Page 67 of Bragg's Christmas

I roll my eyes. “So, you can send your drone off to kill people?”

“Joking time’s over. I want the truth.”

“What if you can’t handle the truth?”

“I’d have to use my drone to take me out.”

I study him as I try to come up with some reason why I’d be sad when I entered the house. Because I don’t want to tell him the truth. He doesn’t need to know what a harpy I used to be.

What am I thinking? He knows exactly how big of a harpy I used to be. He was kind of there when I hit on him within five minutes of meeting him while he was kicking me out of his brother’s wedding.

It sounds worse than it is.

No, it doesn’t.

Crap. It’s true. It’s as bad as it sounds.

“What if I don’t want to tell you?”

He leans close and places his palm on my cheek. I close my eyes and lean into his touch. Just for a second, I’ll enjoy how safe and coveted he makes me feel before I ruin it by admitting the truth.

“You can tell me anything.”

“I know,” I whisper with my eyes still closed.

“But if you don’t want to tell me, I’ll understand.”

He starts to remove his hand but I shackle his wrist to keep him where he is. If I’m telling this story, I need his support. Never mind how it’ll be gone the second he knows the truth.

“Aspen West owns the bookstore,Fall Into a Good Book.”

“Okay.”

“She’s married to Lyric Alston, the chief of police. They have a son together – Sterling.”

Thus far, I haven’t told Damon anything he doesn’t know already. He doesn’t push me, though. He cradles my face with one hand while his other hand squeezes my thigh in support.

I wish we could stay in this moment forever. His warmth surrounding me, supporting me. But we can’t. Love Hill isn’t going to get a fairytale ending.

Because you don’t deserve it.

I clear my throat and continue. “Aspen and Lyric were apart for a decade because of me.”

There, I said it. I drop my hold on Damon’s wrist and try to stand. He places his hands on my shoulders and pushes me down.

“I need more.”

“More? I’ll give you more. I’m a horrible person who shouldn’t be around children. There! You happy now? I’ll move out in the morning.”

“Whoa. I never said anything about firing you.”

I slump against the cushions. “But you will.” Eventually.

He scowls. “I’m not firing you. I’m listening to you. I’m supporting you.”

Supporting me? He’s lying. No one supports me. I open my mouth to call him a liar but snap it shut when I notice his warm brown eyes are staring at me with sincerity.

I don’t want those eyes to switch from support to loathing but he’s going to find out the truth eventually anyway. Maybe it’s better he hears it from me now. Before I get too used to living this fairy tale life with him. Here goes nothing.

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