Taboo by Mallory Rush Page B

in. "I mean... well, I know Grant has several projects he's working on and it wouldn't be right for him to get behind on my account. I'll be fine, Mom, I promise."
    "That's okay, Cammie," Grant said loud enough for everyone to hear. "I can take my work with me. Besides, I wouldn't mind getting away for a couple of weeks myself."
    "There, it's all settled," Dorothy pronounced. "You can have your vacation and Grant can take one with you, so I won't have to worry."
    "But, Mom–"
    "Yes?"
    What could she say? Nothing without raising suspicion.
    "Umm... thanks. I'll get the key before I leave."
    Grant sent a smile of supreme satisfaction her way. She deflected it with a discreet scowl. They were going to have this out, and good, as soon as she got him alone.
    * * *
    When dusk settled in, Cammie was finally able to extricate herself from the hellacious gathering held in her honor.
    "Are you sure you can't stay the night?" Dorothy asked. "Tomorrow we could do a fitting on your new outfit."
    "Thanks, Mom. You and Dad went to a great deal of work to have the party, and it means a lot to me. But frankly, I'm really beat. It's been a hectic week, and if I stay I'll be up half the night visiting."
    "You're right about not getting any rest here, and you sure look like you could use some. Just be careful on the road."
    Cammie performed all the ritual hugs and kisses, anxious to get away.
    "I love you both. You've done so much for me, I could never pay you back."
    "Why, Cammie," Edward said, "there's nothing to pay back. You've been a gift to us from the day the Lord brought you here. You make us proud, and this family wouldn't be the same without you."
    "That's right," Dorothy echoed. She dabbed at her eyes and added, "Sometimes I feel guilty for thinking it, and my heart hurts for you that you lost your family... but Cammie, Lord forgive me for saying it, but I've always been thankful your grandparents had already passed on. If they'd been alive, or if your folks had had brothers or sisters, they would have gotten you instead of us. I know it's a selfish thing to admit, but it's the truth."
    Cammie's throat swelled too tight to say anything, so she hugged her parents fiercely before climbing into her car and waving good-bye. She was too distressed to realize she was speeding off with uncharacteristic carelessness.
    Less than three miles away, the oil light flashed a reminder. "Damn!" she screamed at the car, then pulled to the side of the road and pounded the dash in frustration.
    Quelling the urge to slump against the steering wheel and give in to a crying jag, she shoved open the door and proceeded to dig out a few cans of oil from the oversized trunk.
    Efficiently, she raised the hood and reached for the oil cap. She immediately snatched her hand from the overheated metal, shaking it back and forth while tears, sparked more by her pummeled emotions than by the minor burn, stung her eyes.
    She found an old rag and opened the cap with enough force to twist the transmission out, then poured the oil in.
    "You'd better start, you old battle-ax, or you're junk metal next week." She shoved the hood down and cleaned up the mess, unable to care about her white party dress. "I'll sleep in here if I have to, but I'm not going back," she vowed, and twisted the key in the ignition.
    The engine growled in protest but kicked in, just as a pair of headlights rounded the corner.
    The Porsche raced past, then squealed to an abrupt halt before she could hit the accelerator. Grant backed up in a millisecond, throwing dust and gravel against both cars as he blocked her path. Without bothering to cut the engine, he got out of his car and strode over to her.
    Before she knew what was happening, he had flung her door open. "Get out," he ordered.
    "I'm not getting out. I'm going home, Grant. Now move your car out of my way. We're going to talk, but it's not going to be here."
    "Well, at least we agree about one thing." His fingers bit into her upper arms, and