Page 66 of Dirty Little Secrets
“You’re quite bossy, aren’t you, little Emery?” Quinton presses the ice pack to the side of his nose and leans against the prep table. “There. Happy?”
I roll my eyes, jonesing for a cigarette. “Am I happy that my boss got caught in 4K socking GQ’s Man of the Year in the face? No, can’t say I am.”
Quin smirks. “Yes, that was terribly unfortunate.”
I shoot him a knowing scowl. “Really? Because it seemed like you knew exactly what was coming.” I tilt my head. “What did you say that pushed him over the edge? I don’t fully understand.”
Quin clicks his tongue. “It’s not my place to say.”
I scoff. “Seriously? Somehow, Damon’s privacy is now important?”
He gives me a coy shrug. “We have a complex relationship, darling. You know this.” He glances down at my necklace. “Why did you lie to him?”
“Why?” I release an incredulous laugh. “Maybe because I knew he’d react exactly as he did.” I lower my voice in an animated whisper. “In case you didn’t know, hereallydoesn’t like you.”
“Mmm,” Quin hums, lowering the ice pack. He cocks his head, his gaze dancing around my face. “And yet you still wore the necklace.”
“I solved the puzzle,” I say, clearing my throat. “And it suited my dress. It’s just jewelry, Quin. It’s not like I fucked you.”
He grins, chuckling under his breath. “Liar, liar, evening gown on fire.”
I narrow my eyes. “Excuse me?”
He gives me a cunning smile. “You didn’t solve the puzzle, darling. Do you know how I know?” He pushes himself off the prep table, striding toward me. He arches closer, whispering in my ear. “That puzzle is unsolvable, Emery. There was no correct answer.”
“I—”
He takes a step back, brimming with amusement. “You smashed it open, didn’t you?” I press my lips into an unimpressed thin line. He expels a boisterous laugh of total satisfaction. “Brilliant! I knew you would. Granted, it was a tad of a gamble, but I was right. I almost feel like champagne is in order.”
“Oh my God. Stop,” I grumble, cheeks flushing from embarrassment. “Fine. Yes. I smashed it. So what?”
“You were curious, weren’t you?” he asks, the joy emanating from his body attempting to taint mine. “You just had to know, didn’t you? I find that incredibly endearing.”
I glower at him. “Are you done now?”
He shrugs. “If you want me to be.”
“I do.”
“You don’t like when people figure you out, do you? You find it invasive, probably uncomfortable.” He pauses, twisting his lips in thought. “You’re very much like the puzzle box in a way. Unsolvable.”
Damon pops into my head.I intend to solve you.I stifle a shudder. “What makes you say that?”
“I have a great read on people. One of my fewvaluable skills,” he says, offering me a steady smile. “Don’t worry, darling, I don’t wish to smash you open. I quite like the look of you intact.”
That’s what Damon is doing. He’s breaking me, smashing my walls, hoping to uncover a gem inside. He’s confident something beautiful is hidden under the surface, under the layers of protection. He’s willing to destroy the exterior to relish in the glory of his discovery. But at what cost? What if there’s nothing inside? What if he incinerates the only thing holding me together?
“What’s on your mind, little Emery?” Quin asks. “Where are you right now?”
“What?”
“Where are you?” He hesitates for a second before bringing his hand up to my cheek. His fingers brush softly against my skin as he adds, “You’re not here right now. Where are you?”
“I’m just…” His touch lulls my brain into verbal submission. “I’m thinking about Damon.”
His expression remains gentle, unaffected. No jealousy. No anger. It startles me; the contrast. “What about him?” he whispers, continuing to stroke my cheek.
“That he’s…” I swallow. “That he’s wrong about something.”
