Anthem Trilogy by Kristina Knight

Author:Kristina Knight
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kristina Knight

Chapter Seven

"It's October, you know, the beach is going to be cool."

They were speeding down the Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu, top down, and Chase was anything but cool. As soon as he'd mentioned the words “beach” and “picnic,” Cassidy made it her mission to find suitable shoes (canvas loafers from the office closet filled with items of clothing), sunscreen (her desk drawer behind a glue stick) and a floppy hat (different closet, still filled with clothes). Then she reminded Nina of her own business degree—which apparently came with phone skills—and pushed them out the door.

Now Nina was struggling to remove the lace-up booties, and she had her left leg hiked onto the seat beside him. Sure, her legs were covered in denim but the skinny cut did fascinating things to his libido. And when she released her foot from the confines, displaying smooth skin, pretty little toes painted hot pink and a fascinating vein along the side, he had to grip the steering wheel tighter. Focus his attention completely on the road ahead.

"We're in the low seventies today, which will keep most people home." And while he planned to visit a quiet beach with very little public access, the cooler temperatures should give them more privacy.

"There's a storm brewing."

"Won't be here for hours."

He parked the Vette beneath the branches of a coastal live oak and hurried around the car to open Nina's door. "There is a little trail over the bluff to the beach."

Nina raised an eyebrow. "Another local favorite?"

Chase chuckled and began closing the convertible top. "Not quite." He pointed over his shoulder to the peaks of a home hidden down the road behind them. "My parents' estate and private beach. No locals allowed."

Nina's eyes widened. "You brought me to your parents' home?"

"To their beach, a place they rarely visit outside the usual summer holidays. Don't worry, no more lying to family members." The words didn't relax her. Nina's gaze darted over his shoulder, as if she worried one or the other of his parents might appear at any moment. Like they were teenagers waiting to get busted sneaking out of the house at two in the morning. "They're in the Caribbean at the moment, so you're perfectly safe," he lied. Although it was highly unlikely they were in residence; once Labor Day hit his parents went back to their Beverly Hills mansion. His father was probably in Studio City working on a show, his mother at her law office. And with Lily and Nate sailing to Catalina, that left the beach to him.

Finally she took a deep breath and nodded. "Sorry, I know it's silly. I'm just not good at the lying thing."

"You did fine Monday night. And I haven't seen a quote yet telling the world we're faking this whole thing."

"That's because I've been avoiding phone calls." She worried her fingers, lacing them together and then separating them. He watched her twiddle her thumbs and then flick them against the pads of her fingers. All the while she seemed to be trying not to be obvious that she was already on the alert for interlopers.

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