Playing with Danger (Desire Bay 2)

Then admit she still loved him.

“What do you do?” he asked, changing the topic on her.

“I own a bar,” she said confidently.

“That right?”

She glanced away. “Well, I will soon. Just a few details I’m ironing out.” She glared at him. “And I’m also dealing with some legal matters so no one can claim what’s mine.”

So she was still pissed about his little blackmail stunt. He would never take her bar or her dreams. He wanted to help. He used what he had to in order to get a second chance with her. But once again, there was a lot he couldn’t say out loud. For now, she could be pissy with him about this, because it got him the two weeks he wanted. Well, one week and, come tomorrow, five days. Time was already dwindling fast.

“The bar down on Main Street?” he asked, sticking to character. “That’s a cool place. Looks busy. Would be a good investment opportunity.”

“Yeah, if only I could get the whole investment,” she mumbled. Grant was pretty sure he wasn’t meant to hear that, but he did. Hannah needed money? Help? He wanted to spring into action and save the day, but if there was one thing he knew about his wife, it was that her pride was important.

“Oh my gosh, I’ve got it!” Laura said loudly, inserting he

rself between Grant and Hannah, clearly having had at least two drinks in the past fifteen minutes. Judging by the sway in her step, she must be feeling tipsy. “What if we throw a parade?”

Hannah frowned, and so did Grant.

“It’s okay, Laura, we’ll talk about this later,” Hannah said quietly.

“No, no, I mean it. There’s a ton of money to be made in parades!”

Yep, Hannah’s friend was drunk and also confirming what Grant had thought: Hannah needed money to buy her bar.

“Let’s talk about this tomorrow,” Hannah said, and Laura danced to the music and sipped her pink drink and went back to Jake near the dance floor.

Grant didn’t want to ask for details—he wanted to help. And Hannah would never let him. But he had to be sure what the hell she was talking about. He knew money talk, and that was obviously the prime issue here. He still needed more details on just what Hannah was struggling with and what she was hiding. He had to be sly about uncovering this, though, because he was very aware of his wife’s pride.

“So you’re in the parade business now?”

Hannah shook her head and ordered two shots of whiskey. Grant was surprised when she slid one his way.

“Don’t worry about it. She’s just drunk.”

Grant nodded. Hannah was definitely keeping her money situation from him. Just like he was from her. Ironic thing was, he could help if she would only let him.

Which meant he’d have to come through with the truth about his financial situation, too. So it looked like he’d have to activate stealth mode and make things happen under the table.

“To new beginnings,” he said and held up his shot.

Hannah clanked it. And in one swallow, they both took it.

The band started to play the song “Red Red Wine,” and he caught a glimpse of Hannah’s smile.

“That was a good night,” he said, hoping she was hearing the same lyrics he was and recalling the same thing. She looked at him, and her eyes told him she knew exactly what he was talking about.

“Yeah, it was.” She grinned. His wife was a little tipsy, and he liked her playful side coming out. “The cruise had the ‘neon drinks and nineties’ night.”

“Endless booze and all the hits,” Grant laughed. They’d played this song on the fifth night he was with Hannah. He remembered it perfectly, and just hearing it now, being face-to-face with her, made his chest tighten.

“Remember those strung-up twinkly lights that started to turn red on the deck when this song game on?” Hannah asked with joy in her tone.

His whole chest tensed, and his blood heated. “I remember.”

She’d looked so beautiful in her white dress, dark hair down and flowing. The glow of the flickering light on her skin made him want to taste her all over.