Free Bloodlines by Dinah McCall Page A

couldn’t have voiced what she herself was feeling. Thankfully, the moment was brief. Then she slipped in beside her grandfather, crushing a peanut shell beneath her foot as she went.
    By the time Trey had buckled himself into the front seat, she was staring at the back of his head and remembering how springy his dark hair felt to the touch. Unintentionally, she sighed aloud, then caught him looking at her in the rearview mirror. Startled, she quickly turned and smiled at Marcus, as if to reassure him that all was well, although it wasn’t. Suddenly the shoe was on the other foot, and she felt breathless and out of control.
    Trey made himself look away as he put the car in gear and proceeded back down the driveway. At the same time, the sunshine caught on the dash, highlighting the thin film of dust.
    When Olivia saw what he’d written on it, she stifled a grin. Her first love had certainly grown into a bona fide hunk, and being a detective with the Dallas PD put him in a very respectable light, but it made her happy to know that the part of him that she’d fallen in love with so long ago had not changed. The fun-loving cutup who’d refused to take her social status seriously and then loved her in spite of it was still there.
    But the memory also reminded her that, because of that same social status and her inability to stand up to her grandfather, their relationship had ultimately ended and she’d lost the love of her life.
    Unwilling to dwell on what had been, she leaned back and closed her eyes as her grandfather clasped her hand.
    â€œOlivia, darling, it will be okay,” he said.
    â€œOh, I know that, Grampy. Quit worrying about me.”
    Trey glanced up into the rearview mirror, then quickly looked away before they caught him staring. From the start, Olivia had been out of his reach; he’d just been too young to realize it. But he was no longer the naive teenager he’d been before, and he was too smart to set himself up for another heartache.
    â€œSay, Mr. Sealy, I thought I’d let you know that the phone number you gave me for Terrence was good. I spoke to his wife yesterday afternoon. They will be flying in sometime soon so that Terrence can submit to DNA testing as you two are doing.”
    He glanced up in the rearview mirror again as he spoke and caught a look of anger on Marcus’s face. Being the good detective that he was, he didn’t let the opportunity pass.
    â€œWhy do I have the feeling that this is not good news for you?”
    For a few moments Marcus didn’t answer; then, when he did, his words were sharp and clipped.
    â€œThere’s never been any love lost between Terrence and I. No reason, just a fact of life.”
    They drove in silence for a few miles until Marcus’s cell phone began to ring.
    â€œExcuse me,” he muttered. “I meant to turn the thing off,” he said, and glanced at the caller ID, then frowned. “It’s the office. I’d better take this.”
    Olivia nodded, then tuned out the conversation by staring through the window at the passing scenery and the constant flow of traffic. Before she knew it, her grandfather was disconnecting.
    â€œYes. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he said, then ended his call and dropped the phone back into his pocket. “Detective Bonney, how long will this test take?”
    â€œNot long,” he said. “Do you have a problem?”
    â€œI didn’t, but I do now. I’ll need to leave for my office as soon as we’ve finished. I trust you’ll see Olivia home?”
    Olivia flinched. “Oh, Grampy, I don’t need to be treated like a child. I can get a cab.”
    â€œNo, ma’am,” Trey said. “I brought you. I will take you home. It’s part of the job.”
    â€œThat’s settled, then,” Marcus said. Satisfied that his problems were solved, he leaned back and relaxed.
    But Olivia’s problems had