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“I don’t normally eat like this,” Grayson said as he pushed his empty plate aside. “It’s usually a protein shake to start my morning.” He nodded for a refill when the waitress came by with the coffeepot.

“My eggs and toast were good. I think they make their own jams.”

“Probably.” He leaned forward and rested his forearms on the table. “Ready for some serious talk?”

The first thing he’d noticed when she’d entered the restaurant was the change in her. Her black pants and white blouse were a vast improvement from yesterday’s clothes. Instead of the tight bun, her hair was in a low ponytail. Another improvement. He wanted to compliment her but was afraid it would make her uncomfortable.

What he liked most, though, was that her eyes were brighter today. She didn’t look quite as defeated, and that made him want to do whatever he could to keep the light in those pretty eyes.

“Before we go any further, I need to make sure I can afford you. Do you have an estimate of what it will cost to hire you?”

“It depends on how long this takes, of course. How about we agree on a retainer, and then we can evaluate as we go. I’m hoping to be able to give you enough ammunition to get the custody arrangement overturned, or at least get a more equitable agreement, in no longer than two weeks. Let’s start with two thousand. That work for you?” It actually should be more, but apparently, he was a softie. He’d do it on the side and for free if he had to because he was going to make sure she got her son back.

“Yes. I actually thought it would be more than that.”

“It might be in the end, but that’s good enough to get started.”

“Thank you. I’m ready for your questions.”

“My first question. I asked you about visitation yesterday, but we got sidetracked and you didn’t answer. What are your visitation rights?”

“I’m allowed supervised visits at Anthony’s discretion, which he hasn’t seen fit to allow unless I move back in with him.” Tears filled her eyes. “I haven’t seen my son since the divorce was final. Haven’t been able to touch him, to hug him. It’s killing me.”

“So, he’s using Tyler to try and force you to do something you don’t want to.” What kind of man used a child as a weapon? Grayson’s loathing for Anthony Pressley was growing with each of her revelations.

“Is there a reason he’s trying so hard to get you back other than that he loves you?”

She made an unladylike snort. “Anthony doesn’t love anyone but himself. He sees me as his property, nothing more than that.”

“Has he ever physically abused you?”

“No. When he’s really angry, he’ll grab my arm hard enough to leave bruises, but he’s never hit me.”

“Did you take pictures of the bruises?” Any time a man left bruises on a woman it was abuse. It would help to have proof.

“I never thought to, but I will if he does it again. He was waiting for me when I got home from meeting with you yesterday. It’s like he somehow knows I’m doing something he doesn’t like.”

“Does that happen often?”

“Yes. It’s a little spooky, really. Like he has some kind of radar. I know he has people who report my whereabouts to him if they see me somewhere, so I guess that’s why.”

Or he was sneakier than she suspected. “Unlock your phone and let me see it.” She handed it over, and it only took a minute to find the tracking app. “How long have you had this phone?”

“This one, a year. He gave me my first phone when we got engaged. Said he put it on the family plan so I wouldn’t have to keep paying for the one I had. He replaces it every time a new model comes out.”

“This isn’t going to make you happy. There’s a tracking app in here, and dollars to doughnuts he’s put one on every phone he gave you from that first one.”

“The rat bastard.” She slapped her hand on the table. “Take the app off.”

“I have a better idea. Be right back.” He went to his car and got the burner he kept in his middle console.

When he slid back into the booth, she was staring daggers at her cell phone. He pushed it back to her. “Here’s what I want you to do. If you’re going to the grocery store, your hairdresser, someplace mundane like that, take your phone.” He entered his cell phone number to the contacts, then handed her the burner. “This is a burner. You know what that is?”

She nodded.

“Good. Keep it with you at all times. When you’re going someplace you don’t want him to know about, especially when you’re meeting me, leave your phone at home. Let him think that’s where you are. If you need to make a call during those times, use the burner. Always use it if you need to talk to me.”

“This is so cool. I feel like I’m in a spy movie.” Amusement danced in her eyes. “Maybe we need secret code names.”

He grinned. “Sure. What’s yours?” He was more curious than he should be as to what she’d come up with.

“Let’s see.” She tapped her lips with her index finger. “Cat Mama!”

“How about we shorten it to Cat?” He liked playing a part in her having fun.

“Okay. What’s yours?”

He shrugged. “You tell me.” Her finger tapped her lips again, drawing his attention to her mouth. It was a kissable mouth. Don’t go there, Montana. She wasn’t a woman you played with and then moved on.

“Got it,” she said. “Snoopy.”

“Snoopy?” He snorted. “Seriously? I thought you’d give me something fierce or savage. Like Cougar or Viper. Cobra would be good.”

“Nope. Snoopy. That way I’m a cat and you’re a dog. Plus, you’re snooping, so that fits.”

“Snoopy it is.” Why did that man at the counter keep glancing at them? “You have a mirror and lipstick in your purse?”

“Um, I have a mirror and ChapStick. Why?”

“Listen, don’t turn around. A man just came in and he glanced around until his gaze landed on you, then he took a seat at the counter where he can see you. He seems to be paying us more than casual attention. Take out your mirror and put on the ChapStick. While you’re doing that, you can use the mirror to see if you recognize him. His head is shaved, and he has on a dark blue Henley.”

“Why don’t I just go to the restroom? I can look at him as I walk by.”

“If you do that, he’ll know you’re checking him out. You’re a spy, and you need to identify the villain. Use the tricks you learned in spy school.”

“Oh, this is fun.” A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “Sneaky’s the word.”

He managed not to drop his gaze to her mouth as she applied the ChapStick. He epically failed at not thinking about those kissable lips. Would they be soft when pressed against his? Would they… He gave his head a mental slap and his brain a warning. Stop it. That was easier said than done, but he was a highly trained warrior, and discipline was his middle name. He would not think of her in any way other than a client who needed his help.

Her face paled. “That’s Don Delgado, Anthony’s… I guess you’d call him Anthony’s right-hand man. He followed me here?”

“Appears so. What will you say if your ex questions you about being with me?”

“That it’s none of his business. And although that’s true, he won’t rest until he finds out who you are.”

“Tell him I’m your new client.” In his research on her, he’d learned that she was freelancing, doing an assortment of things for people, one of them being designing websites. That would work for a reason to give her ex if he asked. “The Phoenix Three needs a decent website. Cooper slapped one up for us, but it’s not great.”

“Okay, that’s believable since that’s what I do.”

“Actually, I’m serious about you doing that for us. We need it, and we can do some trade, which will cut down on what this is going to cost you.” He was telling the truth about needing a professional website, and by the relief in her eyes, he was glad he’d impulsively made the offer.

“Thank you. I’ll do whatever it takes to get my son away from that family.”

“Did you not get any alimony?”

“No, and I didn’t ask for any. That would have just been another thing Anthony would have fought me over, and he would have won.”

The Pressleys were worth millions. It didn’t sit right with him that the man who supposedly cared enough about her to want her back didn’t care enough to make sure the mother of his child was able to pay her rent and buy groceries. The man was a manipulating bastard, and if Grayson had anything to say about it, Anthony Pressley was going down.

“I should probably go,” she said, gathering up her purse. “What’s the next step?”

“Keep the burner on you. I’ll call and text you on it.” It occurred to him that if Pressley was tracking her, he might be spying on her in other ways. He needed to figure out how to get into her apartment without Pressley knowing and check for cameras or listening devices.

Their waitress appeared with the check and Grayson handed her his credit card. Delgado, at seeing Grayson was paying the bill, stood, and walked out.

“Thank you, Grayson. I feel a little less lost now.”

“I’m glad. I know it’s hard to be patient but hang in there. I’m going to do everything in my power to reunite you with your son.”

The trembling smile on her face had him wanting to wrap her in his arms and be the man who gave her any thing she asked for. He didn’t know why, but she called to something in him. He wanted to be the hero in her story.

Enough of that, Montana. All he needed to want was a thank-you after this was over. He signed the credit card receipt when the waitress returned it to him. “I’ll walk you out.” He wanted to make sure the man didn’t bother her.

She nodded as she slid out of the booth. As she walked ahead of him, he tried and failed to keep his eyes from roaming over her, from the long ponytail swaying with her steps, down to the curve of her waist and then the flair of her hips, on down over her mighty fine ass. He mentally slapped his head. Again. Maybe he should have Cooper or Liam take over, remove himself from temptation.

He should, but he wasn’t going to.