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He’d never looked more handsome.
But it wasn’t just his chiseled features and brawny physique.
It was everything about him.
Her heart skipped.
It suddenly struck her.
For the first time in her life, she was falling in love.
* * *
Tom Mitchell had just returned to his New York penthouse after seeing his close friend and doctor, Jeremy Pearson. When Ellie had suggested a check up, Tom had already contacted Jeremy, complaining of feeling weak and tired. He figured Jeremy would just tell him he’d been working too hard, but to his surprise, Jeremy had insisted on drawing blood. Now it was just a matter of waiting for the results.
But there was another reason for Tom’s sudden trip.
He’d received a call from the FBI requesting an in-person meeting.
The two agents who arrived at his office looked as if they’d stepped out of a television series. Both had deadpan expressions, appeared to be in their early forties, and were all business. They had told him the house he now owned in Elk Valley once belonging to Jay Whittaker, needed to be vacated immediately and placed under surveillance.
A reliable source had told them one of Jay’s criminal associates was about to raid the home, but the informant didn’t know what they were after.
Tom had immediately agreed to cooperate, and his first call had been to Eleanor. In spite of the warning to keep the operation confidential, he felt an overwhelming need to tell her.
When he’d contacted David and instructed him to leave, the conversation had been awkward, but quick. Now it was time to call Bethany, but his phone chimed and her name was on the screen.
“Bethany, I’m glad to hear from you,” he exclaimed. “You need to leave the house for a little while. Check into the hotel. I’ll let them know you’re coming and to have a suite ready.”
“Why?”
He paused.
“Are you there?”
“Yes, Bethany, I’m here. I’m sorry, hon, I can’t go into detail, but I have my reasons. Pack what you need and—“
“Is Eleanor going too? And what about David and Matt, those security guys you have staying here?”
“Yes, everyone has to leave, but just for a short time,” he replied, then wanting to change the subject, he added, “Bethany, what’s this I hear about you having a fight with Eleanor when she was leaving Kincaid’s Western Wear?”
“I’m sorry, but I was just so mad. She makes everything so difficult. I went to a lot of trouble to shop for all your favorite things, and she threw them away. If I knew how to cook I would have bought fresh stuff, but I don’t. I’m doing the best I can.”
“I know what she did was extreme, but threatening to kill her?”
“I didn’t!”
“Telling someone you’ll send them off in a pine box is the same thing!” Tom retorted in a rare flash of anger. “You have to find a common ground. She’s my daughter!”
“So am I, and I’m tired of this bullshit. It’s about time the world knew!”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Tom immediately regretted his outburst. And once again, he had no answer to the threat Bethany had been holding over his head. He’d been living under a subtle form of blackmail, but it was still blackmail nonetheless.
“I’ll leave the house, but you should think about that,” she continued tersely. “Once I’m settled I’ll call you back. I want to know why we all have to leave and for how long.”
As she abruptly ended the call, a piercing shard of anxiety sliced through him. Rarely did he drink, but rising to his feet, he moved across to the liquor cabinet and poured a small amount of his favorite cognac into a snifter. Taking a swallow, he closed his eyes and savored the warm, spicy liquid gliding down his throat, then let out a heavy sigh.
