Seductive Secrets (Sweet Tea And Scandal 4)

Which was why he’d decided to move into the carriage house, located near the back of the estate, for the next two weeks so he could keep an eye on her. He intended for Lia to understand that he wasn’t taken in by her do-gooder act.

“I’ll just be a few minutes,” he said. “Do you want to wait here or come in?”

“I’m sure you’d prefer I stay here.”

He dismissed her sarcasm with a shrug. “Suit yourself.”

But as he headed up the stairs to his front door, he heard her footsteps on the wood boards behind him. The electronic lock on the entrance disengaged as he neared. He opened the door and gestured Lia inside. After suggesting she check out the view, Paul left Lia gawking at the beach beyond the towering floor-to-ceiling windows that made up one wall of his spacious great room. In his bedroom, he unpacked his luggage, swapping the tailored suits he’d worn to the conference for the slacks and button-down shirts he favored for the office.

Before he’d done more than replace his suits in the closet and dump his dirty clothes into the hamper, Paul’s phone began to ring. He glanced at the screen, saw Ethan’s name and the disquiet he’d been feeling at his brother’s snub eased slightly.

Despite their family’s expectations, it was Ethan and not Paul who was following in Grady’s footsteps as family mediator and key decision maker. Ethan had always been the empathetic brother. Outgoing and social, he tended to be more in touch with the emotions. And despite being the younger brother, everyone turned to Ethan for advice and support.

In contrast, Paul was more comfortable as a lone wolf. He liked technology because of its logic and predictability and had chosen to become a cop because he thrived on the challenge of catching criminals. That doing so also helped people was a bonus, but it didn’t drive him. No doubt Ethan would say this attitude made him a jerk.

Would Lia agree?

Paul couldn’t imagine what made the question pop into his mind. Nor did he care about some interloper’s opinion about him.

“It’s about time you called me back,” Paul said irritably into the phone, closing the master bedroom door in case Lia decided to eavesdrop.

“Before you go all big brother and start lecturing me about how much I messed up, tell me you don’t see a huge change in Grady.”

“Fine. I’ll admit that Grady’s better and that believing Lia is Ava’s daughter is the reason, but why the hell did you drag me into it by saying I’m the one who found her?”

“I thought if you got the credit for doing something that would make Grady incredibly happy that it would repair your relationship.”

“You’re wrong to hope that will make me less furious with you for dragging me into your scheme.” Yet even as he spoke, Paul’s heart clenched. Despite the tension that had grown between the brothers, Paul appreciated that Ethan had his back. “Have you thought this whole thing through? He’s going to be devastated when the truth comes out. And it will because there’s no way I’m letting this go on.”

“I didn’t figure you would, but he’ll be stronger in a few weeks.” Ethan paused for a heartbeat. “Or she doesn’t have to go anywhere.” When Paul sucked in a breath to protest, Ethan jumped in. “Hear me out. She spends all her time driving around the country in a vintage camper picking up odd jobs wherever she goes. That’s no life. Instead she could stay with us and be our cousin.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Paul demanded, wondering what sort of madness had overcome his brother. “We don’t know anything about this person.”

“I do. She’s genuine and kind. Everyone loves her.”

“Even you?”

“What?” Ethan exclaimed, following it up with a rough laugh. “Hardly.”

Unsatisfied by his brother’s answer, Paul asked another. “Is she in love with you?”

“No.”

Paul hadn’t been entirely satisfied by Lia’s denials and he sensed Ethan was holding something back. While it wasn’t unusual for Ethan to champion something or someone he believed in, the level of trust he’d afforded Lia compelled Paul to take nothing for granted.

“Are you sure?” Paul pondered the amount of time Lia had undoubtedly spent with her hands roaming over Ethan’s naked body. While she’d claimed to be a professional massage therapist, there was something overtly intimate about the experience. “Women tend to fall for you rather quickly.”

“That’s because I’m nice to them.” Ethan’s tone was dry as he finished, “You should try it sometime.”

For a second Paul didn’t know how to respond to his brother’s dig. In truth, he had neither time nor interest in a personal life these days. His consulting company grew busier each year as criminals became increasingly bolder and more clever. Technology changed faster than most people could keep up and new threats emerged daily.

On the other hand, Ethan had taken on more responsibility since their grandfather’s stroke compelled their father to pick up Grady’s chairmanship duties. Although Ethan had been groomed for years to take over one day, having the responsibility thrust on him without any transition period had increased the amount of hours Ethan spent at the office by 50 percent. Yet he still carved out time for family and friends, dating and even attending their mother’s endless charity events.

Paul just didn’t want to put in the effort. He’d always been solitary, preferring intimate gatherings with his small circle of friends versus the active bar scene or loud parties. Her solitary lifestyle was probably the one thing Paul actually understood about Lia Marsh.

“Are you sure Lia didn’t put the idea in your head that she should play the part of Ava’s daughter?”

“Trust me—I came up with the plan all on my own.”