Page 56 of Redeem Me

‘Mr Beckett isn’t the only one with access to the security system.’

‘Oh. My. God.’

‘Don’t worry, Mr Beckett runs a tight ship. Everyone who works here is required to sign a non-disclosure agreement, so your secret is safe.’ He taps the side of his nose.

‘I’m going to kill him,’ I hiss.

Samuel guffaws. ‘Actually, I think you’re going to bring him back to life.’

‘Huh.’ I flick my hair from my shoulders in a nonchalant gesture, trying and failing to ignore the warm fuzzy feeling swelling in my stomach.

I drain my coffee. ‘We leave in ten minutes, guys,’ I say to everyone and no one. The need to escape Samuel’s scrutiny, however playful, is overwhelming. I’m not shy by any means, but even I find it hard to wrap my head around the entire house watching the home movie Caelon and I shot yesterday.

Seven minutes later, Owen sits at the bottom of the stairs in the hallway, struggling to get his shoes on. I bend over tohelp him, smoothing a hand over the back of my dress so I don’t give the staff an eyeful. Although, it’s a bit late for that.

My phone vibrates in my pocket with a text.

Caelon.

I open it to find ten fire emojis in a neat little line.

I want to be pissed off with him for not taking me somewhere private yesterday, yet I can’t bring myself to regret it.

Another messages pings on my phone.

Caelon: Bend over again. This time don’t smooth your hand over your ass. I want to see you.

I shake my head and swallow my huff.

Your children are here. Have you no shame?

Caelon: None.

I gathered that when Samuel came in with a smirk on his face ten minutes ago.

Caelon: Relax. I limited access to the indoor cameras yesterday afternoon. They didn’t actually see anything, which says enough in itself.

I sigh with relief.

Caelon: They’re my security team. I need them to know you’re important to me. That way they’ll take the best care of you while I’m away.

You sound like my brother. I’m not fragile.

Speaking of my big brother, I’ve had two missed calls from him already this morning. If I don’t call him back in the next half an hour, he’ll have a SWAT team here and my face plastered over every milk bottle in the country.

Caelon: Oh, believe me, there’s nothing brotherly about my plans for you.

Butterflies whirl through my stomach as I shove my phone in my pocket and return my attention to the kids.

‘Can we do the open-top bus tour?’ Orla asks, hopping over the lines in the floor tiling.

‘Can we go to the Lego store?’ Owen pleads.

‘I’ll do you a deal, buddy.’ I eye the teddy under his arm. ‘If you let me put Patches in the wash, I’ll take you to the Lego Store.’

Owen eyes his favourite stuffed animal like he’s a forty-carat diamond.

‘I’ll even sew him on a new eye afterwards.’ I brushOwen’s hair from his forehead. He’s a miniature Caelon, gorgeous, stubborn and determined.

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