Page 59 of Missile Strike

That man wasn’t him.

And wanting her didn’t change that—no matter how much he wished it did.

Tonight we chill. Have some fun.

Isabella’s brain kept circling Danny’s words as she spent the afternoon avoiding texts and phone calls from friends and colleagues who’d seen The Charlotte Times article.

She’d even managed to avoid her parents, firing off a text echoing what Danny had told her father—she was okay, they’d deal with the reporter, and it would all be forgotten by the time the gala took place.

Not that she believed any of it.

Olivia Flores had reopened a wound she’d spent years trying to ignore.

By the time Danny knocked on her door and asked if she was ready for pizza and a movie, her nerves were shot, and she was desperate for a distraction.

And Danny was one hell of a distraction.

It didn’t help that he’d changed into faded jeans that sat low on his hips and a ridiculous dinosaur-print shirt that somehow emphasized the breadth of his shoulders and the muscle beneath. Combined with his bare feet, the look was pure California beach boy—and entirely too sexy.

She picked a movie that had just moved to streaming, and they settled onto the couch with plates of pizza, a glass of wine for her, and a beer for him.

The movie held her attention—barely. Enough to keep her from staring at Danny, seated beside her.

But not enough to dull her awareness of him. His aftershave teased her senses, and his sheer size made her feel petite and feminine.

A second glass of wine might be necessary.

When the movie ended, Danny rose, gathering their plates to take them to the kitchen.

She wasn’t ready to be alone. “How about a game?”

He turned from where he was loading the dishwasher, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Truth or Dare?”

Maybe it was the wine, but she really wanted to ask him questions she couldn’t ask during a regular conversation. “Why not? I’ll go first.”

Another beer in hand, Danny dropped onto the couch beside her. “Okay. Fire away.”

She shifted so that she faced him. “In all your travels, what’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen?”

“Hmm.” Danny thought for a minute. “I’d have to say the Grand Canyon’s at the top of the list. It’s like staring into a painting—it almost doesn’t seem real. And you feel insignificant standing at the rim, trying to take it all in.”

“I’ve heard it’s breathtaking.” The admission came with a twinge of embarrassment. “I’ve never been.”

“You should go,” Danny said. “What about you? Favorite travel destination?”

She searched her brain for an answer but couldn’t come up with one. “I usually travel for work, and honestly, I don’t see much outside of the hotel and convention halls.”

He frowned. “You don’t check out the sights?”

Tension gathered in her shoulders. “I’m working while I’m there.”

The snap in her tone made his lashes flicker.

Crap. That came out defensive.

She gnawed on her lip, thinking, then tried again. “I liked what I saw of Greece. Before…”

The unfinished sentence lingered heavily between them.