Golden Lies by Barbara Freethy

then. Her cheek was pressed against his heart, her hair tickled his chin, and her arms crept around his body, holding on to him with a tight desperation that he suspected had a lot to do with fear. He wished he had as good an excuse for hugging her back.
    "I'm sorry," Paige said, pulling away far too soon. "I don't know what came over me. I don't usually throw myself into people's arms like that."
    "Miss Hathaway?" Tony walked back to join them. "Do you recognize this bracelet?" He extended his hand, a gold bangle in his palm.
    She shook her head. "I've never seen it before. Where did you find it?"
    "It was found near your father. It might not have anything to do with him, but there's an inscription. It says ' Jasmine, my love '. Do you know anyone named Jasmine?"
    "Jasmine," Paige echoed, looking confused. "I -- I don't think so."
    Despite her denial, Riley had the feeling something in the name had registered with Paige.
    "I'll ask your mother." Tony closed his fingers over the bracelet.
    "Wait," Paige said. "Do you need to ask her now? She's upset."
    "If this bracelet can help us find who assaulted your father ..."
    "You're right," Paige agreed. "Go ahead."
    "From what I've seen, your mother is a very strong woman," Riley said quietly as they watched the detective stride away.
    Paige looked at him with indecision in her eyes. "Yes, she is."
    "You've heard the name Jasmine before, haven't you?"
    She hesitated. "There's a painter named Jasmine Chen. We've bought some of her work for the store. But that doesn't mean that she and my father ... He wouldn't do that. He's not a bad man. At least, I don't think he is." She pressed a hand to her temple, looking paler than she had before. "The truth is I don't know what kind of man he is, and I'm terrified that I won't have the chance to find out. What if he doesn't make it? God, I shouldn't have said that."
    "Give yourself a break. You're human."
    "No, I'm a Hathaway. The press will be all over this before morning. And if there's speculation about another woman ..." she let out a sigh. "I should get back to my mother. She might need me." She paused, then let out an odd laugh that sounded incredibly sad. "Who am I kidding? She doesn't need me. I didn't even think she needed my father until a few minutes ago." Paige seemed to be talking to herself more than to him. She suddenly started. "Was I talking out loud?"
    "I didn't hear a thing," he lied.
    She stared at him for a long moment. "I can't quite figure you out."
    "Likewise," he replied.
    "Thanks for the ride."
    Riley watched her walk away, the stiffness of her spine no doubt worthy of the very best Hathaway. She had her game face back on, and she would do anything to protect her family.
    But right now he had his own family to worry about -- his grandmother's possibly priceless dragon. And the only clue he had was Jasmine Chen, a local painter. She shouldn't be that difficult to find.

    * * *

    Jasmine turned over in bed, her legs twisting in the hot sheets. She wanted to escape from the dream that raced through her head once again, but it had her in its grip, the jade green light burning from two bright eyes, the makeshift altar with the candles, the fireworks bursting outside. Then there was nothing but darkness, the swish of fabric against her face, the terror of no way out, the screaming, the terrible, terrible screaming of a woman, the harsh grip on her arm, the wrenching pain ...
    She woke up abruptly, sweat dripping down her face. The dream always began and ended the same way. But tonight was worse, because today the dream had become a reality.
    The dragon from her nightmares existed. It wasn't a figment of her imagination, as her mother had assured her over the years. It was real. David had shown it to her. It matched the vision in her head, the one she had painted so many times, trying to understand what her dreams might mean. For there had to be a meaning, a reason why her mind kept taking her back to that place. What was