The Truth Read Online Free Page A

body gave up its fight, growing soft in his arms. He gently brushed his lips over hers, taking his time, exploring their shape and texture. Parting her lips, he deepened the kiss, his tongue stroking hers. A soft moan escaped her lips and shot through his system like electricity. Gripping her tighter, he suckled her bottom lip and nibbled it with his teeth. Dropping her sandals, she reached over his shoulders and dug her hands into his hair, pulling him closer, taking her fill.
    With reluctance, he loosened his grip on her, and pulled away. He watched her as her eyelids fluttered open. Their eyes locked. She stepped back, looking as if she might run. He took hold of her hand and started walking down the beach.
    He had been longing to do that, but now that he’d touched her he wanted to take her in his arms again. Judging by her nervous behavior, he decided it might be best to slow it down and give her time to realize he was nowhere near done kissing her.

Chapter 5
    In the weeks that followed, Grayson had integrated himself into her life. All of her good intentions to keep him at arm’s length failed miserably. How was she supposed to fight a man who turned her brain to mush when he kissed her? Making him harder to resist, he not only made her happy, but her son as well. Somehow, Grayson had slipped into her son’s life like he’d always been there. He shared his love for the stars with Ryan and the two of them spent hours laying on the beach, with Grayson pointing out the constellations, and telling Ryan the stories behind their names.
    It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and the three of them had decided to spend the day in San Francisco. Lexie lifted her hand and waved at Ryan as he whizzed past her in his shiny red bumper car. The sound of his laughter rang through the air as he slammed into the side of Grayson’s car. Grayson mumbled something about getting even, and hit the gas, chasing after Ryan and trying to cut in front of him. She heard her son’s moan of disappointment as his car came to a stop, followed by an explosion of giggles as Grayson scooped him up and threw him over his shoulder, tickling his side as they headed toward her.
    “Can we go again?” Ryan asked her breathlessly once he had his feet back under him.
    Grayson stepped over and wrapped his arm around Lexie as he answered her son. “How about we eat first? I’m starving.”
    “Then we can go again?” Ryan grabbed ahold of Grayson’s free hand.
    “We’ll see,” Lexie responded, prompting a groan from Ryan.
    As they drew closer to Fisherman’s Wharf, Ryan raced ahead, enthralled by the large metal crab statue. “Come on, Grayson, come on,” he urged.
    “Hang on buddy, we’re coming. Slow down,” Grayson called after him, pulling Lexie along with him.
    As Ryan picked up speed, ignoring his calls, Grayson ran after him, and grabbing him around the waist, hoisted Ryan onto his shoulders. Lexie felt her chest constrict at the comfortable picture they painted.
    They stopped at the railing and pointed out the large sea lions sunning themselves on the docks below. Walking farther down the pier, Grayson pointed out Alcatraz across the water and explained its history to them.
    An older couple walking past stopped and smiled at the animated little boy. “Your son seems to be enjoying himself,” the woman said to Grayson.
    Grayson smiled and nodded his head as they walked by, neither correcting her nor confirming her assumption.
    Ryan giggled. “Grayson, she thought you were my daddy.”
    Grayson tilted his head and looked over his shoulder. “She sure did. But she doesn’t know that any son of mine would never try to kill me with a bumper car.”
    Ryan erupted with laughter again. “Yuh-huh he would, ’cause you can’t drive it.”
    As the two of them debated back and forth which one held the best bumper car skills, she couldn’t miss the questions written on Grayson’s face when he looked over at her.
    They hadn’t talked about