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“We communicate whenever she is concerned about my father’s welfare,” he snapped, a hint of frustration in his voice. He came there expecting to bully her into backing off. He hadn’t expected her to fight back.

“Me strolling past your house is hardly a threat to anyone.”

He hesitated, as if trying to decide whether to let it drop to prove he had nothing to hide or to press his warning to try and intimidate her.

At last he went with the intimidation route. No surprise. He possessed the arrogance of a privileged rich man who demanded obedience from the lesser folks.

“Tara felt uncomfortable with your interest into my father’s health and my own travel schedules,” he said in accusing tones. “She thought you were trying to pry information out of her.”

“Why would I do that? Unless you’re hiding something.”

“You’ve already tried to convince Celeste that I’m lying about having met you before.”

“That was an honest mistake.”

“And now you are digging for something else to cause trouble for me. Are you trying to jeopardize my engagement to your cousin?”

Livia paused. Was that what had him worried? That she was going to do something to hurt his relationship with the Benoits? Or was he afraid she might discover he’d hired a private detective?

Maybe both.

“I have no interest in your relationship with Celeste,” she assured him. “In fact, I hope you both have a long and happy life together.”

Perhaps sensing the sincerity in her words, Winston stepped back. “I trust you’re being honest, Livia. We’re going to be family and I’d prefer that we be friends. But I won’t hesitate to be your enemy if you threaten me or my future with the Benoits. Enjoy the fireworks.”

With a stiff nod of his head, Winston stepped past her and headed toward his vehicle parked near the line of portable potties. Livia glared at his back, hoping his expensive SUV smelled like a sewer. The jerk.

It was obvious that her snooping around was bothering him. Unfortunately, there was more than one possible reason he should be concerned.

“Livia?” A new form appeared beside Livia, but this time she felt nothing but relief as she turned to discover Bryce regarding her with a worried expression. “What happened?”

Livia shuddered, wrapping her arms around her waist. How could she be cold when it was a hundred smothering degrees in the park?

“I’m not entirely sure, but I’m convinced that Winston Durand is hiding something,” she muttered.

Bryce shot a glance toward the SUV that peeled away with the soft purr only an expensive engine could produce.

“Why? What has he done?”

“Nothing yet,” Livia conceded. “But I was walking behind his house today—”

“Livia,” Bryce interrupted with a frown.

“I was on the public pathway.” Livia rolled her eyes. “Or at least what used to be the public pathway.”

“Yeah, the Benoits and Durands have a nasty habit of claiming land that doesn’t belong to them.”

“How do you think they got so rich?” Livia asked in dry tones.

“Was Winston mad you were trespassing?”

“No, it was the pretty young nurse who got her panties in a twist.”

“Tara?”

“Yup. She tried to run me off and we had a short conversation before I left.”

Bryce studied Livia with a suspicious expression. “That’s it?”