Page 11 of Nothing to the Wedding

“Heard from who?Did you get an invite?”

He snickered.“My source is robust.”

“That tells me a lot.”

“Zairn’s had a wild life.I’m surprised Anjelica’s the first woman to sell her story since you got together.”

“Yes, that is curious.”

Reeve wanted to probe, to ask, to delve deep.As he almost leaned in, she was surprised he didn’t need the tablet to hide his arousal.

“Have you heard stories?Had women getting in touch?I could help.”

Her head tilted.“Help?How?”

“You want to be sure he’s committed.That he won’t make a fool of you.”Hmm.Okay.Stay quiet because he’ll keep going in just a few—“There have to be other women.You’ve known each other eighteen months now.”His smirk was close to ridicule.“Eighteen months!You don’t honestly think he’s been faithful to you all that time.Zairn Lomond?Monogamous?”

She didn’t have to “think” it because she knew it wholly and completely.

“What do you suggest?”

“I’ll do some digging.Ask some questions.I can get you answers.”

“You can…” She better be selling this.“No, I—”

“I’ve never done you wrong, Roxie.”Hadn’t he?“No one has to know, we’ll keep it between us.”

Pretending to ponder, she rolled her lips between her teeth.“Reeve—”

“I’ll get Anjelica.I’ll find out what happened, where she came from, who found her…”

“Who found her is something I’ve wondered myself.”

“Do you think she’s finished?That she’ll disappear now?”

“I don’t know, Mr.Crosby.Why don’t you tell me?”

“I can find out.”

“Who paid her?Who set her up to rear her head at this opportune moment?”

“I can find out.”

“Really,” she said, sliding along the couch.“You can find out?”

“Yeah,” he strutted.“Maybe it’s not about money.If money was it, she’d have contacted Zairn.Told him how much she was being offered…” Blackmail.“And he’d have given her more to keep her quiet.”Another frown.“Unless he’s playing to it.Could be he’s goading you.Showing the world he’s got you right where he wants you.”

Uh huh.Oh, it wasn’t easy to restrain her incredulity.Was he honestly expecting her to buy his innocence and Zairn’s guilt?He might think he was getting in, and she’d keep on letting him believe that.

Exuding uncertainty, innocence faded up.She couldn’t play it too hard or he’d know she was messing with him.

“I don’t know…”

“Don’t be naïve,” he said, inching nearer.

“Naïve?”

“What’s the harm?Think about it.If there’s nothing to find, you’ve got peace of mind.”