Page 153 of He Loves Me Knot

Callum handed the phone back to Aiden, a stabbing pain searing through him.

Aiden searched Callum’s face. “Is any of it true, Cal?”

Callum tried to calm his racing thoughts.

If Miranda knew anything about his sexual relationship with Liddy, this could be nothing more than her attempt to get revenge. He’d turned her down and she’d been furious about it. He didn’t trust Mirandaat all.

Goddammit, Liddy.

Of all the people she could have talked to about this.

And this was precisely why he’d always been so careful about staying away from any woman he worked with.

“Liddy and I have a sexual relationship, yes.” He hated to cause Liddy any embarrassment, but he wasn’t talking to his friend Aiden right now. This was his boss, and his job was on the line. Anything less than the truth could have serious repercussions, especially now that HR was involved. “But I never pressured her or blackmailed her into sex. That . . . happened separately.”

“And the sham relationship?” Aiden turned his phone off and set it on the bed.

“That’s true.” Callum rubbed his jaw. “Though—just so you know—the wedding dress was located. Security grabbed it because of the marijuana Logan left in the garment bag. And Elle and Quinn both know the truth.”

Aiden didn’t react. He folded his hands together, the silence between them tense.

“What would you have me do, Cal? I know you’re on holiday and this isn’t work-related, but HR knows about this. Miranda is clearly spreading this. We’re facing an HR nightmare when we return. And Liddy will be dragged through it with you.”

It was strange . . .I should be angrier with Liddy.

But I’m not.

Because he didn’t believe Liddy had said what Miranda accused him of.I know her better than that.

He wasn’t numb, either. Numb would have been bad, but the fact was that this wasn’t Liddy’s fault.

He had tried to blackmail her with the information about Sergio.

The fake relationship had been his idea.

And their first kiss in Mum’s office was barely consensual from an HR perspective.

When they’d driven in from the airport, Liddy had no reasonnotto share things with her friend. Her choice of who she shared it with had been unlucky.

And then, laughter built in his chest, and he shook his head, covering his face.

It would come to this.

A meaningless, reckless kiss with Miranda Kaster was about to end his career.

And yet . . . he had to be honest.

This is on me.

ChapterThirty-Six

Elle and Quinnswayed on the dance floor. The thousands of twinkle lights strung from wood beams installed around the dance floor gave the space a golden glow.

To Liddy, it looked like a fairy tale.

Everything had been perfect. Her sister’s dress—a simple, stunning, and also sexy cream satin midi dress Hunter had picked—was perfect for the setting. And the groomsmen were barefoot, which Quinn had insisted on, to his father’s horror.

Not that the Camdens had protested anything. Kat had worked her magic, and flowers cascaded from the center of the long main table, making the reception look incredibly elegant.

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