Page 57 of The Naughty List

What the?

Turning my face away from an overabundance of Achille’s kisses and signaling him to stand down, I open the card.

Hollis,

All I want for Christmas is your forgiveness. I am an ass and I messed up. Also, Achilles wanted to bring you this in person. Or, in dog.

There’s a gift card attached to the lingerie boutique Jonah and I went to recently.

It feels like a lifetime ago. Part of me wishes we could go back to that day. But deep down, beneath the hurt, I know I wouldn’t take back a single second of our time together.

Movement to the left catches my eye as Jonah steps out from the sidewalk.

I don’t even know what to say. I can’t process his presence at my house.

“What are you doing here?”

His hands remain in his pockets as he approaches.

“Apologizing. How’s it going so far?”

Ache licks the palm of my hand.

“Using the dog is cheating.”

Jonah nods. “Never said I was into fighting fair.”

I work to control my breathing as he commands Achilles to come to him.

I wave the gift card. “Guess I’m getting some new lingerie. Wonder who I should wear it for…”

Jonah smirks. “I’d be willing to suffer through another fashion show if you need help picking something out.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Hollis,” he begins, and I stare openly because I’ve never seen him like this. Vulnerable. Unsure of himself. “I met with the reporter.” His throat moves as he swallows. “It wasn’t Addi who tipped him off.”

“I know.”

He sighs. “What happened was my fault and mine entirely. And even if you had told Addi and she’d told someone, it wasn’t right to react like that. You didn’t deserve that. I’ve just never…”

I wait impatiently for him to continue.

“Never what?”

His eyes practically glow under the street lamp. “I’ve never let anyone in before. Not as close as I’ve let you in. I don’t know how it happened. I woke up one day, and there you were.”

My lungs constrict. “You hired me to be your dog walker.” I can’t help but feel guilty about the one truth I’ve always kept from him. “Speaking of, I should probably tell you something I’ve been meaning to for a long time. I wasn’t there to walk the dogs that day, Jonah.”

I just got lucky that the actual dog walker never showed.

“I know that.” He grins, the charming boyish grin I love. “There was no dog walker position. I made it up.”

My entire life is a lie.

Strangely, I’m not that upset about it.

“What? But you said—”