Page 165 of This Bitter Sweet Temptation
“It got tangled up with legal stuff for a while, but… you won’t believe it.” I take a deep breath and tell her about the Hera Egg.
Honestly, it’s a relief to talk to someone about it who isn’t Holden or Jasper Fairfax. Even if she can’t do anything to help, just herknowingtakes the crushing burden off my shoulders.
By the end, her eyes are wide, flashing with excitement.
“Holy crap,” she breathes. “That’s way more intense than the lake house.”
“It’s a lot. But you had it worse with the crazy people.”
“Yeah, but we figured out who was causing us trouble and dealt with it. You still don’t know? They just broke in after you turned down the offer? Holy hell. I think I know where I’d be looking.”
“Well, we don’t know if it’s connected. I kind of doubt it,” I say, but I wonder myself.
Holden certainly seems to think so, and for all I know, he’s right.
I just don’tfeelit, the possibility that Fairfax could be shady. Rotten enough to risk hurting people.
“Either way,scary,” she whispers.
“For sure. But I think we’re closing in on settling this. There’s a New York art museum I’m looking at, a smaller one. They want to pay me to display it, and with security being a really big deal there, it might be perfect.” I laugh a little, almost like the thought that it could be over makes me nervous. “I’d be lost without Holden. He’s been so good through all this with the security stuff.”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” Margot lights up. “Holden Verity. Wouldn’t be Gramps if it didn’t come with all sorts of trouble. And I don’t mean your bandits.”
My cheeks flare.
Oh God, is it that obvious?
She knows.
Of course, she does. She had it easy with Holden, too, when she was the best-behaved kid growing up. He never had to babysit her like he did with me.
I’ve been careful when I mention him, but Margot reads me like a book. She notices how I avoid mentioning him too much.
But what the hell, maybe Iwantedto have this conversation.
I’ve been flailing. Stuck in an endless loop of not being able to talk to anyone about it, and I could use an outside perspective.
Even if it’s a little ‘this is how you get over him’ advice. Because right now I feel like the biggest sucker alive.
“He’s not trouble. Not like that,” I tell her.
“You sure?” She props her chin on her hand. “What exactly have you been doing with Holden Verity when you’re not chasing treasure, Clee?”
Fucking.
Repeatedly.
And then fucking up. Also repeatedly.
“For real, if I wasn’t married, I might climb that man like a koala.” She laughs when I don’t answer. “Did you know I had a little crush on him growing up? Just a silly thing, but man…”
Oh, I get it now. I understand it all too well.
Only, my crush is so much worse because it’s based on reality.
“Do I even want to know?” I counter.
“He’sdreamy. And you’re telling me he’sjustyour bodyguard?”
