Page 11 of Sinful Promise

Taking a deep breath, I push my hair out of my face and plaster on a brave face, not just for Zara’s sake, but for my own, too.

“I need to tell you something, but I need you to promise that you won’t freak out.”

“Emily… What thehellis going on?” Zara’s face has drained of color as I lead her through into my bedroom where the pinklingerie still laid out on my bed with the handwritten note on top.

“You called me over at midnight to ask my opinion onlingerie? Are you kidding m?—”

“Will you let me explain first?”

She scoffs, making to leave. “I’m not sure I want to know, Emily.”

I move to block the doorway. “It’s not what it looks like.”

“Oh, in that case, I’d love to know.”

I scowl at Zara before storming over to the bed and picking up the note and thrusting it in her hand.

“I’m still not getting it, Emily. I mean, I’m a little hurt that you didn’t tell me you were seeing someone, but?—”

“I’m not. That’s the problem.”

Zara reads the note again and frowns.

“Emily, do you know who this is from?”

“Yes.”

“But from the look on your face, I assume it isn’t from someone you want to receive lingerie from?”

I nod. “He broke into my apartment to leave it for me. And it’s not the first time.”

Zara lets out a long breath as she reads the note again, though I don’t miss the way her hands shake as she reads it.

“I need to know what else he sent you.”

“Two bouquets of flowers and some fancy chocolates.”

“Did you keep the box? Maybe a print can be lifted off them.”

I shake my head, my eyes sting with tears.

“I threw them out the moment I received them.”

“Well, Dad might still find something based on this note. Maybe he can run some sort of analysis on it.”

“Zara, no. You can’t tell Dad!”

“I don’t understand. He’s the only logical person to call in this scenario, what with him being an ex-cop.”

“That’sexactlywhy you can’t tell him. He’ll be so angry with me.”

I can’t hold back the tears any longer. I bury my face in my hands, my body shaking uncontrollably as the weight of this secret threatens to consume me.

Zara’s hand lands on my arm, and I let her guide me over to the bed, where we perch on the edge.

“Angry with you about what? Emily, I can’t help if I don’t know what’s going on.”

The tears run down my cheeks and spill onto my lap, creating dark stains on my dress.

---