Page 95 of Kiss and Tell

Connor’s eyes went wide.

“Shit,” he cursed. “What happened? Did they— Are you still—?”

“They didn’t fire me,” I said. “I don’t think they could over something like this. They don’t control my personal life. But they could definitely limit my career prospects.” I let out a heavy sigh. “It was only an allegation, anyway. I guess they had no proof. The meeting was more of a warning.”

Connor came up to me and put his arms around my shoulders. I tensed, then relaxed, resting my head on his chest and breathing deeply, taking in his scent. It was familiar and calming.

“How did they find out?” he asked, his words muffled where he’d buried his face in my hair.

Ire rose in my belly.

“Peter,” I spat.

I pulled out of Connor’s embrace and went back to pacing.

“I have no idea how he found out,” I said. “He’s never seen the two of us together. He’s never been to the bar, and you’ve never been to the office.”

“Oh.” Connor expression was hesitant. “I think Jessie has.”

“What?” I whirled on him.

“She had a meeting with your company about extending the contract for new work.”

I thought hard. “There was some chatter a while ago about that. But she never said anything to me about it.”

Connor shrugged. “I guess she figures you’ve got your hands full with the current reno.”

“Okay, so Jessie’s been to the office,” I said. “That doesn’t explain how Peter would have found out about us.”

Connor’s face turned red, then white.

“I… may have said something to Jessie,” he admitted slowly, shame-faced.

I blinked.

My brain went blank. Pure white snow fizzled across my vision.

I blinked again.

Then my disbelief mixed with rage as they both settled themselves firmly in my gut.

My jaw clenched as I balled my fists and stared Connor down.

“Youwhat?” I seethed.

He threw up his hands, as if in surrender.

“She just noticed I’d been a lot happier lately and she started guessing,” he said. “All I did was confirm what she already knew.”

“Youtold her?”My mouth dropped open.

“But I don’t see how that Peter guy would have found out,” he rushed to say. “Jessie wouldn’t have said anything.”

“Peter knows we’ve been working together!” My fists shook. “He would have wormed his way into those meetings, I just know it. He’s talked about taking that extra work away from me before. All it would take is one slip. Just a single mention of me and you in the same sentence. I know how his mind works. Even if he had no solid proof, he would have jumped on a chance to rat me out.”

“But why would he do that?” Connor asked.

“Because he’s an asshole!” I shouted. “Because I wasn’t doing his work and he wanted to get back at me. To prove to me he could get me fired with a single word.”