Page 96 of Nothing to Deny

So much for do or die. “My secret? That Baer works at Squires? Share it.” Hell, if her and Baer were going to be together, that truth was better out than in. “I’m not afraid of that. I’m not afraid of the truth. Or people knowing it.” Except maybe Truman. No, that was less fear and more apprehension. Her grandfather tended to act first and ask questions later, which, on occasion, caused harm. “Baer knows my secrets and I know his. You can’t damage us.”

“Would damage your precious charity though, wouldn’t it? What is it they call you? ‘Angel’? Wonder if that would change when people discovered you’re a secret sex slut.”

“Oh, be thankful Baer didn’t hear you say that. The people I help don’t appreciate me for any reputation. They appreciate me, and the work I do, for saving the people they love.”

“You’re probably right, they’d take your money anyway, wouldn’t stop them judging you.”

“What about you? You declare to the world who I am, what Baer does, and all those other guys at Squires… Conrad, Lyon, Dirk, Berwick… Donaghue, should I keep going? How will those guys like it if you tell the world about the agency? Talk about reputations? You’d be outing a whole community of people doing what they do to survive. You take away their ability to exist with security, how do you think they’ll like that?”

“You’re threatening me?”

“As you did me.” She exhaled. “No one needs to threaten anyone. There’s no reason we can’t get along. Just tell my cousin the truth. I don’t want her to leave you.” Unless she wanted to. She’d support whatever Kelly decided. “I want her to know the truth, so it can’t blindside her later. Can’t you see how much easier things would be if you just came clean? Surely it’s a weight off your shoulders.”

“You don’t know anything about me.”

“No,” she said, releasing the door from her elbow to venture a couple of steps closer. “And neither does Kelly. Because it doesn’t matter how many truths you tell her, if you conceal one, there’s still a part of you she doesn’t know. She’s not marrying the whole you, she’s marrying only the pieces you give her. That isn’t fair. Grant her the right to make this decision herself. How would you like it if the shoe was on the other foot? If she was hiding such a big secret from you?”

“You think I know her entire work history? We don’t sit down and go over each other’s resumes on date night.”

“If it’s not a big deal, tell her.”

“With her mom and dad in the next room?”

“If that’s the problem, book a restaurant, talk about it over a meal. My aunt and uncle will understand you want some alone time. We can sell that.”

He scoffed. “You think it’s better to tell her in a crowded room?”

Okay, fair point. Kelly was her first concern. How would her cousin react to the news? If she absorbed it and it made no difference, the couple could laugh in fun and continue their meal, which would give Kelly a chance to ask questions.

But if her cousin wasn’t okay with it, if it hurt and shocked her—that was probably unfair, one way or another there would be shock. She and Kelly had known each other their whole lives,yet she couldn’t anticipate how her cousin would feel about this. It wasn’t something that came up in conversation. And, in fairness, she hadn’t known what her own reaction would be until Holly brought it up. Sometimes she still wasn’t sure. Either way…

“Please trust me when I say the lie is worse. This vacation may not be the ideal time to tell her. But do you want to spend the next two weeks bonding with her family, only to break her heart when you get home?”

“Why would I want to do that? Why would you want me to do that? It’s in the past, forgotten, she doesn’t need to have her heart broken. I look after her.”

“And in future if you need cash?”

“You accuse every Squires guy of that?”

“You’re the only Squires guy who counts right now. And the way you’re talking… did you ever plan to tell her? Did you ever plan to tell her about Squires?”

“What’s Squires?”

Only after she turned, did the door open, and there was Kelly scrutinizing them both.

Damn. Of every way Kelly could’ve found out, this had to be the worst.

“Nothing,” Nickson snapped and marched toward them. She was quick to get out of the way, Kelly pushed the door closer to its frame, blocking his way out. “It’s nothing, baby. Let’s go back downstairs.”

“No, what’s Squires? Is that why you’ve been in a mood? Why does Freya know and I don’t?”

She’d really rather not be in the room for this. This should be a private conversation. Unfortunately, there was only one exit, and the couple blockaded the route. She’d be quiet. Stay quiet. Let them talk. As soon as Kelly moved out of the way—

“What is it?” Oh, bad, bad, Kelly was looking at her. “Freya, tell me. What is Squires?”

“You keep your mouth shut,” Nickson barked, shaking a finger at her. “Don’t say a damn word.”

“It’s really not my place…”

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