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Liam’s smile matched hers. “Your husband was telling me about hisvacation.”

Unruffled, Gwen frowned, and she stuck out a pile of stapled papers. “Here,” she barked at him. “Your documents for the regulator that absolutely could’ve waited until I was in the office tomorrow.”

“It’s always best to tie up loose ends as quickly as possible.” Liam glared at me before he strode over to Gwen to take his precious papers. “And I confess, I had an ulterior motive.”

She sighed. “The lunch invitation again?”

“Mama Serrano won’t take no for an answer,” he replied. “Eli’s left her waiting too long for her grandbabies. She’s eager to meet your little creature. So, lunch next Sunday?”

Oh, hell to the no.Gwen spending with this dickhead on a weekend, too?Not happening.

“Sounds great. I can’t wait,” I said, grinning right at him.

Liam didn’t grin back. “Youweren’t invited.”

“If my wife and son are there, I’m invited.”

Gwen sensed the tension prickling the air around us and jumped in to say, “Tell Cat we’ll be there. All three of us.”

“Splendid.” Liam shot another glare at me over his shoulder as he left. If looks could kill, I’d be asleep in the dirt. “I look forward to our next chat, sweetheart.”

Even after the front door shut, Gwen stared at me, her eyebrow arched, waiting for an explanation.

“I hate your brother,” I grumbled.

“Everyone does.” She laughed. “Did you get the medicine?”

“Oh, yeah, it’s in my—”

I clamped my mouth shut, my eyes darting to the gym bag stuffed with a hundred secrets. The letters and dead flowers hidden inside were light, but carrying that bag was like hauling the bag of concrete mix I’d bought at the hardware store yesterday.

“Gwen, there’s something I need to tell you.”

34

She Read the Notes

Gwen

When someone declared theyneeded to “tell you something,” it was never good news.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. I hadn’t heard any good news in a long time. The last few months had been hit after hit, and just when I thought I could stop to catch my breath, Toby lobbed another grenade.

What now? What was left?

I’d already been through hell, hadn’t I? First, the accident. Then, the affair. Ian. Noah starting daycare. My brother. My gaze blurred, but I blotted away the tears with rapid blinks.

Actually, not Liam. He was the one good thing that had landed in my lap. As much as his pedantic escapades made me roll my eyes, I was grateful he’d slain whatever demon had kept him away for so long. His presence—as cold as it was—soothed me. He watched out for me.

One afternoon, I’d dropped off a client agreement at a bar. Just as I turned to leave, the client’s face broke into a sleazy grin, and he darted out a hand. That balding bastard planned to smack my ass. Guys like him always tried.

He never got the chance.

Liam’s hand shot out of nowhere, his fingers curling, twisting around the man’s fat wrist, his icy glare unforgiving. The client sobbed his apologies, but Liam tore the client agreement in half anyway. We left, and not another word was spoken about the incident.

With Toby—like Liam—I always felt safe.

But my husband walked on eggshells into the kitchen. His knuckles were white when he lifted the duffel on the wooden countertop, and he hesitated before dropping the strap and falling a step back.

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