LITMIR.BIZ

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to speak.

      Terrified.

      Grant has to keep his promise. Right then, he was her only hope.

      She’d known that the cops were after her. She’d pulled into her condo’s parking lot, seen Detective Shayne Townsend waiting...and she’d panicked. She’d driven away as fast as she could, and gone to the only man who could help her.

      If he would help her.

      She’d been back in Austin for only about a year. She’d deliberately stayed away from Grant during that time, but she’d known he was in the city. He and his brothers had all come home five years before.

      When their parents had been murdered.

      And now here I am...in a cell, accused of murder.

      He was probably rethinking his promise to help her. Probably getting ready to turn his back on her and just walk away. If he hadn’t already.

      Her head sagged forward. This couldn’t be happening to her. It was a nightmare.

      A door opened, metal scraping over the floor. It was the door that led back to the holding area where she was currently secured. She heard footsteps approaching, but Scarlett didn’t look up. She didn’t want the guards to see her fear.

      The fear that was consuming her.

      “Did you do it?”

      That wasn’t a guard’s voice. It was his voice. Grant’s.

      Her head shot up even as she surged to her feet and leaped toward the bars. Grant stood on the other side of them, looking grim, dangerous.

      Strong.

      Same old Grant. Time had sure been kind to him.

      “I told you...I didn’t.” Her fingers curled around the bars. They were cold to the touch. “I’m being set up. I could never kill anyone!”

      “I talked to Detective Townsend. Shayne and I...we know each other...”

      Because Shayne Townsend had worked on the murder case involving Grant’s parents? Oh, this was not going well at all.

      “Your fingerprints were on the knife that killed the victim, Scarlett.”

      “Because I’d used the knife before. Used it for making a meal...not to kill Eric. I would never do something like that. Never!”

      Grant’s jaw locked. “You were seen arguing with your...your fiancé.”

      Her hold tightened on the bars. “He wasn’t my fiancé anymore. That’s why we were arguing.” She shook her head. “I know it looks bad—”

      “His blood was on your clothes!”

      She flinched. Grant had definitely had a long talk with the detective. “Because I found him. I thought he might still be alive, and I was trying to save Eric.” But he’d already been gone and so cold. Blood had soaked his shirt and pooled beneath him. She closed her eyes, wishing she could shut out that sight, but it was burned into her memory. “I know the evidence is pointing to me, but I didn’t do it.”

      Grant’s fingers brushed over hers.

      Scarlett’s eyes flew open. He had aged so well over the years. The innocence of his youth was gone, replaced by an appearance of rugged power. His face was leaner, but still as handsome. Always handsome... Sculpted lips—lips that some thought held a cruel edge, but she’d always thought his mouth was sexy. Always thought he was sexy. A faint scar curved over his square jaw, a silent testimony to the battles he’d fought over the years.

      His eyes...that green was harder now, too. He stared out at the world—at her—with suspicion.

      The boy she’d loved was gone.

      The man who’d taken his place was a stranger.

      “I used to be able to tell when you were lying to me.” His voice was low, measuring.

      Her breath had stilled in her lungs. “I’m not lying,” she forced herself to say. I’m just desperate. So afraid.

      His fingers curled fully around hers as her right hand fisted around the bar. “Why weren’t you engaged any longer?”

      That was the question he asked her? Her gaze shifted to his throat. She didn’t want to look him in the eyes then. She couldn’t. “Because I couldn’t marry a man I didn’t love.”

      “Scarlett...”

      Stare into his eyes. Do it! She lifted her gaze. “You’re a private detective now. You have your own agency, and I’ve—I’ve read stories about you and your brothers. How successful you are.” Not just there in Austin, but all over Texas. Heck, all over the South and up the East Coast. They weren’t just some local branch of PIs. They were a force to be reckoned with.

      Once upon a time, folks in the area had whispered about the five McGuire boys...boys who’d been wild and reckless. Who’d had a reputation for trouble.

      Then those boys had all joined the military.

      Grant had been a ranger. Davis and Brodie, the twins, had become SEALs. Mac had been in Delta Force and the youngest brother, Sullivan, had morphed into a marine with a brutal edge.

      They’d all been serving their country. They’d been steadfast in their duty. Until their parents had been murdered.

      And now I’ve brought Grant into another murder investigation.

      Being involved in her case had to be the last thing he wanted, but he truly was her best chance of survival. “If anyone can prove that I’m innocent,” she added, “it will be you.”

      She was innocent.

      “I can pay you,” she said, the words tumbling out. “Name a price, I’ll pay anything...do anything—”

      His head tilted as he studied her. “Yes, you will.”

      Her heart thundered in her chest. “You’ll help me? You won’t leave me on my own?”

      “I don’t break my promises.” He towered over her. Grant was easily six foot three, and his body was pure sculpted power. “I gave you my word, and I’ll stick to it.”

      The relief Scarlett felt almost made her dizzy.

      “But you will owe me.” He backed away, and Scarlett immediately missed his touch. “And I’ll be collecting on everything you owe.” Grant gave her a nod. Then his gaze swept around the cell and his face hardened. “First order of business will be getting you the hell out of here.”

      That wasn’t happening. At least, not tonight. She wasn’t supposed to go before a judge until the next day. Then he might keep holding her... What if I don’t get out at all? All during the trial, locked up. Scarlett trembled.

      “I’m scared.” That confession broke from her. She didn’t know what strings Grant had pulled to get access to her, but she was just grateful to have him there with her. The years—the distance—had vanished, and she found herself being able to confess to him as easily as she’d shared all her secrets years ago.

      At her words, his face hardened even more. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

      She leaned closer to the bars, closer to him. “Grant—”

      The metal door opened again. “Time’s up, McGuire!” a loud voice called.

      Grant didn’t turn away, not yet. “Trust me,” he told her.

      She nodded. She’d always trusted Grant.

      He backed away.

      Her eyes were on him until the heavy metal door swung shut once more. Scarlett kept holding the cold cell bars as she wondered how her life had wound up like this...

      You still love him! You think I don’t know? You think I’m not aware of what you’ve been

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