Page 56 of Twisted Control

I pull on my robe and wander over to the window, peeling the curtain back just enough to look outside.

Dad’s car is gone.

Drew’s car is now parked in its usual spot.

My pulse jumps hard enough to annoy me.

I step back from the window immediately, as if that somehow fixes the situation. It does not.

He’s right there. Across the lawn.

I’m not going down there.

Obviously.

That would be a terrible idea.

I just…might thank him. Briefly. A quick, polite thank you for rescuing me.

That’s perfectly reasonable.

I bite my lip, hesitate for one final second, then head for the door before I can talk myself out of it.

16

GRACE

Iknock softly on the guest house door, then louder when he doesn’t answer.

A few seconds later, the door swings open. He stands there shirtless, belt undone, trousers slung low on his hips. One arm braces against the doorframe while he looks down at me with lazy amusement. My eyes instantly snag on the sharp V disappearing beneath his waistband and the vein running along his lower stomach.

There’s not a single drop of water on him. Of course he didn’t get wet.

“Grace,” he says. “This is a surprise.”

I swallow hard. “I just came to thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I continue standing there staring at his abs like a complete idiot.

“Well. Goodnight then,” he says.

I should leave. Obviously.

Instead, my gaze drifts slowly back up his chest until it lands on his face again.

The air shifts.

Drew exhales through his nose, head tipping back slightly like a man already losing a battle.

“Let me guess,” he says. “You want to come in.”

I bite my lip.

“What about your dad?” he asks.

“He went out.”