Page 13 of The Deception: Hercules Valentine and I

“What?” he snaps.

“Yes,” I say, remaining calm.

Max turns deathly silent.

“Max?” Revealing that tidbit about Hercules seems to have shaken up my brother.

“Then you’ve interacted with him?” he finally asks.

I feel a knot in my chest. I know why he asked that question. He knows how I feel about Hercules. “Yes. I have.”

“And how are you?”

“I’m fine,” I say, trying to sound unaffected by being back in Hercules Valentine’s universe.

“And he hasn’t recognized you?”

I take the sweater I’m wearing today out of my closet. It’s navy blue with a sexy V-neck that’s not too deep and not too modest. If Hercules shows up at our pod today, I think he’ll find the blue against my skin attractive.

“No, he hasn’t.” I refuse to tell my brother that Hercules did recognize me as the woman he saw at the Golden Grand Luxe on the day of our test run. I have a feeling if Max knew, he’d insist I abandon our mission. I’m not ready to do that yet.

“Okay, then, workwise…”

I sigh impatiently. “Max. I’m gonna be late. Can we continue this conversation later?”

Max falls silent again.I have to be careful with my responses to him. He knows me through and through. He probably suspects that I’m rushing him off the phone because I don’t want to feel as if I’m double-crossing friends—especially Hercules.

“I mean, I have to be on time for my team,” I say, cleaning up my previous reaction.

“What projects are you working on with VTI?” he asks as if we have all the time in the world to continue our conversation.

I zip up my jeans. “Just video games.”

“What are you doing for them specifically, Paisley?” He’s getting irritated.

Shit.“Enhancing existing product.”

I take off my jeans and put on a pair that’s more fitted. I’ll freely admit that I want to show off my figure today. Hercules is not guaranteed to show up, but if he does, I want to command his attention.

“I see…”

“Max, I really do have to go. I’m going to be late,” I say, tugging my zipper up.

“Then we’ll talk later.”

I’m relieved he’s letting me go so easily. “Yes. Later.”

I freeze as I think to ask him whether or not our mother is aware of my mission at VTI since she has invited me to dinner on Sunday. But instead, I say, “Have a good day, Max.”

“Just bring it to an end quickly, Paisley. I don’t want you there too long—especially since Hercules is around.”

I slide into one of my clunky cold-weather ankle boots. “Yeah, I was wondering how you got that wrong.”

“I’m wondering the same thing. I’ll look into it. But for now, lay as low as you can.”

Dinner and my painting party with Lake come to mind. “Absolutely,” I say in my most convincing voice.

I know he’s bought my act when he says goodbye without a pause.