Page 79 of Harmless Scandals

“I got some malasadas and coco puffs.”

She forgot about work, and everything else. “You win the day.”

It wasn't until she returned from the beach that she remembered the phone call and message that had been left for her. She hit speaker.

“Hello, Ms. Jones. My name is Franklin Reynolds, an editor with the National Tattler.” Her heart almost stopped beating. It had been one of the rags that had made her life a living hell. “I was wondering if I could get a quote about a story we are running this week that you are actually Kayleigh Rose. Also, it seems you have a unique relationship with two men. Please give me a call.”

He rattled off the phone number, but Serenity barely noticed. Her entire world had just exploded. She had spent so many years in hiding that the idea of someone finding out who she was had been ludicrous. During the dark times after she ran from Hollywood, she had thought for sure she would be found out. Now that she was happy, finally on the right track with her life, and this crap had to happen.

Numb. It was the only feeling she had, as if she was in some form of shock. Of course, she was in shock. She had remained anonymous for over a decade.

Her phone rang in the silence, shocking her. It was Nicola.

“Hey,” she said. “What the hell is going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“I just got a call from your mother trying to confirm your new name and that you are living in Hawaii.”

She closed her eyes and panic started to set in. Her mother. Dammit.

“I...I have no idea. I just got a message from the National Tattler asking about this.”

“Okay, let me make a few calls and maybe I can get the story suppressed.”

“They don't just know my name. They know about Mick and Adam.”

Oh, God, she sounded like she was losing it. What was she thinking? She was losing it. No one would blame her. The life she’d perfectly crafted. Now, it was going to be blown to smithereens.

“They know who you are?”

“Yes, they know. You know I really don't hide it from people. Just, I like the anonymity and keeping away from my mother. But this will be different. It’s something to know the woman you were involved with had another career at one time. It is going to be something else when our lives are splashed all over the tabloids. The guys are going to hate me.”

Serenity’s voice had risen with each word, Nicola sighed. “Still, I'll bring the full force of Wulf Industries down on them. But you need to prepare your men.”

“I don't think the rag has their names.”

“But they will soon if we don't stop this. Let me make those calls.”

“No. Please, I don't want you getting into trouble with Jensen.”

“There is no problem with Jensen. Right, Jensen?”

“Off with their heads,” he yelled out.

She smiled. “Thank you. I will owe you…again.”

“Friends don't owe. They just love.”

And that summed up their relationship. Nicola had been an Olympic hopeful with little interaction with people. They were alike in that regard. Granted, Nicola had had a loving family, but both women had spent their childhoods in isolation from their peers. “You sure they don’t have Mick and Adam's names?”

“Not sure. They just said they knew I was in a relationship with two men.”

“Hmm, well, don't call them. I will. No one messes with my Seri.”

She smiled. “Thanks. I guess I have to talk to the guys.”

“Yes, prepare them.”

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