Undercover With The Heiress

“I will.”

The kitchen door creaked open and Abby walked over to the table. “Nathan, we’re ready to eat.”

“Are we done?” Nathan asked him.

“Yes.”

“Kaden?” Abby asked. “I didn’t know you and Nathan knew each other.”

“Hi, Abby.” Kaden stood. “We just met.”

Nathan’s eyebrows shot up. Then he gave a short nod.

“Is Nigel settled at the rehab center?” she asked.

“Yes.” Kaden grimaced. “He already wants to go home.”

She patted his shoulder. “He’s right where he needs to be.”

Nathan stood, too. “You know Nigel?”

“He’s my grandfather.” Pride filled Kaden’s voice.

“Wonderful man,” Nathan said. “Sorry he fell.”

“Thanks.”

“Kaden?” Abby asked. “Have you had dinner?”

He didn’t remember having lunch. “No.”

“Then join us,” Abby said.

“I...” Kaden couldn’t think of the last time he’d sat down to a meal that hadn’t been with his granddad or other agents. Usually he ate takeout or a nuked dinner alone. “That would be nice.”

“I’ll hold dinner for you then.” Abby pointed at a door. “Come into the kitchen when you’re ready.”

Once Abby left, Kaden touched Nathan’s arm. “I need to keep the fact that I’m with the FBI between us. I’m only in Savannah because of my grandfather.”

Nathan raised his eyebrows. “Are you undercover?”

“My...cover is on a need-to-know basis.” Like all task force members.

“Sure.” Nathan nodded.

“Thanks,” Kaden said.

It wasn’t only the task force policy of secrecy. His job was on the line. Roger had fired a loose-lipped co-worker two months ago.

And if Roger’s ex-wife got wind he was talking to people in her jurisdiction, it would add fuel to their personal war. He’d hate to be caught in their crossfire. Secrecy was the best policy.

* * *

COURTNEY KICKED A suitcase out of the way. She missed having maids to clean and iron her clothes. Sure, she packed and unpacked her own bag when traveling, but for this trip, she’d taken more clothes than normal. Help would be nice.

If she complained, Gray would roll his eyes. Why had she painted herself in this corner? She needed her brother’s help, but Gray was suspicious of everything she did.

If she could hide for a week or two, Father would calm down. Mother promised. But waiting meant getting through tonight’s dinner and being around Gray and the love of his life. Gag much?

Her brother tapped on the door. “You ready to walk over for dinner?”

She pushed off the bed. “I guess.”

He peered at her luggage spread through the room. “You didn’t unpack.”

“I...freshened up after the drive.” She brushed a curl off her cheek. She’d been reading and lost track of time. “I’ll work on it tonight.”

“How long are you staying?” he asked as they headed into the courtyard.

She clenched her hands into fists so she didn’t gnaw on her thumbnail. “A couple of weeks?”

“Weeks? Did your clique dethrone you as queen?” He slapped a hand on his chest. “How will they know who to snub and what club is hot? How will they decide what party to attend without your...wisdom?”

She shivered. Gwen would take over. Her friend would love that. “You don’t have a high opinion of my life.”

“Nope.” He was so...blunt.

They passed a stone sculpture of the three Fitzgerald sisters set into a crumbling wall surrounded by flowers. “I suppose you think I should be more like the Fitzgeralds. Setting my hooks into men who can finance their B and B.”

Gray grabbed her arm and spun her to face him. “What?”

“Ouch.” She tugged and he released her. “Abby set her hooks in you and you bought her a mansion. Bess just married a contractor. You don’t think she has to pay full cost for the work they do at the B and B, do you? And what about Dolley? She made a play for that photographer. Now her photos are published.”

“How can you think that? The Fitzgeralds are the hardest-working family I know,” Gray spat out. “I admire what they’ve done. You should emulate, not scorn, them. None of the trust-fund babies you run with could survive what they’ve survived.”

“But—but Abby married you and you bought her all this.” She waved her arms around the B and B.

“Because I love her.” Gray raised his hands. “I want to help her make her dreams come true. But she’s the one with the ideas and work ethic.”

“But...” The Fitzgeralds couldn’t be so...so virtuous.

“I’ll warn you once.” Gray’s blue gaze froze her in place. “If you’re nasty or mean to Abby, or her sisters, or their husbands or fiancés, hell, to any B and B staff, you’re gone.”

Her stomach flopped. Gone? Where could she go? She couldn’t afford anything. “You’d choose them over me? Your own sister?”

“Absolutely.” He crossed his arms, his face as hard as the driveway pillars at home. “Are we clear?”

“Yes.” Her voice shook. Why was this happening? Why couldn’t her life go back to normal? “But...”