Page 43 of Mr. Risky

Everyone was still focused on the Sirens, the musicians moving between the tables with their sensual grace.

“I’m sorry, Granger. You wouldn’t let me look at your phone if you had anything to hide. You’ve just seemed—distant lately.”

My toes were almost touching the balcony one floor down, grasping desperately for any purchase there.

Almost. . . not quite. . .

And what if someone from the party looked up?

“Sweetheart, you sound stressed,” Granger said, that damn sweet-talking devil.

“I feel like we need more time with just us,” Pippa whined, but I heard her walk closer to him.

And in that moment he dropped me the last few inches onto the balcony below.

Flinging myself toward the door, I caught my breath as I heard them kiss.

I went downstairs, walked directly to the train station, and bought a ticket out of Oystar Bay.

Or, at least, I attempted to. Max, who I’d known since I was a kid, shook his head.

“I’m sorry, Sosie, I can’t sell you a ticket.”

“Why? Is there something wrong with my card?”

“No, I’m just—not allowed.”

I opened my mouth, and then closed it firmly.

“It’s Granger, isn’t it?” I cried.

“I can’t say,” he repeated.

“Doesn’t anyone in this town wonder why he prevents me from leaving?” I asked bitterly. “No one thinks that’s weird? No one has any curiosity about that?”

“I’m not paid to have questions,” Max said.

And I was forced to turn around and go right back—to Hollingsworth House.

I had been invited to dinner with the Hollingworth family. And it seemed like short of scaling the cliff or hitchhiking there was no way to get out of it.

“So, I heard you broke up with your boyfriend,” Hayden said.

“Who did you hear that from?” I asked.

“Er—Pippa, I think.”

“I just guessed,” she said, tapping her nails on the table.

My heart sunk as I realized she was jealous of the fact that Granger had chosen to sit next to me. That he’d had the whole dinner table and was right next to me.

He was leaning back in his chair and smoking, his legs spread wide, and it could have been a coincidence that his left leg was brushing by mine.

Could have been, but wasn’t.

“Well, did you?”

“Yes,” I said, almost defiantly.