A Daughter's Perfect Secret by Kimberly Van Meter Page A

this used to be Oak and Elm, now it’s Success Avenue and Principle Lane.”
    “Boy, that kinda sucks for the locals who grew up with the streets the old way,” she murmured, flabbergasted that someone would move into town and then change the street names.
    He shrugged. “No one seemed to complain too loudly.”
    They were probably afraid to, thought Darcy. “So, you’re thinking of volunteering at the clinic? You’re already pretty busy.”
    “It’s important to me,” he said.
    “Why?” she asked.
    “I…” he started, then frowned as if he’d been about to give away more than he was ready to impart. He finished with a smile. “It just is.”
    “I get it, something personal. I’m sorry to have pressed. I just thought that the clinic might not be your style.” As in, I’d hoped you weren’t part of that group but apparently you are. She worked hard to conceal the sharp disappointment welling in her chest. “Well, I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
    His stare narrowed and she wondered what she’d said wrong, but whatever it was disappeared in the next blink. “My first patient will be here soon. I need to go over my case notes,” he said, turning and disappearing into his office.
    Darcy let out a shaky breath, wondering what sort of nerve she’d hit with her innocent comment. She’d give anything to have a peek inside that brain of his. There was a reason he pushed himself to the extreme and was now looking to volunteer at the clinic. Something didn’t add up—the looks, the quiet steel behind his eyes and now this sudden urge to spend every waking moment with the community of Cold Plains. If she didn’t know better, she’d say Rafe Black had something to hide, or maybe, he was looking for something, just like her.
    She needed to spend more time with Rafe. But if he planned to spread himself so thin, how was she to carve any time out for her?
    Leaning back in her chair, she fiddled with her bracelet, hoping inspiration would hit her. She needed a plan, something to put her closer to the man. The door opening interrupted her thoughts as Rafe’s first patient entered. Shelving her personal dilemma for the moment, she put on a smile and did her best to charm everyone who walked through the front door.
     
     
    Bo had received a summons from Grayson five minutes before he was set to head home. He’d grumbled when he’d read the caller ID on his phone, but he hadn’t dared ignore the call, which was why, instead of enjoying a beer, he was listening to Grayson chastise him for being late with his delivery.
    “What’s the delay?” Grayson demanded, his patience growing thinner by each failed attempt to get Darcy Craven into Grayson’s office for a “meeting.”
    “I can’t seem to catch her. She’s working a lot with Doc Black, and each time I’ve gone by her hotel room, she’s been out.”
    “I’m starting to feel as if she isn’t interested in meeting me.”
    “I’m sure that’s not it,” Bo assured Grayson, though it smacked of all kinds of wrong to be mollifying a grown man like a spoiled child, but in some ways, Bo had discovered Grayson could give kids a run for their money in the petulant department. “She’s just new to town and getting to know people, I guess. She’ll come around eventually.”
    “I want to meet her now,” Grayson said, a dark thread weaving its way into his voice. “This is getting ridiculous.”
    Looking to distract Grayson, Bo said, “What happened to Penny? Your new assistant…she seemed like a nice gal.”
    “For a time. Speaking of, she’ll need some aftercare. Take her to the clinic tomorrow. Use the back entrance. I don’t need that officer of yours asking questions.”
    Ah hell. That meant Penny was probably a mess. Sometimes Grayson got a little overzealous in his bed play, and cuts and bruises occurred.
    “Where is she?” Bo asked.
    Grayson gestured to the bedroom cleverly concealed behind a false wall in his