Embracing Danger by Olivia Jaymes Read Free Book Online

time you gave it to me. Until then though we’re the best of friends. Deal?”
    She did owe him. Dammit.
    “Deal. When does this friendship start?”
    “Why, it already has, princess. I brought you breakfast, didn’t I?”
    “I suppose I’m doing the dishes?”
    She was pleased and surprised that she managed to keep her tone light-hearted.
    “I think it’s only fair.” He stood and refilled his glass, leaning a hip against the counter. “Now let’s get down to business, shall we? I need to know everything you know about your dad’s life. No detail is too small or too off the wall. Anything might tell us where he might have gone.”
    She opened her mouth to answer but then closed it, realizing she didn’t know all that much about her own father. He’d made a point not to expose her to his business dealings and only superficially to his personal relationships.
    “I don’t know much.”
    “You know more than you think you do. Let’s start with recent events. Tell me anyone you know he’s talked to since you’ve been home, whether on the phone or in person.” Shane dug his cell out of his pocket and pressed a few buttons before laying it on the table. “If you don’t mind I’ll record this.”
    Arden had been home less than a month so this first exercise wasn’t too bad. “On my first day home, he was in the office with Sheldon Court. I think he’s in construction or something but I don’t know what they were talking about. He stayed for about an hour and then left.”
    “Good girl. This is exactly what I need. Keep going.”
    She shouldn’t have this warm feeling inside from simply being praised but then it had always been like that. She’d glowed under his approval, blossoming under his tender loving care and attention.
    She couldn’t help the small pinch of longing to feel that way again.

Chapter Seven
    ‡
    B y Thursday night, Arden was exhausted and more worried than ever. She hadn’t heard a word from her father and according to the police he hadn’t used any of his credit cards or his cell phone. Every passing day with the same deafening silence only made things worse.
    So she’d been thrilled when Shane told her he had the background check from Jason’s firm. It felt like they were spinning their wheels with no new information and her nerves were stretched thin. She wanted something – anything – to happen.
    Which was why she was knocking on his front door after school was done for the day. She’d been waiting since lunch time when she’d seen his text and patience had never been her strong suit.
    The door swung open and Shane stood on the other side looking too handsome for words. They’d spent every single evening together this week going over the smallest of details she could remember about her father, so she ought to be used to how sexy and masculine he looked. He’d matured into a gorgeous man.
    A nice one too.
    Once they’d put aside the past and decided to be friends their time together had been rather easy and jovial. His sense of humor was still as wicked, and coupled with his keen intelligence he could make her laugh at will.
    “Come on in. You look cold.”
    “That’s because I am cold. It’s freezing out there today. I’d forgotten how early it gets cold here at home.”
    Toeing off her boots, she hung her coat on the peg next to the door before joining him in front of the fireplace.
    “Are you hungry?”
    Shaking her head, she held her frozen hands closer to the flames, sighing as the heat penetrated her cold bones. “Not right now. Honestly I want to hear what they dug up.”
    Shane’s expression had been bland so far, giving away nothing, but then he would have been an excellent poker player.
    The asshole.
    “Can I get you a drink?”
    He’d tipped his hand just a little.
    “You said we needed to meet but you don’t seem to want to talk. Shane, that worries me.”
    He picked up a folder from the coffee table and sat down on the couch. “I know that