Page 76 of Noel Secrets

On the way back to Yarmouth, his stomach squirmed uncomfortably. Nick had insisted the times he talked to him that Price could not approach Addie, let her know he was there, or reveal himself or his assignment in any way. He said the sister wanted her safe but didn’t want to upset her.

When he had reported in last night about the incident, Nick had been grateful he was there. Of course he hadn’t told Nick about the kiss, had simply asked him to check in with the client and see if Price could reveal to Addie why he’d been there. Addie had been understandably upset and confused last night, and she’d looked at him as if he were her hero.

When she had time to process, surely she’d have more questions about him conveniently being so close by. She’d seemed to accept that he couldn’t talk about his assignment, but how long would that keep her from asking more questions or getting suspicious? It was far too convenient that his ‘assignment’ had him four doors down.

There was also the moral dilemma of him longing to be with Addie but currently being on assignment to protect her. It all unsettled him and destroyed the happiness of that kiss and the anticipation to be with her tonight. If only he knew how to navigate relationships better. Already he’d messed this one up by deceiving her.

His stomach rolled, and the ‘pleasant vertigo’ from her kiss dissipated.

He pressed Nick’s name in his recent call list.

It rang once and Nick’s upbeat voice came across the line. “Hey there.”

“Hey. Can I speak with the client?”

“Um, sure. Why?”

“This is eating me up.” He turned on his blinker to take the exit for The Cape. “Not telling Addie that she’s my assignment. Lying to her that Daphne didn’t hire me because Daphne’s name wasn’t on the contract. I don’t like keeping things from her, and she’s going to have more questions once everything settles.”

“Gotcha. Let me get back to you.”

“Thanks.”

Price drove without really noticing anything for a few minutes until his phone rang. He expected Nick, but it was an unknown number. He let it ring a few times, thinking it could be scam, but then he instinctively pushed the button on the steering wheel to answer. “Hello?”

“This is Daphne Belle. Is this the man who rescued my sis last night?”

“Yes.” He felt awkward admitting to that. Rescued her, lied to her, kissed her like the world was going to end.

“Addie was so impressed and I’m so impressed,” Daphne gushed. “Thank you, a million times thank you. I’m grateful Vance hired you and grateful you’re such a hero.”

“You’re welcome.” Price clutched the steering wheel. “Daphne, with your permission I want to tell Addie you hired me.”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t hire you. My fiancé did.”

He groaned. “Daphne. Addie asked me if you did and I said no. The contract did have Vance Gem’s name on it, but you and I both know that’s splitting hairs. I like Addie and I don’t want to break her trust.”

“You can’t,” Daphne cried out. “Please. Not yet. Not until you’re certain she’s fallen for you.”

Did the kiss last night meant she’d fallen for him? How was he to know?

“She has huge trust issues. Huge. She only gives most men one or two dates. The few times she’s let herself trust a man, he’s hurt her. She’s tried to hide her pain from all of us, but I know and I just want her to be happy. She’s gone over you. Completely gone.”

His pulse spiked. Addie was gone over him? That made keeping this secret from her even worse. “Then I should be ableto tell her the truth and we can weather it,” he insisted. Wasn’t that how a healthy relationship worked?

“No! You have to understand how hurt she has been. It’s … her story to tell, but please trust me that finding out you’ve been hired to be there would be the wrong thing at this moment. She’s so happy right now.”

“Is there ever going to be a good moment?” He’d struggled not revealing the truth last night, especially after that epic kiss. Always the soldier, he’d tried to follow instructions and not reveal why he was there. Now he was in a mess, and her sister was telling him to dig deeper. He clutched the steering wheel.

“I’ll pray hard,” Daphne reassured him. “But you have to give her some time to get to know you, trust you, and love you.”

“She can’t trust me if I’m lying to her.”

“You’re not lying. I am. You’re doing your job and hiding your identity. Don’t you have to do that on jobs all the time?”

She had him there, but this felt wrong.

“I’ll tell her the truth at the perfect moment. Tell her it’s all on me. She didn’t want security, so I went behind her back and requested you. I had Vance sign the contract so if she asked I could truthfully say I hadn’t hired you. I know you were the right one to keep her safe and to love her.”