Snowed In With A Billionaire. Karen Booth

to be on vacation?” Paul asked when he answered.

      Alex walked to the far side of the room. He didn’t want Joy to overhear him. “I am on vacation. And I’m enjoying myself. But I want you to check into something for me.”

      “Something or someone?”

      Paul was a smart man. No question about that. “Someone. A woman.”

      “Oh, boy,” Paul said. “I hope you aren’t putting yourself into a delicate situation again.”

      Alex closed his eyes and blew out a breath through his nose. Paul had every right to be wary. He’d suspected something about Sharon from the moment he’d met her. He’d kept it to himself for quite a while, but when it got close to the wedding day, Paul had taken the initiative and started digging. What he found was a trail of lies. Alex had let his heart cloud the issue when it had come to Sharon, and he’d come close to paying for it dearly.

      “It’s not exactly a neat and tidy situation. I met a woman tonight, but only because I hit a patch of ice and nearly ran into her with my car. I’m at her house right now. I just want to make sure there aren’t any surprises I should know about. She’s lovely. I’d like to ask her out, maybe take her to dinner. But there’s also something about her that seems off. I’m not quite sure what it is.”

      A few moments of silence played out on Paul’s end of the line, and Alex knew he was thinking, hard. “Off in what way? I don’t want you to be unduly paranoid because of Sharon. The vast majority of people are mostly honest.”

      “Mostly?”

      “We all tell little lies. The question is how little.”

      Indeed. “Do you think you should look into it?”

      “It can’t hurt. What’s her name?”

      “It’s Joy Baker. She’s from Santa Barbara.”

      “California, I take it.”

      “That’s what I assumed.”

      “Can you tell me anything about her family? Does she own any businesses?”

      “I’m afraid I don’t know anything about her family other than she’s not related to the Bakers in Denver. And oddly enough, Joy Baker is a baker.”

      Once again, Paul was dead quiet on the other end of the line. “Okay. Got it. I’ll look into her and give you a call tomorrow.”