Page 49 of Love You, Mean It

“Totally. Instead of speakeasy you’d have a speak-cheesy.”

“That’s terrible…but also yes, I’m all in.” I grabbed a mortadella out of the case to wrap as she put down the vinegar. “What are you doing here, by the way? In Milborough, I mean?”

“Oh, business things.” She waved one hand through the air as she peered at a squat jar of preserved lemons. “And personal, I suppose. Which is where you come in, actually.”

“Oh?”

She slid the jar neatly back into place and turned to me.

“Be honest. You and Theo aren’t really together, are you?”

I blinked, mouth hanging open slightly.

“Sorry…what?”

“At the very least you’re not engaged.”

My heart pinballed around my chest. I licked my lips slowly, putting on an annoyed frown, while the siren blare ofHow does sheknow?grew so loud in my brain I was almost convinced she’d hearit.

“I don’t know where this is coming from, but I don’t appreciate—”

She raised a hand, fingers long and slender, studded with tastefully simple rings.

“Honestly? I think it’s kind of a baller move—though I don’t know how you ever convincedTheoto come on board. Was it to keep Mangia out?” My head jerked back, I was so startled, and a tiny, triumphant smile curled her crimsoned lips. “I thought so. Ted’s a pompous ass, but evenhewouldn’t put Theo’s fiancée out of business. It’s kinda brilliant, actually.”

My limbs and head felt too light, like they might detach and float off in different directions. How did she know? More important, what was she going to do? Also, was it possible that an incredibly tiny part of me liked Sam even more right now? I’d known she was a shark the moment she’d slid into Theo’s hospital room, all smooth skin and barely concealed power, but I hadn’t realized she was Sharklock fuckingHolmes.

I had to make one last-ditch effort.

“Sam, I don’t know why you’re saying this, but it’s inappropri—”

“Theregattas,Ellie.”

“Excuse me?”

“You told me Theo was planning his next sailing regatta? At Ted’s.”

“Right…” Oh fuck. I should haveknownthat was a trap. But she’d thrown it out so casually, and Theo was beyond the type to pay thousands a year for the privilege of docking some tiny polished-wood boat in the marina over at Thornvale…

“Theo doesn’t sail.”

I sniffed exaggeratedly.

“I know you two have history, but Theo has changed in the last few—”

“He’s terrified of it. Ever since he was a kid and Cat fell overboard from his grandpa’s boat. I buy that he’s developed some new hobbies since we were together, but there’s no way he’s taken upsailing regattas.”

I could keep denying it, but what was the point? I was checkmated and we both knew it. Besides, part of me was more than a little relieved. Lying to people like Sam—people who actually cared about at least one of us—was the part of this whole charade that still had me feeling morally queasy. The fear on her face in the hospital…Didn’t shedeservethe truth? Especially now, when maintaining the lie was pointless? I blew out a breath so large it inflated my cheeks, collapsing onto my elbows on the counter and burying my face in my hands.

“For what it’s worth, we’re not planning to keep it up forever. In the meantime…are you planning to out us?”

“Outyou?”

“To Ted. Will you tell him?” I looked up at her, my body taut with anxiety. We’d been socloseto pulling this off.

She stared at me, brown eyes narrowing slightly…

…then she laughed.

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