She had to figure out why the Voice had sent her here and what this all-important secret was that had men lying and killing for it.
Did she dare confide in Greer and get his side of the story? Was it time for that? Or was it time to kiss him good and long and go from there? Her body trembled at the vision of that moment.
“Do you want to ride with us to my home?” Bentley asked from above them.
Emery looked up and he was right close, leaning over the back of the couch. She wanted to be with Greer, but this might be the only opportunity she’d get to snoop around and see if there was anything she could find about the Delta family secret. Knowledge was power, and she needed power over the Voice to figure out what his agenda really was.
Trust was also extremely important. She wanted to trust Greer. She also wanted him to trust her.
“Sure,” she said, surprised by how easily she’d given up the opportunity to be alone and snoop.
Greer smiled as if her answer was the perfect one and she didn’t even care about the missed opportunity. He stood, took her hand, and helped her up. He held on to her hand as they all walked through the house and into his garage.
“Tesla, Tesla!” Bentley cheered.
Greer looked at her, and she nodded. They hadn’t driven anything out of his garage, sticking with the horses or walking or mountain biking. “I’d love to see my hot cowboy Maverick driving a sissy car,” she teased, batting her eyelashes.
Greer grunted, but he was smiling. There was a depth to his gaze that thrilled her all the way through. She’d just called himherhot cowboy. They’d snuggled through part of a sporting event. She was trusting him instead of staying at his house and searching for the secret. Was tonight the right time to tell him all her secrets, to trust him completely?
“Who’s Maverick?” Bentley asked.
“Me,” Greer said, giving Emery his slow grin that made her stomach flip and her knees weak. Yep, she was kissing him tonight, and then someday soon she would tell him everything and trust that he could help her if the Voice really was a nefarious villain who’d tricked her brother and was trying to trick her. Of course Travis was still the heroic military man, but something was very wrong with the story and mission she’d been given.
Bentley shook his head. “You’re Greer, silly.” Bentley slid into the backseat. “Friend! You sit up front with Greer … Maverick,” he said in disgust. “That’s a stupid name for my Greer.” He slammed the car door.
Laughter spilled out of Emery. Greer chuckled and then he was laughing too. He wrapped his arm around her and walked her around the car. Emery felt like she was floating. None of the worries that had brought her here mattered at this moment. What mattered was she’d been led to Greer. It wasn’t possible that Greer could’ve killed Travis, that he could be her enemy. Thinking her cowboy could coldly shoot somebody in the head was like saying gravity didn’t exist and a person could float if they wanted to. It just didn’t fit.
He leaned down close before he opened her door and his beard brushed against her cheek. It was soft and he smelled so good. She leaned into him.
“Let’s go!” Bentley hollered from inside the car.
Emery laughed again. Greer opened her door, but before she slid in she whispered, “Thanks, Maverick.”
He smiled and nodded to her. “Friend.”
She grinned back.
The ride to Bentley’s house on the northeast side of Summit Valley by a ski resort went quickly in the punchy Tesla. Bentley loved when Greer pressed on the gas and he chattered nonstop about Chandler and lacrosse the rest of the time.
When they got to his two-story cabin-style house, he jumped out and yelled, “Thanks, Greer! Bye pretty friend!”
“Bye,” Emery said.
He slammed the door and darted toward the wide porch.
Greer glanced over at her and gave her a smile that made her quiver. He didn’t say anything, but he took her hand, threaded their fingers together, and then placed their joined hands on his muscular thigh. Emery’s quivers turned to trembles.
He drove quickly away from Bentley’s house through the east side of the larger Summit Valley and then through the canyon back to his valley. Neither of them said a word, but the anticipation filling the car was palpable. Her stomach was dancing. Greer gently ran his thumb along the back of her hand and just that slight movement calmed her.
He parked in his garage and strode around to get her door. As he helped her out, it registered as always how handsome he was, but Greer was so much more to her than his good looks. He was the most patient, intriguing, and tough man she’d ever known. He was fun for her to be around. Though he didn’t say much, he made her feel like every word out of her mouth was important and often funny. She loved the way she felt around him. She loved the way she felt close to him.
He held her hand as they walked through the garage and mud room and then through the main area. They stopped next to her open bedroom door. Emery smiled up at him, anticipation making her almost jumpy. She longed to kiss him. There were no lingering doubts. Greer was her protective cowboy, and he’d never do her wrong.
He released her hand and tenderly cupped her jawline with both of his large palms. His fingers threaded into her hair and his touch and the meaningful look in his blue eyes made her quiver.
Leaning close, he murmured, “Friend?”
Emery reached up and clung to his nicely formed biceps with both hands. “What can I do for you, my handsome Maverick?”