Fearless Maverick by Robyn Grady Page A

his usually entrancing grey gaze had dulled.
                 ‘How
long since you’ve seen this mysterious brother?’ she asked, knowing she was
being nosy again.
                 But
Libby knew ghosts from the past could creep up when a person had time on their
hands, and Alex wouldn’t be used to being confined, cut off, the way he had
been these past days. If he wanted to share—about his family and old Wolfe
Manor—anything he said wouldn’t go beyond her.
                 ‘Jacob
left Wolfe Manor almost two decades ago. Disappeared one night without a
goodbye.’ He looked down at the same time his brow furrowed. But then he seemed
to shore himself up, particularly when his gaze hooked onto another sporty car.
‘I’d offer you a ride in my Sargaris TVR but I really need two hands to control
it.’
                 She’d
lost interest in cars. ‘Do you have other siblings other than those two?’
                 ‘Three
shy of a football team.’
                 ‘Do
you see them often?’
                 ‘Not
regularly. Never all together. I haven’t seen Jacob since he left.’ Alex
hunkered down to inspect something that seemed to trouble him about one of the
car’s tyres. ‘What about you?’
                 ‘Me?’
                 ‘Do
you have brothers and sisters?’
                 ‘I
don’t have any siblings.’
                 ‘Your
parents alive?’
                 ‘And
well.’
                 ‘What
did you do before becoming a physio?’
                 As
he pushed to his feet, she saw a certain glint in his eye and her insides
wrenched. Seemed he had a few questions of his own … questions she wasn’t
entirely comfortable with answering. Time to pull up the brake.
                 She
curled some hair behind an ear. ‘I didn’t mean to pry so deeply. We got
sidetracked and I was interested …’
                 Her
words trailed off as he angled more toward her. The air between them seemed to
crackle when he said in a deep sure tone, ‘I’m interested too.’
                 She
let out a pent-up breath. The emotion in his eyes looked sincere. But how much
was she prepared to divulge? Although her accident and subsequent amputation
weren’t federal secrets, she’d made it her policy not to wallow in the past.
She certainly didn’t want pity, which was often people’s first reaction.
                 Dismissive,
she hitched up one shoulder. ‘My family history isn’t that exciting.’
                 ‘I’m
sure being the female world surf champion would’ve been anything but boring.’
                 Her
stomach pitched and a chill crept over her scalp. She felt unsteady. Worse, she
felt like a downright fool. He knew about her past? And he’d said nothing! What other information had he gathered?
                 Although
she was boiling inside, somehow she kept her tone civil. ‘You should have
mentioned that you knew.’
                 ‘Perhaps
you should have mentioned it first.’
                 Her
hands balled. He might be world famous but, honestly, who did he think he was?
                 ‘My
past, Mr Wolfe, is hardly detrimental to my current career. If anything, it’s
advantageous.’
                 He
quizzed her eyes and the unspoken question hung between them. Then why not put it in your résumé?
                 The
uncomfortable silence stretched out. Feeling off centre—trapped—she forged a
look at her watch. Way past time she was gone.
                 ‘I
should leave,’ she said, rearranging her bag’s shoulder strap. ‘I’ll be late
for my next appointment.’
                 After
hesitating only a heartbeat, he nodded and agreed. ‘I’ll see you out.’