title: Innocence BEFORE Deception
author: Valarie D Gray
description: Valarie Gray is a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter and sister. She has a humble, funny, down to earth personality that is often contagious. Valarie believes that no matter how many challenging situations you encounter in life, something great is bound to happen if you keep the faith and push forward. She enjoys being in the presence of those who love making a difference in the lives of others. After years of finance work in Corporate America, God began opening doors at faith-based nonprofit organizations where she watches God manifest up close to hurting people. Reunited after 30 years, Valarie married her childhood friend Derrice Gray in 2016, and she knows he is the man God chose for her. Her favorite thing to say is God has a funny sense of humor.
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “BEATRICE,” HE SAID SLOWLY.
  
  He stood close. Too close. Close enough for her to know the woodsy scent of
  his soap mingled perfectly with their surroundings.
  
  “What am I doing here?” she whispered.
  
  He tilted his head and the corner of his mouth lifted in a half smile. “Call
  it…un coup de coeur.”
  
  A spontaneous attraction. She could hardly deny that.
  
  His eyes went dark, but she couldn’t drag her gaze away from that fathomless
  blue.
  
  This was more than she had bargained for. Flirtation, yes, and the flattery of
  being the subject of his beautiful artwork. But never…this.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Nothing But Deception
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ALLEGRA GRAY
  
  ![](images/00002.jpg)
  
  ZEBRA BOOKS
  
  KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.
  
  [http://www.kensingtonbooks.com](http://www.kensingtonbooks.com)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  To my mom,  
  who indulged my love of  
  reading and books as a child and  
  always encouraged me to  
  work toward my dreams
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  
  Thank you to my talented agent, Kevan Lyon, and to my ent