Page 14 of Keeping Her Secrets

Leaning against the doorframe leading into the kitchen, Nick crossed his arms. “I’ll have Brody add us all to the guest list as a fail-safe, but let’s get this done before then. I need the name of your contact in Germany too.”

Mustique gave Nick the name and soon after the two men left. Ash followed them out to the car, and she saw him pull Jake aside. Words were exchanged that looked terse, although it was hard to tell, and then Jake glanced back at the house before speaking again. Ash had followed his friend’s gaze. He then nodded after a second, took something from Jake, and stood there while his two friends drove away. Mustique had the distinct impression they’d been talking about her. The thought made her uneasy. Was she making a mistake trusting these men she barely knew? Her gut told her no, but then her gut had been wrong before, and it had nearly ended her life. In many ways, it’d ended that portion of her life, and now, here she was almost full circle again, about to trust strangers once more.

Ash strode back into the house and offered her a set of keys. “Do you want a bike or a car?”

“What?”

“There’s a bike and a car in the garage. I assume you don’t want to be stuck here without an exit strategy just in case.” He frowned at the confused look on her face. “Are you okay?” He moved into her personal space and took her hand, his citrus and leather scent playing havoc with her senses.

“What were you and Jake talking about outside?”

“Nothing much.” Ash looked away, and she knew he was lying.

Mustique clenched her jaw and blinked as tears bit the back of her eyes. She should have known better than to trust him. Snatching her hand away, she walked over to where she’d dropped her bag earlier and picked it up.

“What are you doing?” Ash’s voice grew louder as she walked to the garage door.

“I’m leaving. I can’t work with you if you’re going to lie to me and keep me in the dark. I can do this alone.”

“Of course you can” His sarcasm was hard to miss.

Mustique rounded on him. “Excuse me? What the hell does that mean?”

“God forbid you trust someone or let anyone get close to you. Easier to risk your life and get killed than to rely on someone.” He stood with his hands on his hips, his shirt pulled tight across his broad muscled chest, and she didn’t know if she wanted to fall at his feet with desire or hit him in the balls with a throwing star.