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having sex with you. Why pick me for whatever game
you re playing? Pure indignation gave her the strength to
speak past the lump in her throat.
It isn t a game, Meagan. He flopped into the chair
next to her, his voice pitched low, his tone rough. Yes, I
was looking for someone and I suspect it may be you. But
that isn t the only reason I asked you out. Whatever has
been going on between us has nothing to do with the
other, I swear it.
That still doesn t explain why me.
He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it more mussed
than before. Do you really want to do this here, in full
view of everyone, or can we move it inside?
She glanced around and realized they had attracted
quite a bit of attention. She bit her lip and shook her head.
Neither. All I want right now is to go home. Maybe later,
when we both cool off, you can call me and explain.
Fine. Let me get my car.
No. She held up a hand to fend him off. Call me a
cab. Or maybe your friend can loan you a chauffeur, or
something. I don t want to be with you right now.
Because anger was losing ground to hurt and she d rather
have hot needles poked into her eyeballs than let him see
her cry.
Ric rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. He
looked torn, like he was weighing two equally
unacceptable options. Finally, defeat registered in his
amber gaze. Would Greg be an acceptable chauffeur? I
know he s my friend, but I promise, you can trust him.
You can even call your friend Jase and stay on the cell the
whole way home. I d feel better if you weren t in some
cab with a stranger.
58 Motor City Fae
He really seemed upset by the idea of her leaving in a
cab, so she caved. Greg seemed like a reasonable choice,
as long as he didn t spend the whole trip trying to
convince her that Ric was a good guy. She nodded. As
long as Greg doesn t mind leaving the party to drive me
home.
Ten minutes later she was in a battered red pickup
heading out the back gates. Now this was much closer to
her usual style. She leaned back against the seat, closed
her eyes and tried to relax. After she d wrestled her tears
under control, she decided it was time to get some
answers.
Greg remained silent, for the most part, answering
direct questions with monosyllabic grunts, which wasn t
helping her temper any. The longest response he seemed
capable of was the oft-repeated refrain, Maybe you
should ask Ric.
She stared at her escort, trying to make sense of him,
Ric, the whole situation. Then she giggled, despite her
miserable mood.
What? His voice was low-pitched and sexy as hell,
but it didn t make her toes curl. That only happened with
Ric-the-rat. Do I have lipstick on my collar or
something?
Not your collar. It s on your ear. He d brushed his
longish, tangled black locks behind his ear, revealing an
ice-pink smear on the upper curve.
He swore and scrubbed at it with his right hand, easily
guiding the truck with his left. Then he chuckled.
Busted. Now you know why it took Ernie so long to find
me. Aidan s new secretary is one hot babe.
Okay, now she knew he was nuts, unless the blond ice
queen suffered from multiple personality disorder. Still, to
Cindy Spencer Pape 59
each his own. She smiled back, even though Greg was
watching the road and couldn t see her. Why do you call
him Ernie?
He hesitated, but finally replied. It s a long story,
kind of an inside joke. You ll have to ask Ric about that
one, okay?
So they were back to that refrain. Ask Ric. She wanted
to scream. Finally, as they turned onto her block, she tried
one last time. At least answer this. Do you know what
this is all about? Even she could hear the hurt and anger
that laced her voice.
But Greg ignored it. Yes.
Can you tell me about it?
Not my place.
Please, Greg, I need to know this much. She wasn t
sure why, but she d decided she could trust this man s
answers. He was too abrupt and straightforward to be a
liar. Was Ric s meeting me really an accident? She
didn t know why she wanted so badly to believe that the
whole thing hadn t been some elaborately contrived plot.
After all, she should have known a guy like that wouldn t
have gone crazy over someone like her.
Greg turned his pickup into Meagan s driveway, killed
the engine and looked at her with an exasperated sigh.
Accident, coincidence, fate depends on what you
believe in. Ask yourself this, Meagan. Doesn t the guy
deserve the chance to make his own explanations?
She shrugged, fighting back tears. Maybe. Later.
When she wasn t too hurt to cope with answers she didn t
want to hear, or too pissed to listen.
Well, don t wait too long. Bad things are going down
and you might be caught in the middle. He hopped out of
the truck, slamming his door. She scrambled out herself,
60 Motor City Fae
grabbing her tote bag as she did. Greg stopped at her door,
set down her garment bag and held out his hand,
apparently waiting for her key.
What bad things, Greg? She handed him the key, not
caring enough to fight about the small stuff.
Again, not my place. He paused while she used the
remote to deactivate her alarm, then he pushed open the
door and stepped inside, closing the door right in her face.
She was too stunned for a moment to do anything.
Before she could even yell or pound on the door, he came
back out, this time holding the door for her to proceed
inside.
You can believe this, he said as he followed her in.
Ric Thornhill is one of the good guys and he has your
best interests at heart. Owen Ferris is definitely a bad guy.
Don t trust him. Listen to your instincts and as soon as
you get a grip on yourself, call Ric.
Her stomach clenched and she leaned against the
doorjamb for support. But I still don t understand, she
whispered. What can any of this possibly have to do with
me? All kinds of things had run through her mind
drugs, prostitution, organized crime but none of them
made any sense at all.
Greg raked his eyes up and down her, shaking his
head. Ask Ric. But there s something he needs to know
and he s been too worried about offending you to ask the
sixty-four thousand-dollar question. So now I m going to
do it for him. Were you or weren t you adopted as an
infant?
Shock waves rolled through her system. How had he
known? Was that what this was all about? Did Ric and his
friend know something about her natural parents? Her
knees weakened and she leaned hard against the wall next
Cindy Spencer Pape 61
to the door.
Yes. Her whisper was so soft and broken even she
didn t hear it, but Greg seemed satisfied. He took her arm
and guided her to her couch.
Call Ric. His voice was still gruff, but with an
underlying gentleness that soothed her frazzled nerves.
He s on your side, I promise.
Chapter Five
Ric sat in the car, waiting for Meagan to call. Greg had
assured him that she would, she simply needed some time.
He hoped like hell that his friend had been right.
Even though he d been waiting for it, the shrill
chirping of his cell phone startled him and only his cat-
like Fae reflexes saved him from dumping hot coffee all
over his lap. He mentally flicked the hands-free switch,
without bothering to check the display. Mistake.
Must I send another agent to Detroit? One who isn t
as likely to be distracted by a pretty face? Madog is
available.
Ric cringed at the glacial fury in his queen s tone.
Did your sources also mention that Owain crashed
Aidan s house party? Not only do I have to find your
heiress and persuade her to give up her entire life as she
knows it to take her place at your court, I have to protect
her from your enemies at the same time. If you want
something to keep Madog busy, sic him on Owain.
Madog ap Arnoc was a half-ogre/half-elf, who had been
the queen s personal enforcer for centuries. He was
devoted and loyal to her but had absolutely no other
scruples. Ric didn t even want to think about him
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