Chapter 189

Her plan would work. It had to work. Because the alternative was unthinkable.

Not wanting to consider what that alternative might actually entail, she headed for the kitchen, looking for something to calm her jangling nerves.

At the back of the pantry, she found a half-empty bottle of tequila. The doorbell rang just as she twisted off the cap. The sound froze her like a statue. Candace took a gulp straight from the bottle, grimacing as the tequila scorched its way down her throat and into her belly. She still felt its heat in her mouth a moment later when she opened the door.

He said nothing. Just stood there, the light spilling from the house not quite reaching his face, so his expression remained cast in shadows. That seemed appropriate somehow, since she was having so much trouble reading him.

“Hello, Nolan.” Her voice sounded remarkably calm.

See how easy this was going to be. Just two adults having a reasonable conversation. He looked her up and do