Secret Weapon Spouse - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,60
Presley had called himself Preston Wellington III.
Alex nodded slowly. “You saw how much my father admired him. Pres did a great selling job. I think he fooled my sister, as well.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
Alex narrowed his gaze at her. “How can you say that? She had to have fallen for his lies. Let’s not forget that she’s pregnant with his child and he is nowhere to be found.”
“His shirts in the closet,” Samantha said. “Your sister had to have seen them. I think she knows who he really is.”
Alex looked stricken. “You’re saying she was in on this deception?”
“I’m saying it’s likely, given that Presley became Preston Wellington III about the time he met her.”
“Exactly.” Alex sighed. “Even if you’re right, he could still be behind her hit-and-run.”
She couldn’t argue that.
“And how do you explain the man who’s been following us. Or the attempt on our lives? Someone doesn’t want us returning to Miami with what we know. Who else could it be besides Presley Wells?”
She wished she had an answer. But she knew C. B. Graham would never have accepted Presley Wells as a son-in-law if he knew about his background. Just as he would never accept Samantha Peters of Algona, Iowa, dirt-poor farm girl as a daughter-in-law.
“You all right?” Alex asked, his gaze softening with concern. He squeezed her hand gently. “Let’s hope Presley is the man you thought he was. Believe me nothing would make me happier for my sister’s sake.” He leaned toward her, meeting her gaze as he leaned in to kiss her. The kiss was soft and gentle. Almost a goodbye kiss.
“Let’s go see my sister.”
ALEX WAS GLAD TO SEE that Caroline was awake and sitting up in bed when he and Samantha entered her room. She smiled and seemed happy to see them.
“Pres just called again,” she said, her hand going to her stomach, her smile broadening.
“I’m sorry I missed that,” Alex said.
Caroline’s smile slipped a little. “You’ll meet him soon enough.”
“Oh? Is he on his way back?” Alex asked.
Caroline seemed to ignore his question as she turned to Samantha. “It is so good of you to stop by.”
“How are you feeling?” Samantha asked, brushing Alex’s hand as she stepped past him.
He moved to the end of the bed, telling himself to let Samantha handle this. She was much better at this kind of thing. That’s right. She was an agent. How did he keep forgetting that?
His gaze settled on her as she visited with his sister and he felt his body heat with a desire he wondered if he could ever quench. Even a lifetime with that woman wouldn’t be enough, he suspected.
Caroline seemed relieved to have Samantha there. “The doctor told me I was unconscious for a while. I’m so glad the baby is all right.” She looked up and caught him watching Samantha. She quirked an eyebrow. “Has something been going on that I don’t know about?” Her expression made it clear that she couldn’t imagine a more unlikely pair.
“Alex?” Caroline’s gaze seemed to take in Samantha’s attire that he’d purchased for her in Tennessee, an admiring glance before she met his gaze again. “You both seem…different.”
“We need to talk,” Alex said, moving to the other side of his sister’s bed. “And not just about me and Samantha.”
He saw Samantha take Caroline’s hand as if to protect her, to protect Presley.
“I went by your condo,” Alex said.
Caroline’s eyes widened. “Why?”
“Why do you think? You were unconscious. I wanted to find your fiancé and get him to the hospital.”
Caroline said nothing, but seemed to stiffen as if bracing herself for the storm.
“You know Preston is really Presley Wells, don’t you?” Samantha asked before Alex could.
Surprise, then resignation registered on his sister’s face before being quickly replaced by a steely determination he knew only too well.
“We went to Tennessee,” Alex said. “We know everything.”
Not quite, but Samantha didn’t correct him.
Caroline had closed her eyes. He could see that she was squeezing Samantha’s hand. “Have you told Daddy?”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
Her eyes came open again.
“Tell me what’s going on,” Alex demanded.
“If you know everything then what is there to tell?”
“Where is your fiancé?”
His sister shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes.
All the anger seemed to rush out of him. He slumped on the edge of her bed. Then, as if on impulse, he leaned into Caroline and because of her broken arm and leg, gave her an awkward hug.
Caroline let go of Samantha’s hand to wrap her arms around his neck. “Trust me,”