Page 58 of Dirty Secret Love

I’m not judging my relationship with him, but I definitely let him in too fast into my circle of trust.

“But everyone is alright?” I ask, trying to see if we can piece together the reason why his brothers are being somehow protective.

Jez nods. “It can’t be his mother. Flora Kershaw seemed healthy and well the last time I saw her,” she states matter-of-factly.

“Genevieve and Elle were both at the coffee shop hanging out with Piper and her children,” I murmur absently, gazing down as I get lost in thought.

But then a thought strikes me. Gael must have found out about GT’s fire. Of course he did. I can’t imagine what he might feel knowing that his restaurant caught fire and was burnt to a crisp. My heart aches for him. I don’t know what I would do if suddenly I lose the library, not after all the work I’ve put into it.

“Hey, Earth to Sutton. What’s got you so lost?” Jez’s voice slices through my thoughts.

I shift my gaze to the counter. “Umm, nothing,” I reply, but my voice is shaky at best, and clearly it won’t convince anyone that I’m not hiding something.

“You’re hiding something from me.” She clears her throat. “And let’s not forget that you’re a terrible liar.”

“Nope,” I state. And now I get why Wren is not telling us everything she knows about the Kershaws—or Thorndales. Things are a lot complicated and dangerous. One slip and we can put them and the entire town in danger.

“Sutton,” her voice comes out a little impatient.

My eyes dart back to hers. “Why are you really here?”

Jez smirks, holding up a paper bag. “Someone thought you might be hungry. But you’re not getting this”—she wags it teasingly—“until you tell me what’s happening.”

I grin like an idiot knowing the someone is River. “Nothing.”

“Listen, if you think I’m going to lecture you for having sex in the janitor closet, I won’t,” she says with a cheeky tone. “Literally, I said to Gina last night while you were doing it, ‘You go girl. Enjoy that big cock.’”

I turn beet red, mortification washing over me. She knew? Gina and Jez were there while I was having sex in the janitor’s closet? Humiliation burns through me at the thought of my friends being aware of it. I shift awkwardly, conflicted about how to respond.

“How do you know he has a big cock?” I stare at her, a little jealous because apparently she’s seen River’s dick.

She grins wickedly. “Oh, I didn’t, but I think you just confirmed.”

I bite my lip, trying to look guilty. Pretending that she nailed the reason why I’m acting weird.

Jez winks. “You made a hell of a deal. Hot fake fiancé who seems to be giving you all the O’s and likes taking care of you. I know Gina is against this whole fraternizing with the WITSEC people, but I support it. Why not get a few benefits from this exchange.”

I cock an eyebrow. “Exchange?”

“What else can we call their presence in this town? It’s like an exchange student kind of program.” She chuckles at her own joke.

“I guess that’s true.” I shrug, not overthinking the situation.

“But next time, try to wait until you get to your house. I don’t want to catch his bare ass on my CCTV,” she jokes, then glances at the cameras. “You’re not having sex here, are you?”

“Of course not. These cameras feed directly to CQS headquarters,” I say, not mentioning that River wanted to do it and it was so hard to give a fuck about my surroundings. I was so horny . . . we could’ve gone to the bathroom for a quickie, but what if someone entered and caught me.

Next time though, I’m not sure I’ll be strong enough to control the urge.

ChapterTwenty-Seven

River

Cal:

Time’s up.

River:

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