Page 73 of Dead Serious with Benefits
“I can sense your judgment, even if it is also aimed at you. We both know that my work doesn’t allow me the luxury of complete disclosure.”
“Or human emotion for that matter.”
“Do you want me to apologize? I won’t, not to you. To him, perhaps I will, it’s not his fault you have spent years spitting in the face of this family by behaving like a child, no, worse, a horny teenager. It’s not his fault that a whore is exactly what you would bring to something like a gala.”
“Ah, so you did do some digging on him then.”
“Of course I did, it was the difference between you continuing your life as it is for a little while longer or finding yourself discovering what it is like to be on the outside, looking in,” she snapped coldly. “He was not wrong either.”
“What’s that?” Ward asked and I tensed.
“There were certain...unpleasant things I didn’t wish to read about in his past,” she said. “And so easy to find, no wonder he wasn’t concerned if I did some digging.”
Alarm shot through me, and I tried not to twist around and stare at the phone with the terror that had risen to grip my throat. I knew I might have to one day tell Ward about my past, at least if we continued on our path. I dreaded the day, not because I feared what he would say, but because the enormity,the sheer weight of that story was hard to bear, let alone lug it out and put it on display.
God, do not let him hear it from this awful, cold woman.
“Enough,” Ward said in an uncharacteristically sharp and cold voice. “You might have decided it was appropriate to go digging through his past to prove your point, but I do not share your disregard for other people. Keep whatever you dug up to yourself; there are other things you need to worry about besides my love life.”
“Yourlove lifehas been the largest source of concern and shame for me for years.”
“And here I thought you were going to say that it was about the family. At least you’re finally honest enough to remove the mask and admit it’s never been about the family, just you.”
“As far as the western element of this family is concerned, I am the family,” she said coolly.
“I smelled gas, or something similar,” he said without taking her bait. “Some sort of accelerant was used, I could smell it under the god awful smell of smoke.”
“Did you?” she asked, and although I was still reeling, even I couldn’t miss the absence of doubt in her voice. “I would have known that at some point, I’m sure, but knowing it early is...good.”
It was my turn to look surprised, but Ward shot me a rueful smirk of understanding. “I figured you would find that interesting. I certainly did, though I’ll admit the smell of my entire home being burned was far more important to me, but I didn’t miss it.”
“And this Arlo...can he be trusted to confirm you were with him all night?”
“He was with me, remember? He spoke to the officer and not only confirmed it, but also offered up his brother, who is living with him, to confirm it.”
“Well, do try not to break this one’s heart too thoroughly before the investigation is over,” she warned. “The last thing we need is for him to decide in bitterness that it’s worth it to spite you.”
“I don’t think we’ll have to worry about that.”
“Your assurances do little to assure me.”
“And your worries do little to make me worry.”
She sucked in a breath and sighed. “Well, you seem to have things well in hand, or do you need something from me? You are free to return to the house.”
“I think I can arrange my own accommodations,” he said, wrinkling his nose.
“Don’t try to shack up with this Arlo for now, because I know the thought occurred to you.”
“It did and was readily dismissed. I have several reasons, most of which won’t matter to you, but ultimately, I don’t intend to draw excess attention to our relationship...whatever state that’s in at the moment.”
“Your care for others is noted,” she said dryly. “Now, I will need you to show up in a couple of weeks. Things are quite busy, but it would be good for you to come and sit down with your father and me for dinner again. Do you think you can manage that?”
“I’ll see what I can do,” he said, though you would have to be deaf to miss how little he looked forward to the idea.
“You do that,” she said, and there was a pause long enough that I wondered if I’d missed the sound of the call ending. “And...I’m glad you weren’t at home when it happened. Try not to draw more attention to yourself.”
Then the beep came, and Ward snorted, tucking his phone away. “I think that was the closest she’s ever come to a maternal comment, can you believe it?”
