Page 41 of A Convenient Secret (Merged #3)

Declan

“ G ood morning.” Lily comes to the kitchen, looking like a ghost, her voice raspy. “You slept like the dead beside Zoya when I came to find you.”

“Good morning.” I peek behind her into the room beyond. Coast is clear, so I kiss her crown. “Yeah, I can’t believe I slept in there all night. Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She starts the coffee machine. Is she just sleepy, or is something off?

I lean beside her, tucking the messy hair behind her ear. I need to touch her all the time; it’s like my next breath depends on it. “Zoya was overexcited about the recital, so it took a while to calm her down.”

“I didn’t sleep much.” She reaches for her portable cup and fills it with coffee.

“Are you still worried about that article? It’s been taken down.”

She opens her mouth to say something.

“I’m weady.” Zoya barrels into the room. “Good mowning, Lily.”

My daughter wraps her arms around Lily’s legs.

For the first time in ages, I feel like this is a real home. All thanks to the woman in front of me.

She has secrets, and we need to discuss how we will announce this relationship to the kids and everyone else. But there is no doubt in my mind I want her by my side.

I want to shout it from the rooftops, but my kids were abandoned before, so a carefully thought-out plan is a must. I can’t throw a curveball into their lives, especially not now when things are going so well.

“Good morning, sweetheart. Are you excited about your camp?” Lily bends to kiss Zoya.

“It’s an outdoor activities camp; what is exciting about that?” Zach enters, scowling.

“You can survive some fresh air for three days,” I say.

“Besides, today is your first real piano lesson,” Lily reminds him.

That gets us an almost smile out of him. “Perhaps I should stay home and practice. Outdoor camp just sounds dirty. ”

Zoya rolls her eyes. “Jeez, bwo, live a little.” She takes Lily’s hand. “Let’s go.”

“Go call the elevator while I put the cover on my coffee.” Lily frees herself from Zoya’s clutches, and the twins leave the kitchen.

“I guess my daughter now speaks like a true New Yorker.” I snort and kiss Lily’s cheek. “What did my mom want yesterday? You were awfully quiet on the ride home.”

“She just wanted to confirm some details about the kids’ schedule.” She busies herself with her mug, missing the ridges to screw the cap on.

“Let me.” I take it from her and fix the lid on. A blush covers her cheeks. God, she’s adorable. “Here you go. I’ll see you at one.”

“At one?”

“The luncheon for my mother’s charity? Did you forget?”

“You really want me to go with you?”

“Of course.”

“But people would—”

“I don’t care about that. Saar and Celeste are coming too. I don’t want to go to these tedious functions alone anymore.”

“But you shouldn’t go there with your nanny.”

“Do you want me to invite Margot?” I tease.

Lily huffs. “Don’t you dare. ”

I laugh. Fuck, it’s refreshing to laugh in the morning.

“I have to go drop the kids, Declan, but we need to talk about us before we do these public appearances.”

“And we will. It’s not like I’m going to announce that you’re my wife. I’ll just sit beside you through some boring speeches.” I lean in, relishing the shiver that rakes through her. “Maybe finger-fuck you under the table.”

She moans. “Maybe we can ask Saar if the twins can have a sleepover tonight, so we can talk?”

“If there are no kids to interrupt us, I have better ideas than talking.”

“Declan,” she warns, glaring at me.

“I was expecting a more enthusiastic reaction. But okay, let’s see if Saar risks traumatizing her precious pets and takes on the kids. Maybe we can take them for an early supper and then drop them off.”

“Good, I’ll arrange it with her. We will talk first, though.”

Something definitely feels off. She brings sunshine into every day and every conversation, but right now she seems on edge.

Is she going to try to delay our announcement? Does she want to continue the secret? “Are you okay?”

She closes her eyes briefly. “I need to tell you who I am.”

Finally. It cost me a lot of effort to stay away from sleuthing her past. On some level, I needed her to tell me. To trust me enough.

She finally trusts me enough. Something grows in my chest. But I hesitate when I see her tortured expression.

“I don’t care who you were, Lily. I know who you are now, to me, to my kids. That’s what matters.”

She smiles; it’s a shy smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Okay, we will talk tonight and turn a new page.”

“We’ve been waiting fow ages,” Zoya calls from the entrance.

“Both candidates look good on paper. I was impressed by both of them.” Corm rounds his desk and joins the rest of us in his seating area.

My eyes land on the oversized photograph of Saar, and I realize I don’t find it ridiculous. I would plaster my entire office with images of Lily.

She is one of a kind.

She is mine.

The worry in her eyes this morning gutted me. I don’t want her to have secrets, and I fear I won’t understand. It’s not like she’s a murderer. Is she?

Fuck, I should have pushed sooner. At this point, I’m so far gone with this woman she could be a visitor from outer space and I would just shrug.

“Okay, I’m going to be the asshole who says it, but I think we should hire the guy.” Xander clicks his pen, grating on my nerves.

“On account of being equally qualified as Ms. Drake, the female candidate?” If looks could kill, Roxy would be arrested for murder now.

Xander doesn’t even flinch. “Unfortunately, yes. I don’t like it, but it’s the reality.”

“You make me sick.” She stands up. “I don’t mind working in a boy’s club.

I can laugh off a lot of your innocent comments because I’m snarky and sarcastic myself, and I take it all as team banter.

Never have I felt like just a woman among you.

But I don’t want to listen to this conversation.

You disappoint me.” She reaches the door.

“Don’t be dramatic, Roxy. Please sit down,” Corm says, his tone almost gentle but the demand behind it undeniable.

“Or what?” She glares at him.

“Or we will not have minutes from this meeting, and you won’t be able to sue us for discrimination.” He shrugs.

She narrows her eyes. “You are discriminating!”

“We’re putting the company’s interests first,” Cal argues.

“Then we should hire Vivienne Drake,” I chime in, and all heads turn to me. “She would not require a sign-in bonus, and she is available sooner.”

“Roxy, please, don’t take it the wrong way; I’m just raising a point to consider.” Xander holds his arm toward Roxy like he wants to physically stop her from speaking. “And if she gets pregnant in a month or two, we will go through this again? Risk the stability?”

“For the youngest member of this team, you’re about as progressive on this issue as an ashtray in a maternity ward,” I grumble.

Seriously, I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.

“Or as in a boardroom where a woman is only taking notes,” Roxy deadpans, but at least she sits back down.

“Oh, come on, so now you demand we hire the woman and make her a partner.” Caleb snorts.

“Roxy, what these idiots are so eloquently trying to consider is that we can’t afford to hire someone if they won’t give it their all for the next three years.” Corm leans forward, looking at Roxy with a kind of softness I have rarely seen in his eyes.

Roxy crosses one leg over the other and mirrors his pose, before she sticks her pen into the high bun on her head.

“What you’re saying is that you can’t risk hiring a woman because what if she gets pregnant.

Then hire the man. Hopefully he won’t get hit by a truck tomorrow, or overdoses before he starts. Or—”

“Okay, you made your point.” Corm stops her with his hand raised.

“We have the fundraiser to attend; why don’t we sleep on it and vote tomorrow?” Cal stands up, buttoning his jacket.

“I suggest Roxy votes with us,” Xander says, and we all turn to him, Roxy perhaps the most surprised.

“Only partners have voting privileges.” I stand up. I get Roxy’s point, but rules are to be obeyed.

“Maybe we can include her to make sure the female perspective is included.” Xander pushes off the sofa.

“You’re an idiot. Her point was that gender shouldn’t be any part of this consideration.” I walk to the door.

“Are we driving together?” Corm asks.

“I’m picking up Celeste at home, so we’ll meet there.” Cal heads for the door.

“I have a stop to make, and would like your help,” I tell my brother.

“Okay, downstairs in five?” Corm turns to check his phone.

“Sure, I’ll go by myself,” Xander whines.

I get to my office, and unfortunately he follows. “I made an ass of myself.”

“A rare moment of self-reflection?” I snort and lean against my desk.

“But I’m right; there is a threat.”

“I don’t think a woman having a child is a threat. Unless you’re an emperor ready to usurp someone’s throne. In that case, having an heir matters.”

“Are you suggesting my view is medieval?” He chuckles.

“Outdated at the least. Enough chitchat; get out of my office.” I round my desk to get my valet, ready to get out of here.

“What, do you have a jerk-off session scheduled?”

“Fuck you, X.”

“You’re warming up to me; only the closest call me X,” he mocks.

“Get the fuck out of here.”