Free B00MV3HMDW_EBOK by Kennedy Layne Page A

their hands. Once goodbyes were exchanged the two of them walked silently to the vehicle where Ethan opened Taryn’s door for her. She raised an eyebrow at his gesture but he didn’t care. Honestly he always held the door open for the women he dated. When he’d automatically tried to do the same to her when they’d first become friends, she’d exclaimed that she was just one of the guys and to treat her as such. That was about to change.
    Once Taryn was situated safely inside, Ethan walked around to the driver’s side door. He lifted his hand in acknowledgement to where Gordon and Lisa still stood watching them and then climbed into the SUV. He started the engine and shifted into gear, slowly maneuvering the vehicle around the circular drive. It would take them down the long black topped drive, past the immaculately manicured grounds, and through the iron and brick gate.
    “Spill it.” Ethan looked over at Taryn as he passed the empty pasture to his left. She was staring intently at him as if she could read on his skin what had transpired in Gordon’s office. Her brown eyes practically glowed in the dashboard lights and her natural beauty was evident more so now than ever. Given that he’d taken time to settle in what direction he wanted to take their friendship, he was more certain of his decision now more than ever. He’d lightly broach the subject before they turned in for the evening, already knowing the reaction his proposition would receive. He smiled at the upcoming battle of wills and he didn’t correct her when she’d assumed it was regarding something else entirely. “Ethan, tell me now or so help me I’ll push you out of this vehicle and let the armadillos have their way with you.”

Chapter Seven

    “D ad had an affair with a married woman?” Taryn sat back against the passenger side seat, digesting the information that Ethan had found out from Uncle Gordon. She’d tried her damnedest to get Aunt Lisa to talk about the past, but she was very well versed in changing the subject when it suited her needs. “I have to say, as relieved as I am to know that Dad didn’t cheat on Mom, I’m not liking what that actually says about his character.”
    “Madeline is the woman’s name. She was a close friend of Lisa.” Ethan kept an eye on the road, confidently driving them through the nighttime traffic. Taryn tried to recall if she’d ever met a woman by that name, but came up blank. Her mind kept going back over the fact that her father hadn’t had an affair while married to her mother. Her childhood memories were still secure, and as ridiculous as that sounded it gave her reassurance. Ethan’s voice penetrated through her relief. “Do you remember her?”
    “Not at all, which I find odd.” Taryn could see the hotel from where they were, and as it got closer she wished it wasn’t so late so they could investigate further. She already knew she wouldn’t get much sleep tonight. She’d brought her laptop and although she was limited with what applications she had, she could run in this stand-alone configuration. She could still access several programs that would tell her exactly who this Madeline woman was. Taryn had access to the Internet now, however many of the applications she would need for a comprehensive search had to be run on a secure server and required a dedicated Siprnet feed. It was as if a weight had been lifted from Taryn’s shoulders and she could now surge forward, investigating Ryland without thinking her life was about to implode. “I wonder if the affair caused Aunt Lisa and Madeline’s friendship to end.”
    “I would tend to agree with that assumption.” Ethan slowed the SUV as he flipped the turn signal to indicate he was pulling into the parking lot of the hotel. Taryn contemplated the various scenarios of what could have happened back then and her fingers itched to fire up her computer. She unfastened her seatbelt well before Ethan had the SUV parked, but she held