Page 41 of Dirty Secret

"What? No one. I've never swindled money from anyone. Wait, I mean . . ."

"Besides me, you mean?"

I wondered if someone left a window open. The room felt hot and muggy as if all the cool air had evaporated. It became difficult to breathe.

"I explained what happened with that. I really did think you would ask around and realize you could get the plumbing done at a much cheaper price. I never expected you to call me back."

"Then why didn't you say something right away? You waited until it was obvious you could seduce me—"

"Seduce you? Where is this coming from? I love you, Heidi. When I kissed you for the first time back in May, I had never wanted to kiss any woman so much in all my life." I held up my hands to try and stop that terrible accusation. "Look, I did something stupid, and I will keep saying sorry until you believe me."

Heidi's beautiful hazel eyes filled with concern and disappointment, and I was thankful they weren't on me. "I want to believe you, Max, but what Mr. Willis told me . . . He's right, even after spending time with you, no one can really know you."

As much as I regretted marrying Jackie and bringing her evil father into my life, I would never be sorry for the most wonderful person we created with our union—Kat. She's everything to me, and so was Heidi. I shook my head, understanding that Mr. Willis was now hellbent on taking Heidi away from me as punishment for still having a connection to his daughter, even though it was through Kat.

"I can't tell you how many times that man has acted like Kat doesn't even exist or worse . . . he has threatened to take Kat away. Not because I'm a bad father. You have seen me with my daughter, Heidi. Do you believe I don't treat her as a father should?" I crossed my arms and waited for her truth.

"No, you are a good father. I never doubted that for a moment, Max. But how you have treated your clients, and even your ex-wife . . ." Her shoulders sagged as if the fight in her had died. "It doesn't make sense," she said softly.

"Because it's not true." I placed my hands on her shoulders and waited for her to gaze up at me. "The only time in my life that I ever stole something was when I was two years old. I grabbed a piece of candy from the checkout aisle in the supermarket. I showed my mother when we left the store, proud that I got my own candy. She marched me right back inside and made me apologize to the cashier for stealing. I never took anything ever again."

Her mouth opened on a breath, and I knew my words had an impact on her. Heidi had just met Mr. Willis tonight, but she knew me. She couldn't believe him, not while I was standing right in front of her. She's been around smarmy politicians her whole life. Couldn't she see Jackie's father was no better?

"Mr. Willis showed me the letter, Max. Where you apologized to your ex-father-in-law for overcharging his friends for plumbing work. He told me that you agreed to do free work for them to make up the cost as you already spent the money. Mr. Willis said he promised that there would be no legal action if you agreed to divorce Jackie."

Shit.

"Did you write that letter, Max?"

I took a deep breath before I slowly nodded my head. "Yes, I wrote it."

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