Page 132 of Never Tell Secrets

He stared at me, looking so deeply conflicted. “I won’t. I’m not going to.” He reached up and brushed a thumb over my cheek. It soothed me, but only a little.

“Promise?”

He flinched, as if my question had hurt him. I turned and pressed a kiss to his palm and he softened. “I promise. No more hurt.”

Forty-One

The next morning, I was jolted awake by Keira dive bombing me in my bed.

“Good morning!” She laughed, straddling me while I groaned.

“What are you doing?”

“I came to celebrate with you!” She clapped her hands. I opened one bleary eye, peering at her. “You’re famous!” She stuck her phone under my nose and there was a headline from a tabloid article.

Is long time bachelor Alfie Tell finally settling down?

Underneath was a big picture of Alfie and I walking out of Heathrow.

Oh, great.

I huffed, shoving her phone away. “Keira, I don’t care about that stuff. Get off me.” I squeezed out from under her and headed for the bathroom. She followed, hot on my heels and began reading the article out loud as I sat down to pee.

“Prominent billionaire Alfie Tells’ new mystery woman is one Lola O’Connell, a twenty eight year old?—”

“Twenty eight? I’m twenty six!”

Keira grinned. “I thought you didn’t care?”

I scowled, tearing off some toilet paper for myself and throwing the roll at her head. She dodged it and carried on reading as I washed my hands and started on my teeth.

“—twenty eight year old garden designer. They returned from a romantic getaway in Greece yesterday evening?—”

“It was not a romantic getaway!” I mumbled around my toothbrush.

“—according to sources, they met in O’Connells’ hometown two years ago when Tell was there working on a new hotel renovation. Apparently, Lola O’Connell caused quite the stir in the lobby of The Carlton hotel, arriving one time covered in paint and another time drunk. Even once, they both appeared soaking wet and in the middle of what seemed to be a heated argument. Perhaps this fiery redhead will keep the playboy on his toes, or?—”

“Enough,” I snapped, spitting and rinsing my mouth. Keira paused, the humour fading from her eyes.

“You’re really bothered about this.”

I shoved my toothbrush back in the holder and started dragging a hairbrush through my hair. “I just wasn’t expecting it.”

“You knew he was kinda famous…”

“I know, I just…I didn’t click it. I didn’t think anyone would care about us or him anymore, he’s not made headlines because of the club for a long time.” I shoved my hair up into a ponytail and headed back to my room. Keira followed me.

“He’s still one of the richest bachelors on the planet. He’s Alfie fucking Tell, Lola!”

I was all too aware of that.

“Whatever. I’m going to work.”

“Yeah, about that…” Keira’s voice trailed off and I turned to look at her, one hand in my wardrobe as I searched for something suitable to wear. “Elliot’s in the living room.”

Ten minutes later I was dressed and concealer had been applied to the circles under my eyes. I found Elliot sitting on the couch, dwarfing it with his size. He stood as I entered the room.

“Not to be rude, Elliot, but what are you doing here?”