Free Danger in Paradise by Katie Reus Page B

windows and digested his words. Palm trees swayed with the wind, but she forced herself to look away. She was getting nauseous. The bagels popped from the toaster and she jumped in her seat.
    “Cream cheese?” He placed a plate in front of her and sat across the table with his own.
    She nodded, but stopped him when he started smoothing cream cheese on her bread. “I can get it.” He handed it to her, but she didn’t miss the worried expression in his dark eyes. “I’m fine, I promise. I think I liked you better when you were angry at me.” She smiled, hoping he’d realize she was joking, but all she received in return was a frown.
    Hope wouldn’t admit it aloud, but she liked the change in him. Mac and Frank were the only men who fussed over her. Actually, they were the only men in her life she allowed to get close to her. Thanks to years of therapy she might have gotten over her fear of sex, but that didn’t mean she dated with frequency.
    Or at all, really. Men were too much hassle, and sex wasn’t all that great. Although she knew it had to be. People wouldn’t make such a big deal about it if there wasn’t more to it than what she’d experienced.
    Neither said anything while they ate, but as soon as they finished, she was ready to start researching. After he placed both their plates in the sink she was practically jumping up and down. At least internally.
    “Can I look at your computer now?” she asked.
    Nodding, he disappeared through the open entryway. The whole house appeared to be tiled, and his feet squeaked along the floor. Seconds later he was back with his laptop. He plugged it in and placed it on the table.
    “You’ve been busy,” she commented as she scrolled through different articles he’d marked as favorites. Richard Taylor even had his own Wikipedia article. Apparently biotechnology was very lucrative. Why would he have an interest in her though?
    “And you don’t recognize him?” Luke hovered behind her, watching the screen as she scrolled.
    She shook her head. “Not even a little bit. None of this makes sense. Are you sure this is the right Richard Taylor?”
    “He’s the only one who came up who lives near—” His phone rang, cutting him off. “That’s my partner. I need to take this.”
    She nodded without glancing at him. She was curious about his business partner since he hadn’t mentioned one, but nothing could stop her from what she was doing. The thud of the door behind her told her she was alone. Clicking on the family link in the Wikipedia article she hoped to garner more background. “Wife dead, son…” She stopped scrolling at the face on the screen.
    Despite the meal she’d just had, a hollow feeling settled in her gut. After years of wondering and years of recurring nightmares she finally had a name and face to the man who had changed her life. A face to the man who had ripped away what little childhood she had left.
    Bile rose in her throat. She wanted to run to the private bathroom attached to her bedroom but knew she’d never make it. She stumbled blindly toward the sink, and emptied the contents of her stomach until she was dry heaving. Still hunched over the sink she clutched the counter with one hand and turned on the faucet, hoping to hide the evidence. She couldn’t handle more questions from Luke. He was biding his time before he asked more, and she couldn’t deal with an onslaught. If he asked her anything now she was liable to break down and tell him everything.
    She’d hate herself for it later.
    She wished she could just tell Luke everything. He had a right to know why someone was after them, but if she told him, then she’d have to explain how she came to live with Mac. She wasn’t ashamed of what had happened to her—not anymore—but she didn’t want to put Mac in danger. He’d taken in a young, difficult teenager with a lot of baggage and had never made her feel unwanted. Over the years, no matter what, she’d known she was loved