The Confession (31 page)

Stepping around the insolent man, Lexie came face to face with her brother, Jordan, who stood watching the scene with uncontained amusement. Beside him, Ryan stood in silence with his head hung low, gripping his uncle’s hand.

“Sorry, Mommy,” he whispered to the floor.

“This wasn’t exactly the introduction I had in mind when I brought him over here,” Jordan said, biting back a laugh, “but Lexie, I’d like you to meet my new partner, Deputy Grayson Hunter.”

Lexie turned around and locked eyes with the man, who was still wearing a self-satisfied grin, and groaned. “Perfect,” she mumbled, “just perfect.”

“Grayson, I see you’ve met my sister, Lexie. And this little speed demon is my nephew, Ryan.”

Lexie clenched her teeth together. She wanted nothing more than to wipe the smirk from Grayson Hunter’s handsome, chiseled face. Her body still hummed from the anticipation of his almost-kiss. Her hands itched to trace the lines of his face, to bury them in his thick black hair. She didn’t like it. What she liked less was that her response had been noticed. Grayson’s eyes shone with the spark of challenge.

She clasped her hands together, smiled sweetly, and batted her eyes mockingly. “New partner? Oh, that’s such good news. The only thing missing from this town is a cop who’s light on his feet and as graceful as a one-legged tap dancer.”

Jordan groaned.

Grayson’s eyes flashed with mischief. “You can’t blame a man for being swept off his feet by a beautiful woman.”

“Should we worry when he’s swept off his feet by a four-year-old boy?” Lexie challenged.

Grayson ignored her retort, and held out his hand to Ryan. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Ryan giggled and reached out to shake the outstretched hand.

He stepped through the door behind a laughing Jordan and turned around, his eyes filled with amusement. “And Lexie, it was
very
nice bumping into you.”