw them.

Salt toffee.

Warm heat.