Page 59 of The Liar

“Can I have a quiet word with you?” he asked, glancing over my shoulder, perhaps to make sure no one had accompanied me to the bathroom.

“Sure.” Although I couldn’t help but wonder what he needed to say to me so badly that it warranted waiting outside the ladies’ room.

He nodded firmly and paced farther into the ballroom and around to the right, where there was an empty stretch of wall.

“What is it?” I asked, increasingly anxious.

Thackery pursed his lips. “Look, I don’t want to make trouble, but I’ve heard rumors that West was seen with another woman, you know… intimately. I just wanted to let you know, in case you hadn’t heard. There might be nothing to it, but you deserve better than to have people gossiping behind your back.”

My muscles turned to stone. I carefully blanked my face. I had no idea how I was supposed to react. Should I pretend I didn’t know anything about it and have a meltdown?

No. Even if I’d been blindsided by infidelity this way, I’d have put on a better front than that.

“Thanks for letting me know,” I said slowly. “I think I know what caused those rumors, and—”

I stopped abruptly because, suddenly, West was there. Two feet in front of us, scowling fiercely.

“There you are.” He searched my gaze. “I looked up and you’d vanished.”

“Here I am,” I said awkwardly.

“Joanna was just saying she’d love a glass of wine.” Thackery’s tone was friendly but pointed, clearly suggesting that West toddle off to get one.

West didn’t move an inch. “She isn’t drinking tonight. We drove here.”

Thackery’s fake smile stretched. “One glass never hurt.”

“Perhaps not.” West spoke through gritted teeth. “But you know as well as I do how much Jo loves to follow the rules.”

I rolled my eyes. They were being ridiculous. I appreciated Thackery’s concern, but a fundraiser really wasn’t the place for this conversation.

“Why don’t we see what items are up for auction?” I suggested.

The organizer had arranged a silent auction with the proceeds going toward funding for another community liaison officer to work with troubled teens.

“Sounds good.” West stretched his hand toward me.

I stared at it for a long moment, then took it. “It was nice talking to you, Thackery. Don’t worry about that problem you mentioned. I’m on top of it.”

“I hope so,” he murmured as we walked away.

“Are you all right?” West asked, placing his palm on my back to guide me to the tables where the silent auction had been set up in the corner. “That looked intense.”

I side-eyed him. “Apparently, someone is spreading rumors about you cheating on me.”

He grimaced. “Ah.”

“Any idea how that might have happened?” I asked.

“I don’t suppose Hanson would have…?”

“No.” I shook my head. “He’s not one to gossip about someone’s private life.”

“Then I’m not sure. I’m sorry you have to deal with it though.” His hand dropped from my back and then he laced his fingers with mine. “I’m sorry. Full stop. I realize this must be difficult for you. Unfortunately, them thinking I'm a cheat is better than them knowing the truth.”

“I know.” That didn’t mean I liked the idea of being some kind of office joke. The naive woman who rushed into marriage with a man who strayed after only a few months. “Did you make any progress with Neal?”

“I did.” He brightened. “He runs a weekly poker night, and he’s invited me to the next one.”

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