The secrets they keep, p.29
The Secrets They Keep, page 29
“What?” he said on exhale, stepping toward her. “Are you serious?”
“It’s already happened. My work is my life, Mac.” She crossed her arms and stared down at his shoes. “I’m not that interesting outside of it.”
And once you found all that out for yourself, you wouldn’t have any interest in me anyway. I’m skipping over that for both our sakes.
“I highly doubt that.”
She shrugged. “Well, I’m sorry, but I’m not willing to sacrifice my position to find out whether or not this could work.” She winced as the words escaped her lips.
“You don’t even want to see what this is? What it could be?”
She glanced up at him, expecting to see disappointment on his face, but he was grinning.
That charming grin. Is he trying to manipulate me into feeling sorry for him…or use my attraction to him against me?
“What?” she asked, half-laughing. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because I already know the answer,” he said. “You want to, but like I said, you’re too afraid.”
“I’m not afraid of much,” she huffed.
He’s getting too close.
“I know.” He smiled and took another step closer. “But you’re afraid of this.”
I’m afraid I’m not enough. That I’ll never be enough.
He took another step and stopped in front of her.
There’s something buzzing between us right now, and if I don’t step away, I might lose myself to this feeling.
“Mac…” she whispered.
“You haven’t told me to leave.”
“I can’t do this,” she whispered, hanging her head.
“Okay. Okay, I can respect that.” She looked up at him, and he pressed his lips together. “I’ll see you at work, and we won’t discuss this again. You have my word. But if we’re going to work together, we need to communicate, just like you tell me.”
She smirked. “I guess it finally sunk in.”
He nodded, grinning. “Hey, you did great with Todd. Brad, too. Vila told me how you used Cory’s leverage to get a confession out of him.”
“He did, did he?”
“He told everyone he would have bet against Brad giving the confession right there in his kitchen in front of his wife. He said he’s not betting against you ever again.”
Grace let out a huff of laughter and shook her head.
That feeling again, like after we caught the gang breaking and entering, and after receiving my medal. I chase this feeling, this high, and I need it. It’s a means to an end.
The way I feel any semblance of worth or belonging.
She stood awkwardly in front of him, and he took a step back. “I should be going.”
She nodded. “Thanks for coming by. See you at the station.”
He smiled as she closed the door.
That didn’t end badly. Not bad at all.
She turned around to her empty home and leaned against the door, her heart still beating fast.
He put himself out there for me. No regrets for him…
But for me…
She stared down at her folders on the living room table. The last of the paperwork from the investigation she closed that week.
Another case successfully closed. Recognition from the chief. If I keep this up, I’ll be back in Amherst in no time. What more could I want?
A car engine purred to life outside, and an empty void settled into the pit of her stomach.
I want to share this high with someone. Someone who sees me as the person I want to be.
She turned around and opened the door to Mac. She took a step back, and he stepped inside. “What are you still doing here?” she asked.
“Vila may never bet against you again, but I would.”
She pursed her lips and shook her head.
“I was betting you’d change your mind.”
“I haven’t,” she said at once.
I haven’t. But maybe…
“What do you want, Grace?”
She looked up at his mouth, her gaze trailing to his eyes and back down to his shoulders.
I don’t want to be alone.
He took a step toward her. “You don’t want this, so what do you want?”
She rested her hands against his chest, and he brought his mouth down to hers, pressing their lips together. She parted hers, enjoying the buzzing between them converging in the same place.
As they parted, she looked up at him and whispered, “This isn’t what you think it is.”
She held on to his collar and pulled him down toward her again, crushing her lips against his. The thrumming vibration permeated past her lips, infiltrating her body.
This is what I need. This connection.
She pulled him toward her, taking a step back into the living room. He reached behind him and swung the door shut.
“This can’t be anything more than… this,” she said in a breathy whisper, searching his face for understanding. He nodded, his hands moving along her sides, down to her hips.
She relaxed into his arms and fell into his kiss.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my formatter and dear friend, Jade Eby, and my cover designer, Amy Queau of Q Design, for the exceptional visual components of this novel. To Krista at Mountains Wanted Publishing, I am grateful for your skills, attention to detail, and professional service.
I have an immense amount of appreciation for my beta-readers: Jade Eby, J.C. Hannigan, and Shyla O’Brien. Your opinions and insights are invaluable. Thank you for challenging and supporting me during this process. I appreciate the care you’ve come to have for these characters of mine.
Thank you to my early readers for joining my team and your interest in Madigan and Grace’s story. To my colleagues in the book community for “getting me”. Thank you for your support, encouragement, and sharing your knowledge with me. I’m proud to call you my friends.
For the continued support of my family, friends, and husband. I am forever grateful and I love you all. Each and every person in my life who has supported me and my writing career hold a special place in my heart.
Thank you to my true-blue readers and my reader group on Facebook for sticking with me, for your curiosity, and for your company on this journey. From the bottom of my heart, I’m honored to share this experience with you.
Also by Emerald
Don't miss these suspenseful and unpredictable reads:
The Darkness Follows Duology
Darkness Follows
Shadows Remain
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The Avery Hart Trilogy
Lies Come True (Book One)
Bare Your Bones (Book Two)
Every Last Mark (Book Three)
The Complete Avery Hart Trilogy
• • •
Standalones
Wrong Angle
Closer
All the Dark Corners
• • •
The Anna Kelleher Chronicles
Midnight Motel (Book One)
• • •
The Knox and Sheppard Mysteries
The Girls Across the Bay (Book One)
The Secrets They Keep (Book Two)
The Lies You Told (Book Three)
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Click here to view the complete list of books and purchase links.
About the Author
Emerald O'Brien was born and raised just east of Toronto, Ontario. She graduated from her Television Broadcasting and Communications Media program at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario. As the author of unpredictable stories packed with suspense, Emerald enjoys connecting with her readers who are passionate about joining characters as they solve mysteries and take exciting adventures between the pages of great books.
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When she is not reading or writing, Emerald can be found with family and friends. Watching movies with her husband and their two beagles is one of her favourite ways to spend an evening at home.
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To find out more, visit Emerald on her website:
http://emeraldobrien.com
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If you enjoyed Emerald’s work, please share your experience by leaving a review where you purchased the story.
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Emerald O'Brien, The Secrets They Keep
