Sex, shopping...and scandal!
Tensions are running high in the Marshall clanâbut temptations are running higher. Escaping to Paris for some pre-wedding shopping, Elana and Rafe come face-to-face with a mysterious strangerâone with an explosive secret link to their family. And speaking of connectionsâthose are some white-hot sparks flying between Mariella and Joe. But who spies their tryst with her little eye?
Super Rich. Super Sexy. Super Addictive.
Secrets of the A-Listâread all 12 episodes!
Chapter One
Gabe Santiago stared at Thom. The last thing he wanted to do was get into anything with the other man. Not tonight. Not when he had so many other things on his mind. But he would do what he had to do. What his job demanded. As he always did.
âThis is business?â Thom shook his head, then he spoke again, his voice quiet. âHow long have you been doing this stuff?â
Gabe kept his emotions in check. âThis stuff?â
Thom shrugged one shoulder nervously. âYou know...the fixing stuff.â
He sensed it would be wrong to smile, despite the overdramatic near fear in Thomâs voice. There was nothing remotely amusing about his work. It was serious stuff. Sometimes life and death serious.
âDoes it really matter?â
Thom shifted on his feet, clearly uncomfortable as he exhaled a shuddering breath. âI guess not. I just thought...â
âYou thought what?â
The other man looked as though he wanted to plummet into a sinkhole. âI wondered why itâs all such a big secret.â
âBecause it has to be. Secrets are secrets for a reason,â Gabe reminded him. âYou should know that...considering.â
Gabe noticed Thomâs response in a microsecond. The other manâs jaw tightened. His hands curled into fists. His shoulders straightened. Which was the usual comeback when someone felt cornered. Gabe was well acquainted with the fight-or-flight response in people. And Thom, to his credit, didnât look as though he wanted to bail. He looked like he wanted to knock Gabe on his ass. But Gabe wasnât about to start a fight with his cousinâs fiancé. If he broke Thomâs nose or gave him a black eyeâor worseâheâd have some serious explaining to do to Elana and Mariella. Besides, Luc and Rafeâs recent scuffle that had been caught on camera already had the rumor mills churning about the family and how they were coping after Harrisonâs accident. It had taken some effort to pull the plug on the photos and video circulating on the internet.
âYouâd really resort to blackmail?â Thom asked, his lips pressed together.
Gabe nodded, suddenly bored with the whole conversation. âIâll do whatever I have to do to ensure the family is protected. Maintaining anonymity ensures their protection. If you force me out of the closetâfiguratively speaking,â Gabe said calmly, âIâll do the same.â He took a long breath and glanced backward briefly. Inside the restaurant, the party was going on without them. Gabe could hear music and Elanaâs bubbly laughter and the clinking of glasses. He needed to keep it together. While Harrison was out of action, Gabe needed to be the glue that kept everyone together and the family afloat. He knew what the truth about Thom would do to the family. He knew Elana would be hurt and Thomâs parents, Samuel and Caroline Scott, would be outraged. It was better that everything remained a secret. Hidden. Off the grid. As it had been for so long.
Gabe took another deep breath and spoke again. âAnd since it will not only upset Elana, but also ruin the relationship with your parents that you clearly want to protect, you should think hard before you open your mouth to the family...or the press.â