Fraud

Ivy

Who knew Mother Nature herself would step in and stop a huge mistake? I have to thank her, though, for both the warning and the reminder.

I think it’s fairly obvious I can’t be trusted to control myself around Gabriel. He has the insane ability to pull every emotion out of me. Mostly anger, but often lust. Occasionally a broken heart, but according to him, we don’t talk about that.

It wasn’t two seconds later after returning to our seats that he hid behind his mask again, the tiny glimpses I get of the man beneath few and far between.

We didn’t speak for the rest of the flight, which was fine by me, and once the plane landed, we made our way down to his waiting car.

Now we’re on the road to who knows where. He won’t tell me. His mouth curling with a cryptic grin every time I ask.

It isn’t until we pull up to the gate at Highland Hills that I realize he’s taking me straight to Ta

My stomach knots painfully as Gabriel stops at the small security building, cocks a brow at the guard, then pulls ahead slowly as the gates slide apart.

“I was hoping you were taking me home. I have a nasty situation to straighten out, thanks to you.”

Gri

“I wouldn’t have spent so much time creating that situation if I’d pla

At least he’s talking again.

“Would you like to tell me exactly what you did to create it?”

Another laugh, the easygoing jokester firmly in place now that we’re back home.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he says, his tone mocking as he swings the car into Ta

Asshole.

Now that he’s like this again, I know I won’t be able to get anything out of him, even if I were to slice him in half to dig it out. I’ve seen this side of Gabriel so many times that I can get confused when it happens. I sometimes forget I know the lie.

Parking outside a large garage, Gabriel turns off the car and gets out. After rounding the front to come to my side, he opens my door and offers his hand to help me to my feet.

It’s insane how well-ma

I accept, and that damn spark jumps the second our hands touch, my eyes lifting to his to see he’s staring down at me, a million thoughts swirling behind the emerald green that make my heart race and my thighs slam together.

Once I’m on my feet, he steps closer to me, pi

“Do you think if I kissed you now, an earthquake would stop us?”

A tremor runs through me at the rasp in his voice, the rough edges teasing my body with the sexual frustration I know he feels.

“I’m sure the ground would open up and swallow us whole. We are not supposed to be together. It’s an affront to the natural order of the world.”

I feel his mouth grin against my cheek.

“Maybe I need to take you to a place where no fault lines exist, and no volcanoes are nearby.”

Laughing at that, I answer, “Then it would just be a tornado, a hurricane or some other natural disaster. Because that’s what we are.”

He sighs, and those lying eyes drag back to mine.

“I suppose you’re right. It’s too bad I hate you so much. You’re not bad to look at. I wouldn’t mind finding out how nice the view is without your clothes.”

“As if I’d let you see all that. You’d fall in love, and I’d never get rid of you.”

The smile I know so well is back in place as he releases my hand and steps away.

Nudging his chin toward the house, he silently tells me to start walking, the car door shutting behind me as I breathe out a steadying breath and head in that direction.

I reach a side door and Gabriel steps around me to open it.

Glancing at him, I ask, “When will you be taking me home?”

Those deceptive lips pull into a charming smile.

“I’m not sure why you’d want to go there when we are so hopelessly in love.”

“Wait. What?”

Laughing, Gabriel shoves me into the house, directing me a few more steps forward into a beautiful kitchen as he quietly shuts the door behind us.

I spin to face him. “Are you going to explain what that means?”

“Good luck getting it out of him,” a woman says behind me. There’s humor in her voice, and just the hint of a Southern accent.

Dread shimmies down my spine when I turn to see the pretty brunette Ta

“I’m not sure if you remember me.” She smiles sweetly and leans a shoulder against a doorway. “We’ve actually met before, but I was married to Clayton Hughes at the time.”

Oh, God. Poor woman. Clayton Hughes might be part of the better social circles because of his father, but he’s always been an idiot.

My thoughts must be written all over my face because she laughs and steps forward to offer a hand in greeting.

“Yes, it was a horrible mistake to marry him, and I lived to regret it. I’m Luca Bailey, by the way. It’s nice to meet you again.”

So horrified by the recognition of her last name, I briefly forget there’s a bastard standing behind me that has done something terrible to ruin my life.

His hand touches my lower back as I shake Luca’s hand, guilt crawling down my spine for what I know and refuse to say.

Gabriel steps around me and pulls Luca into a warm hug.

“How are you doing, love? Did you miss me while I was gone?”

Another laugh as she wraps her arms around him. I resist the urge to vomit. This poor woman has no idea who he really is.

“I always miss you. Bad cop is upstairs if you’re looking for him.”

Bad cop?

Who is that?

And for that matter, who the hell is good cop?

They step apart, and Gabriel sets off as if to leave the room. Stopping before he reaches the door, he turns back.

“Do me a favor, Luca, and tackle Ivy if she tries to escape. She’s not happy with me at the moment. Although, I can’t figure out why.”

Liar...

He winks at her before disappearing through the doorway, and I freeze in place when Luca turns to look at me.

I hate knowing what I know, and it takes effort for me not to throw myself at her feet, spill all the details and beg for forgiveness. Even if I had nothing to do with it.

“Sorry to hear about your vacation. I know what it’s like to be dragged into their bullshit. I assume you’re as unwilling as I was.”

“You can say that,” I answer on a shaky voice.       

My hesitation isn’t because of what Gabriel is doing to me. I’m used to that. It’s more that I can’t fully swallow down the secret I think I know about the woman. The guilt is eating me alive.

Maybe it’s a different Bailey.

I mean, there’s always the possibility.

The thought only partially calms me down enough that my palms aren’t sweating.

“Take a seat.”

She points to the kitchen island and heads to the fridge. “Can I get you something?”

“Water is fine. Thanks.”

I stare at her as she opens the fridge door and pulls out two bottles. Glad to sit down for fear I might faint, I lean against the backrest and tap my toe on the floor.