Page 27 of The Secrets We Treasure

“Thanks. Good luck with the party.”

“Good luck with your trip,” Laci sang. “Love you. Bye.”

“Love you too,” Treasure said as she ended the call.

“Who was that?”

She bristled. “Since when do you ask me about my phone calls?”

Ethan’s eyes widened as he held up both hands. “What’s up with you? Every time I so much as open my mouth, you jump down my throat.”

“You’re the one who started this,” she steamed, “when you put me on the spot with the stupid engagement.”

He rubbed a hand across his forehead. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that I’m sorry. How long are you gonna make me pay for my mistake?”

“You’re right,” she said flatly. “It won’t do either of us any good to keep beating a dead horse.”

“I get that you have a lot on you right now.”

“Those pictures that Mark took of the two of us. Can you find a way to make sure they never see the light of day?”

He nodded. “Of course. When he sends me the edited files, I’ll delete them.” A shadow crossed his features. “Am I really so repugnant to you?”

Crumb!How do I answer that? “No, it’s not that at all.” Well, maybe it was a little, but she didn’t want to completely decimate the guy. She scrambled to articulate her thoughts. “It’s just that lately, you’ve been so controlling.”

He wrinkled his brow. “Really? I’m not acting any differently than I always have. Maybe it’s you who’s changed.”

She lifted her chin. “Yeah, maybe.”

Some emotion she couldn’t discern flashed in his eyes. “Why’s that?”

She was tired of doing the same song and dance with Ethan. She straightened her spine, her gaze locking with his. “Are you referring to Greer?”

Red blotches crawled up his neck. She nearly expected Ethan to lash out, but instead, a cool-cat smile spread over his lips. “If wonder boy thinks he’s got what it takes to keep you happy, then so be it.”

Irritation zigzagged a hot trail through her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that I’m letting you live your life how you see fit.”

“Letting me?” she retorted.

He shook his head in weary frustration like she was an irate toddler that needed calming. “There you go again, making a mountain out of a molehill. What I’m trying to say here is that you have my blessing. I won’t interfere with your personal life.” His voice hardened. “Are you satisfied?”

“It’s a start.”

He motioned with his head. “Shall we go? We can talk about this until your heart’s content in the car.”

The patronizing tone of his voice splashed more anger through her veins. It kept coming up like a geyser. “I’m done talking to you,” she huffed, stalking in that direction.

On the way back, Ethan turned on the radio to ease the tense silence that had descended over them. They were almost to Treasure’s house when her phone buzzed. It was a number she didn’t recognize with a North Carolina area code. “Hello?”

“Treasure,” a cultured voice began.

“Yes.”

“This is Madeline Chasing.”

“Hello,” she croaked. Madeline Chasing and her husband, Banks, owned The Oliver Hotel on Honeysuckle Island, where Treasure’s mother was the manager over housekeeping. Madeline was a busy woman and wouldn’t be calling if something weren’t wrong.

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