Page 69 of Tempt

And then I proceeded to fill them in on the basics. Yes, we were really a real couple. Yes, he’s great in bed. Yes, I was falling for him (they didn’t need to know how hard or that it was mutual. Not yet.) No, we weren’t keeping it a secret anymore.

For that, I was surprisingly grateful. It was a huge burden off my shoulders. Sneaking around was fun and exciting at first, but it had quickly become terrifying. Now I could take the elevator right up to the top floor and walk straight into Theo’s office without wondering if it looked enough like a business meeting to keep the whispers at bay.

“So why the big reveal?” Ava clapped a hand to her mouth. “Oh my, you were telling Margaret for the first time? How did that go?”

“Yeah… she’s not happy.” I didn’t mention lunging across the desk or Theo holding me back from kicking her ass.

“She’s not firing you, is she? Luis won’t ever forgive you if you leave him in the middle of this project because of a man.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Is there a scenario in which I leave that Luiswouldn’thate me forever?”

“No,” James said with a completely straight face.

“Well then, it’s a good thing I’m not going anywhere. But I am sorry if Margaret is more cranky than normal.”

That’s when I knew I was in trouble. They grinned at each other, then me. “You can make it up to us.”

“No…” I shook my head. This wasn’t good. This was terrible.

They kept nodding. “Thanksgiving dinner,” Ava said crossing her arms.

“No.” It was already turning into a three-ring circus with Toni making my life hell.

“Yes. You invite all of us to your Thanksgiving feast and we won’t say a word about Evil Margaret,” James said.

I swallowed. We still had a week and a half until Thanksgiving. Hopefully the Toni situation would be resolved and I’d just be left with the unbearably uncomfortable situation of having my best friends, my new friends, and Theo all at the table at once.

“You’re not going to all fit in my flat.” I was living in a temporary apartment. I barely had enough dishes for the four of us, now I was serving at least eight, if not more.

“I’m sure your boyfriend has enough space…” Ava blew at her nails as if she were drying them.

I shook my head. “I’ll see what I can manage. In the mean time, cut me some slack. I’m doing my best.”

And then I left the conference room before they could ask for anything else. Because those two totally would.

* * *

Martin deliveredme to the safe house while Theo was working his way through everyone on the security team. They were about to clear Joe, but still didn’t want anyone to know where we were staying, so Martin was pulling a lot of extra hours. Poor guy.

Higgins was cooking dinner (apparently he cooks) and Nicki was sitting at the kitchen table with a giant sketchpad and charcoal. The flat was noticeably silent and I went straight to my room to change into yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt.

“What does your family think of all this, if you don’t mind my asking?” Higgins looked up from his sauce.

I shrugged. “They don’t really know anything.” At all.

Higgins eyes narrowed on me. “They don’t know about Toni, or about Theo?”

I could feel Nicki’s death stare without looking. I shifted uncomfortably. “They don’t know about Theo.

“Are you close with your family?” Nicki asked.

“Families are complicated to explain,” I shot back. She, of all people, should understand that. “We don’t discuss my romantic life because my parents don’t particularly believe in things like love.”

“What does that mean?” Nicki snorted and returned to her drawing.

“It means relationships are arranged. Why the hell do you think I’m an ocean away from them?”

She made a face and I wasn’t sure if it was in disgust or understanding. They looked about the same on her face.