Page 84 of Mail Order Valentine (Hawthorne Billionaire 2)

I wanted to send Imogen a text but decided against it. I needed sleep more than checking on whether she saw the news report. I’d deal with it when we landed in Paris. I threw my dress shirt and pants on the end of the bed, climbed under the comforter, and faded off to sleep.

“Mr. Hawthorne, we’re an hour out, sir,” my pilot announced over the intercom. “Are you landing this baby today?”

“Thanks for the heads up. I’m not joining up there today, but I’ll stop in,” I said, clicking off the intercom.

I hit the intercom to the other bedroom to see if Kellan was up. He was already awake, texting with Poppy. I told him to meet me in the living room for breakfast in fifteen minutes, then went to stand in the hot water.

“Well, are you ready to face Imogen and tell her the truth?” Kellan asked the second I entered the room. “Poppy says she saw the video on the news, but she covered for you and said it was an old video.”

“More lies, more people involved in the lying,” I groaned, pouring myself a cup of coffee. “I can’t keep this up much longer, but I can’t get Asher to commit to switching back.”

I don’t want to switch back. I have to tell her.

The pilot came over the intercom that we were landing, and we needed to buckle in. Kellan made a few good points about this whole mess, and he was usually a level-headed guy.

I’ll tell her on the way back and tell Mom when we get back from Rome.

We landed earlier than originally thought, but we had messaged the girls to arrive earlier. They were standing on the air strip when we landed. Kellan’s plane was being prepped and mine would need about thirty minutes for checking it out before taking off again. The girls were bundled up since the temperatures had dropped into the low thirties. We taxied in and when the doors opened, Imogen was the first one up the steps and into my arms.

“Welcome back.” She kissed me then threw her arms around my neck, clinging on like she didn’t want to let go. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too. You didn’t find a different husband while I was away, did you?” I teased.

“No, and you don’t have a tan like you’ve been on the beach with a blonde in a skimpy bikini,” she teased back, probably testing me. “I guess it wasn’t you.”

“I saw the video too, but it’s old. They’re just trying to stir up issues. You have to try to ignore them,” I answered nervously.

“Where is your brother August? I was hoping to meet him.” She looked over my shoulder into the plane. “Hey Kellan.”

“Imogen, nice to see you again and without the busted-up face. Much better,” Kellan said, pushing past us to get to Poppy. “Sorry, I missed my wife too.”

I glanced over to see Kellan lift Poppy off the ground in a bear hug. Gunner was leaning on the limo while the stewardess took my overnight bag from the trunk. Poppy and Kellan looked in our direction, then Poppy waved for Imogen to come over to her.

“I’ll be right back, I just want to thank Poppy for all her help,” she said, walking away from me and up to Poppy.

I was so busy watching Imogen, realizing just how much I’d missed her, I didn’t see Gunner approach.

“August, I need a word with you about Imogen,” Gunner said.

“Sure, is something wrong?” I asked, still distracted.

“Nothing is wrong yet, but if you don’t tell my girl what’s going on then there will be a problem,” Gunner demanded. “Respectfully said, of course.”

The tone of his voice drew me out of my distracted admiring of Imogen. He stood staring at me, shoulders back, not a smile in sight.

“What did you say just now, I wasn’t listening,” I said, wondering what I was missing. “Did something happen while I was away?”

“Yes sir, Mr. Hawthorne. That would be August Hawthorne, right?” Gunner said sternly. “I’m not sure exactly what game you and your twin are playing, but I’ve discovered enough to know that you’re a good man, unlike your brother.”

“He’s not that bad,” I answered automatically. “Wait, who are we talking about?”

“We’re talking about your twin brother Asher,” Gunner replied without moving even an inch. “I know the truth, August. Solitaire has fallen in love with you, not him, and you need to tell her now before she gets hurt.”

Chapter 63

IMOGEN

“What’s up? Did you tell him?” I asked, crossing the airstrip.

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