Trusting Danger (Danger, #2)(35)

Jeremy finished his coffee and set his mug in the sink. “I need to make a call.”

Claire rubbed at her temples as he walked out of the kitchen, embarrassed by the memory of the look on Grayson’s face after she’d insulted him last night. She was going to need to apologize again—this time for real.

The garage door engaged and the chain chattered as it stuttered open. Grayson was already back.

He entered the kitchen a moment later, the handles of several plastic grocery bags looped in one hand and a tray with two Starbucks cups in the other. When he spotted her, his eyes narrowed. Without a word, he set what he was carrying onto the kitchen counter and began unpacking the groceries.

Claire bit down hard on her lip. She hadn’t had time to think about what she wanted to say. How should she word it? One thing was clear; she needed to hurry. He was already halfway through unpacking the bags, and then he’d be gone.

“Jeremy said your mother’s sick,” she said quickly, then winced at her bluntness. At the look of annoyance that crossed Grayson’s face, Claire took in a breath. “I hope she feels better.”

Grayson froze. Scowling at her, he said, “What is this, Claire?”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“This act of yours.” He slammed down the milk carton he’d taken out of the bag. “I don’t appreciate it.”

Claire frowned in confusion at his unexpected anger. “It’s no act.”

He didn’t acknowledge her words. Instead, he brushed past her to the refrigerator and shoved the carton of milk inside.

Claire watched in shock for several seconds before turning to leave the room. There was no hope for Grayson. He just wasn’t rational.

Tears pricked at her eyes as she hurried up the stairs to escape to her room, but she refused to let them fall. There was no way she’d allow Grayson Matthews to make her cry.



About an hour after Grayson left, Claire extended a hand to the tall dark-skinned man Jeremy introduced as Eli. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Eli took her hand in a firm grip and pumped it. “Nice to meet you too.”

“Would you like something to drink,” she asked, accustomed to playing hostess, and when Eli asked for water, she retrieved a bottle from the refrigerator and handed it to him before they sat down.

Claire, Eli, and Jeremy sat in the living room and engaged in small talk for several minutes before Jeremy excused himself, saying he needed to get some rest before his next shift.

“You’re a law student?” Eli asked once he and Claire were alone.

She nodded. “It’s my last year at Georgetown.”

“That’s where my wife went.”

“Really? What type of law does she practice?”

“Intellectual property. She works for a DC firm.”

“Does she enjoy it?”

“Overall, but that’s not to say the stress doesn’t get to her from time to time.” Eli’s smile faded as he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees, then gave her a pointed look. “How is everything going here?”

Claire debated saying something about Grayson and decided she needed to. While she felt sorry about his family situation, she couldn’t let his rudeness go. It made a difficult situation unbearable, and that wasn’t right.

“Grayson and I got off on the wrong foot.” She explained what had happened over the past few days.

Eli nodded, his expression neutral. “He can be rough around the edges, but I’ll talk to him.”

Claire bit at her lip. No doubt Grayson would be pissed off about her complaint, but what else was new? Things couldn’t get much worse between them.

She watched as Eli uncapped his water and took a sip. She’d been hoping to get some answers. Here was her opportunity.

“You and your team know who wants to kidnap me, don’t you?”

Eli studied the plastic bottle in his hand but didn’t answer.

“I need to know who it is.”

He lowered his bottle to the coffee table and met her gaze, his expression sympathetic. “I can’t share anything right now. I’m very sorry about that, Claire. I promise you, I would if I could.”

It wasn’t exactly the response she’d been hoping for, and she swallowed hard. Grayson had apparently been telling the truth.

Meeting Eli’s intense gaze, she revealed her biggest fear. “My parents are due back from Massachusetts at the end of the week. I’m afraid for them.”

“The threat was directed at you specifically,” Eli said. “They’re in no danger. But I’ve spoken with the agent in charge of your father’s protective detail, and he’s increased security.”

Claire scanned his face, searching for signs of deception, and when she found none, relief flooded through her. “Will you contact them to let them know I’m safe?”

“Of course. But if it makes you feel better, I’ve been talking to your father’s chief of staff on a daily basis. Mr. Cooley is very concerned about you and wants to be sure you’re kept safe, and insists that your parents want to know exactly where you are.” Eli chuckled. “You shouldn’t have to be here too much longer, Claire. Several days at the most, and then you’ll be able to see your parents. Until then, we have to keep your location a secret.”