Falling in love once was a gift. But a second time?
She shook her head even as her thoughts turned to Graham. She wasn’t in love with him, but he was a very easy man to like. Deeply.
How could she not? He was kind and charming, funny and gracious. He was everything Peter hadn’t been. Well, Peterhadbeen charming.
Unnaturally so, when she looked back. She’d also been young and inexperienced and too easily swept up by his promises of the sort of life he could give her.
To his credit, he did give her that kind of life, for the most part. They’d had a lavish apartment in Manhattan, a penthouse in Boca, and a sprawling ranch near Jackson Hole. They had lived a life beyond her wildest dreams.
And then it had all turned into a nightmare.
She should have seen the signs that he was not who he said he was. He’d been as interested in clothing and fashion as she had been. Pickier about wine and food, fascinated by art, collecting pieces everywhere they traveled.
He went to the salon more often than she had, too. Which reminded her that she needed to get her color touched up.
She pulled out her phone to see about making an appointment on the salon’s app. Barkley let out a deep sigh, making her smile. “Hard day, huh?”
They’d brought him a bowl and his own bottle of water, but he’d had a drink earlier. Paige went back to her phone and the salon’s calendar. Tuesday would be all right. She made the appointment, pleased she’d gotten that done.
She was missing the next lecture at the library on The Secret Lives of Famous Paintings, but it was worth it to be here with Randi. Nothing was as good as this.
She returned to her book but a few pages in, she heard her name being called out in a very familiar English accent. An odd feeling went through her, almost like she’d been found out. Shehadn’t told Randi about Graham because she didn’t want her daughter thinking there was more going on than there really was.
She put her ereader aside and stood up.
Graham was walking toward her. “Hello, there.”
She smiled and waved. “Hi. Out for a walk?”
He nodded. “Too nice a day to stay in.”
“It really is.”
He glanced at Randi, who hadn’t moved, then Barkley. “Quite the handsome hound you have there, but I should go. You have company.”
Paige instantly felt bad. All she’d told him was that she’d be busy this weekend. He could probably figure out what was going on. The man had been MI6, after all.
Randi sat up. “Hi.”
Graham gave her a nod. “Afternoon, miss.”
Paige jumped in. “Randi, this is Graham. Graham, this is my daughter, Randi.”
Graham smiled. “Nice to meet you, Randi. I’m one of your mum’s neighbors.”
“Nice to meet you,” Randi said.
Graham gave them both a smile. “I’ll let you enjoy your day. Better get back before I’m burnt to a crisp. See you around, Paige.”
She exhaled, completely deflated, despite her smile and the wave she gave him. That had not gone well. Why hadn’t she just told him her daughter was in town and that was why she’d be busy?
Instead, it felt like she’d lied to him. A lie of omission was still a lie, her mother had always said. That was part of the reason Paige so deeply despised what Peter had done to her.
“He seems nice,” Randi said.
“He is,” Paige said, staring after him. “Very nice.”
Randi glanced toward Graham. “He’s notjusta neighbor, is he?”
