Free Bloodlines by Dinah McCall

dresser to get his wallet and change; then he followed his granddaughter down the stairs.
    They had no sooner greeted each other in the foyer when the doorbell rang. Rose’s footsteps sounded on the marble flooring as she came from another wing of the house, but Olivia wasn’t in the mood to stand on formalities.
    â€œI’ll get it,” she said, then lifted her chin and strode to the door.
    Marcus saw the glint in her eye and smiled again. The moment he’d seen the dress she was wearing, he knew she’d gone on the defense. It was a power dress in a power color, and she wore it well.
    â€œI’ll be right back,” he said shortly. “I want to speak to Rose before we leave.” He walked away, leaving Olivia to deal with their caller.
    Finding herself suddenly alone did not deter Olivia from her intent. She grabbed the doorknob and swungthe door inward, leaving her face-to-face with the man whose current presence in their lives had thrown her world into turmoil.
    Â 
    Her appearance at the door was, for Trey, unexpected and, at the same time, mind-blowing. He knew, as well as he knew his own name, that the only thing she had on under that red dress were her panties. He knew because, as she stood in the doorway, the full sun of morning hit her like a spotlight, revealing the thrust of bare breasts and pouting nipples beneath what appeared to be silk. If that wasn’t enough, the slight flare of the body-hugging skirt revealed enough of her long legs to remind him of the intimacy they’d once shared.
    It took every ounce of self-restraint he owned to shift his gaze from her body to her face, and when he did, he knew he’d been sideswiped. There was a glint in her eyes and a jut to her chin that he remembered all too well. She’d come prepared for battle and, if he wasn’t mistaken, had just declared war.
    â€œUh…”
    Olivia stifled a smirk. From the look on his face, the dress was a success.
    â€œGood morning, Detective. Please come in. My grandfather will be here shortly, and then we can leave.”
    â€œUh…”
    Olivia eyed Trey coolly. “I believe you’re repeating yourself.”
    â€œShit,” he muttered.
    She smiled.
    He shoved his hands in his pockets, then surprised the smile off her face.
    â€œYou always were a pretty girl, Olivia, and I would have sworn there was no way you could have improved upon perfection, but I would have been wrong.” Then his voice softened. “You are so beautiful, and I am sorrier than I can tell you that you and your grandfather have to go through this.”
    Suddenly her defiance seemed out of place. She had been so stunned, and then so frightened, by the revelations of the past week that she’d been pulling a “kill the messenger” attitude just because of the trip they were going to take.
    â€œLook, Trey…I—”
    â€œSorry I kept you waiting,” Marcus said as he came striding back into the foyer.
    Olivia sighed, then turned to her grandfather and made herself smile.
    â€œNo problem, Grampy. Detective Bonney had only just said hello.”
    Trey yanked his hands out of his pockets and shook the hand that Marcus was extending.
    â€œAnd hello to you, too, sir,” Trey said. “If you’re both ready, we should probably go.” Without waiting for them to agree, he led the way out the door.
    When Marcus and Olivia reached the curb, Trey was standing at the car with the back door open. Accustomed to being driven, Marcus got in and slid over to the other side, making room for Olivia to sit without acknowledging the courtesy that had been extended.
    But Olivia felt the awkwardness of the moment. When she turned to Trey to thank him, she got caught in the fire in his eyes and stumbled. He grabbed for her, and for a moment she was in his arms, being steadied firmly against his chest. She didn’t know how reluctant he was to have to let her go, and she