Page 121 of Forbidden Desire

Josie laughs and claps her hands. “Mo! Mo!”

She might get her wish if Troy makes any more faces. There’s plenty of pillows in here.

“So, you knew who he was the whole time?” asks Troy confused.

“Yeah. I found out he wastheMarco Vallejo when I was in the doctor’s office and I saw him on the news.”

“Holy shit.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me? Or Mom and Dad? You pretended you didn’t know who it was. Mom was appalled.”

“Ya think?” I ask, rolling my eyes, thinking back to that night.

“Well, why didn’t you? You knew that night.”

“Because Dad would just make a mess of things. He’s not exactly amicable. He would go after Marco and take him to court and it would be all over the news.”

Troy looks thoughtful for a moment. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

“I didn’t want Josie’s life to be tainted by a crazy lawsuit that would make headlines. Plus, I didn’t want to face being rejected by him. I didn’t wantherto be rejected. That would break my heart. To go through this whole legal process for him just to claim he has no interest in her. That would follow her all her life, and when she gets old enough to ask questions, she could just look him up and see everything.”

“I get it now. I do, but…” Troy looks off in the distance and I can see he’s hurt.

“But what?” I ask softly.

“You didn’t tellme.”

“I know,” I say, shaking my head regretfully.

“I’m your big brother. Your best friend most days…or I was.”

“I was just scared. I thought you’d let it slip or maybeyou’dgo big, bad brother on me and go after him yourself.”

“Well, I’m not happy with the guy…” says Troy, proving my point that he’d be the protective older brother.

“He didn’t know! You can’t fault him for that.”

“True. But he does know now…Right?”

“Yeah, he does.”

“Does Josie?”

“She’s not even one, Troy. I don’t think she comprehends that. But she feels something. The bond between them was instant. He’s so good with her. And she’s obsessed with him. I’d almost be jealous, if it wasn’t so cute.”

“How long has he known?” asks Troy pointedly.

“A few weeks?” I shrug.

“You kept this from him that long? Even while you were working alongside him?” asks Troy, his eyes wide.

“Yes,” I say sheepishly.

“You’re like a ninja. A spy. A master secret-keeper.”

I laugh and put my hand to my head, thinking about everything I’ve done. It does sound ridiculous.

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