Fatal Deception by Katie Reus Page A

her by surprise, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her tight against his lean, hard body. He was tense, but his grip was still somehow reassuring. Leaning down he pressed a surprisingly soft kiss to the top of her head. “You’re not going to your executioner,” he murmured.
    He might be so angry he could barely talk to her, but the fact that he was still trying to reassure her stripped her bare. God, she didn’t deserve Harrison. Trust had never come easy to her. Hell, right before they’d gotten married Harrison had admitted his past to her and the first thing she’d thought was that he wanted something from her. Because everyone always had an angle. She’d wondered if he’d known about her past and had been using her. But he hadn’t been. The more time that passed, she’d known with absolute certainty that he just loved her as much as she loved him. She’d had more than one opportunity to tell him who she was, but she’d been too scared.
    God, she was so broken and screwed up she couldn’t even make her marriage work. And it was definitely her fault. Maybe she was more like her mother than she thought.
    She slid her arm around his waist and hugged him back, thankful for his surprising support.
    Harrison and Porter’s shoes made soft thudding sounds along the tiled hallway. Mara had been here once before he’d married Lizzy and she could see a lot of improvements as they entered what had once been a bare, cold living room. She was vaguely aware of the bright throw pillows, afghans, and actual family pictures placed strategically around the retro chic room.
    Lizzy stood where she’d been sitting at a long, sleek white couch. Her dark hair was pulled up in a ponytail and she was wearing one of Porter’s Marine Corps T-shirts that was probably a decade old along with yoga pants. She was clearly okay though, at least physically. Relief flooded her that Harrison had been telling the truth. Even with her internal relief, Mara automatically steeled herself for whatever reception Lizzy would give her.
    Lizzy flew across the room before Mara and Harrison had taken more than a few steps inside. Her dark eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay?”
    Mara blinked as Lizzy pulled her into a tight hug. The other woman was at least six inches taller and she had a serious grip. “I think I should be asking you that. What’s going on? Are you okay?”
    Stepping back, Lizzy linked her arm with Mara’s and led her to the long couch where Mara practically collapsed. Harrison sat on the opposite, smaller loveseat. The glass coffee table in between them had a mug of steaming tea on it. Having one sounded like heaven right now, but there was no way she was asking.
    As if she read her mind, however, Lizzy looked at Porter. “Will you please fix Mara some tea? She likes it the same way I do.” She smiled prettily at Porter who just grunted but disappeared from the room.
    She looked back at Mara. “I didn’t park in the garage at work today because I’d had a meeting a block over early this morning. I didn’t see the point in driving when it was so nice outside.”
    Lizzy paused as Porter placed a mug with steam curling off it and a tea bag still inside down on the table before sitting next to his brother. Mara murmured a thank you but kept her gaze on Lizzy. She didn’t want to see Harrison’s expression or even look at him. She’d get distracted and she couldn’t bear the thought of seeing more anger in his dark eyes. Especially since she was the one who’d put it there.
    “You shouldn’t have walked,” Porter muttered.
    Lizzy ignored her fiancé as she continued. “I nearly ran into a blond haired man as I was crossing the street. I’m not really sure what his deal was, but he looked at me as if I’d surprised him. Like he was excited to see me or something. It was strange and a little creepy. He tried to act subtle, but I could tell he was following me. Instead of heading to the other garage