Page 125 of Snapshot

“No. But you do.”

He exhales long and slow. “I really love you, Len.”

“I love you too.” I peek through the cracked open door, feeling the itch to face the music and get this over with. “Okay, babe, do you want to read this article together?”

“No, I don’t think I can stomach it. I’ll let PR know to take a look, but otherwise, let’s just move forward together. I have to run to my eleven o’clock meeting. After that, I’ll have them warm up the jet. How about I cancel the rest of my week and we head to Cozumel early? I can give you the honeymoon I’ve been promising.”

I smile into the phone. “Sounds perfect, Mr. Hessler.”

As soon as I hang up, I head into the house. I’m intercepted in the hallway by Finn who ruffles my hair in the annoying big-brother way he always does. I’m just about to sass off to him for ruining my hair when he pulls me into a tight bear hug. “Hey, Lenny,” he says and kisses the top of my head.

“Don’t call me that.” My voice is muffled with my face smashed against his chest.

“I really missed you being here and mooching. I have so many snacks lying around without you here to devour them.” He’s teasing me, but his tone is genuine.

“I missed you too,” I say.

He finally releases me. “Want some coffee? Avery says this article is a big deal. Are you and Dex going to be okay?”

I nod. “Yeah, we’ll figure it out.”

I follow him into the kitchen, where Avery’s perched on the countertop, legs crossed. Finn squeezes Avery’s knee as he passes her to fetch me a mug. Her perplexed expression relaxes into a sweet smile at his touch, then she’s right back to scowling at her phone again.

“How bad is it?” I ask, grimacing.

“Are you sure the article about Dex’s grandma was going out today?”

“That’s what Kat said.”

“I don’t know, Lennox. This is about an affair, and it’s certainly scandalous. This man, Scott Ramsie, is running for a senate seat. But I read the whole thing, and this has nothing to do with the Hesslers.” Avery holds out her phone, showing me the title of Kat’s article.

CONFESSIONS OF A GOSSIP COLUMNIST:

One affair, years of blackmail, and the resignation that’s been a long time coming.

By Kat Tearney

My jaw falls open in shock. “Oh my God… Kat actually did it,” I murmur.

“Did what?” Avery asks, tilting her head to the side.

“She set herself free.”

Actually, she set all of us free.

36

Lennox

Present Day

Cozumel

Dousing my mask with baby-safe soap, I rub little circles into the lens. Leaning over the boat rail, I scoop water into the mask, rinsing it off.

“Want me to defog your mask?” Dex asks, making his way to the front of the boat.

“Just did it,” I answer back. I glance at the phone in his hand and very seriously consider snatching it and throwing it overboard. “I was promised a work-free honeymoon, husband. How do you even have service out here?”

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