Page 34 of His Little Secret in Discretion
After missing her more than I missed my chocolate stash at the office, I figured it was time for a visit. We’d been spending more time together lately, and I was still debating how to bring up my upcoming travel season with Killian. The trips overseas, the galas, the suits and contracts… it would be the perfect excuse to actually use my private jet instead of hitching a ride in his. And maybe, just maybe, to take her with me.
So why the hell was I nervous? It’s not like I wasn’t already sleeping with her, paying her, spoiling her. Still not entirely sure if our arrangement islegal, but I don’t dwell on it. One could call it an exchange of goods…really, really good goods.
But asking her to travel? That was different. That pushed us further. And we were already pretty damn far, considering howshort a time we’d known each other. Regardless, I was falling. Hard. For her smile, her awful jokes, the way she fit against me like she belonged there. Too hard, maybe. Every time I caught myself staring too long or enjoying the sex a little too much, I tried to reel it back.Emphasis on the word “tried.”
So now, I’ve been controlling… well,trying to controlmy impulse to just blurt out that I’m falling for her. I was controlling it about as well as I’ve been keeping our little arrangement from Killian—which, surprisingly, I’m actually nailing. But the other secrets I've kept in my back pocket? Yeah, I've been doing a pretty shit job of keeping tabs on them. Been tossing him little distractions, small confessions that don’t matter, just to cover the one big one: my Maia.
As far as Killian’s concerned, she doesn’t exist to me anymore. I’ve given him no reason to think otherwise. Meanwhile, I’ve adjusted my pants in the car a hundred times just from thinking about seeing her.
If anything, I think the reason he hasn’t pressed me about her lately is because someone else is screwing with his head. Brielle. Over the last couple weeks, I’ve spoken to her here and there, and through the grapevine of his butler and driver gossip group chat, I’ve pieced together enough to know Killian’s acting… off. Different.
So fucking different that he coincidentally decided heneededa personal assistant and practically forced her into the job. If it wasn’t clear he wanted her, he might as well have tattooed her name across his forehead. And while he’s at it, he could add the wordhypocriteright under it.
Telling me not to get involved with a woman while he’s basically kidnapping one? Crazy work. If I didn’t seize the opportunity to point that out,I’dbe the idiot.
But now, all I had to do was casually suggest he find a way to make her travel with us. Then, while he’s busy playing housewith his new PA and her kid, I’ll be focused on what really matters: spending time with my sweet Sunshine.
I sank back into the bench in the waiting room, crossing one ankle over my knee while I waited for her shift to be over. Parents and kids filtered in and out, the classes turning over every half hour. Some of the little ones bounced in wearing leotards two sizes too big; others were teenagers looking like they already thought they were Broadway-bound. Either way, nobody seemed to care I was sitting there.
Good. Fewer eyes on me meant less chance of someone recognizingBlaine Fucking Portersitting in a dance studio lobby like a creep waiting for his girlfriend. Or sugar baby. Or both.
Glancing at my phone, I scrolled through a few emails before catching movement at the edge of my vision. A tiny figure was trying to climb up onto the bench beside me. For half a second I considered offering a hand, but before I could, she hauled herself up with the stubbornness of a grown man.
I went back to my phone. At least until Ifeltit—those eyes. Little kid eyes. Heavy, unblinking, judging.
Lifting my gaze slowly, I found her staring right at me.
"Hi!" she said with a smile, and I paused for a moment, glancing around before looking back at her.
"Uh… hi," I said cautiously, and she stuck her hand out for me to shake.
"My name is Delilah!" She grinned.
I shook her hand gently. "You can call me Blaine."
"Whatcha doin’ here, Blaine?" she asked, her words sharp for her age, though her pronunciation reminded me she was still very young.
"I’m… waiting for a friend," I said carefully, and she nodded, swinging her feet.
"Who’s your friend?"
"Maia. She teaches dance here."
"Oh! She’s my dance teacher," she chirped.
I tilted my head at the obvious statement, humoring her. "Is she now?”
She nodded fiercely, and I slid my phone back into my pocket as she sighed.
"Yeah, she’s my new teacher for most of my classes because Bribri got a new job."
Bribri. My brow ticked, but I stayed quiet, letting her ramble despite her features seeming to look oddly familiar.
"But she works with Killy now, so I guess it’s okay."
I froze. Tilted my head. "Bribri and… Killy?"
"Mmhm. It’s their nicknames. Her name is Brielle, and… I don’t really remember how Killy says his name. Killy-ann?"
