Page 70 of Let Me Love You

Mr. Barlowe,

Our man wants to meet with you tonight at eleven. He’ll be in the city for one day. It’s his only day off for the next two weeks.

Matt

I immediately dial Jay and tell him to be at my house by ten thirty. My leg bounces up and down as I wait for his response. He sends me a thumbs-up—his usual form of response. I might finally get some real information on the Wilted Rose.

My library door opens, and I shoot into an upright position. I tuck the book underneath my leg before putting my phone back into my pocket.

Only one person knows about my romance reading habit, and that’s my maid. At least, I assume so since she’s the one who dusts my bookcases.

Serenity pokes her head around the door, and I wave her in. She rarely seeks me out when we’re home, so this is a welcome surprise. Maybe she’s starting to come around. At least, that’s what I’m going to convince myself.

She sits beside me. When I scoot over, my book is out in the open. I try to shove it away, but she says, “Why are you hiding Pride and Prejudice? That’s my favorite book by Jane Austen.”

I flash her a shy smile. “I’ve always been told that romance books are for women.”

Serenity’s green eyes widen. “Ignore whoever that ignorant person is.”

“I’ll give you one guess.”

She doesn’t hesitate. “Your mother.”

I nod.

The last woman I tried to tell I enjoyed romance was Ana, and she scoffed at me. So, I laughed it off like it was a joke. Serenity accepts me for who I am—even if she denies she has feelings for me. She doesn’t try to mold me to her liking. I can’t help but feel like now is the time to tell her my secret. Something no one knows other than my parents and Isabella.

A bundle of nerves erupts in my stomach, so I just spit it out. “I’m a bastard.”

Her eyebrows inch up her forehead. “No, you aren’t. I think you spent too much time listening to your mother.”

True but …

I shake my head. “The other kind.”

She stares at me like she’s waiting for me to continue. When I don’t, she says, “So? That’s not uncommon for a lot of families. My mother wasn’t married when she had me or Harmony.”

“My father isn’t really my father.” The words rush out of me. If I don’t get them out now, I never will. “My mother cheated on my dad, and she resents me for it.”

A laugh bubbles out of her, and she clamps a hand over her mouth. “That wasn’t a ‘I find that funny’ laugh. It was a, ‘I’ll kill her if I ever see her again’ crazy laugh. She’s so lucky you told me after their party.”

I smile. I can’t believe I was so scared to tell her.

Maybe it’s because I gave her blackmail that most people would use against me.

“My father is actually a good man. He raised me as his, gave me his last name, and made me heir to Barlowe Tech.” I shake my head. He’s foolish for not leaving my mother, but I’ll always be thankful to him. “No one can know because my grandfather, who founded our company, stated that only a true, blood heir can inherit the company.”

Serenity reaches over and grabs my hand. “Oh, Vic, I’d never tell anyone.”

My heart swells as I look into her eyes. Her loyalty is her best quality. “I know. That’s why I’m trusting you with this secret.” I squeeze her hand and twine our fingers together. “I’m so sorry for how my mother behaved. She’s an elitest and lives by the old ways.”

I lean over and kiss her. Fireworks go off inside my heart as she meets my lips with tenderness. Our kisses are usually hot and like wildfire, but after everything, we both need a little healing.

Backing away, I open my eyes and caress her face. I don’t want her to think every time I get her alone I want to get her naked. I mean, I do, but that’s not all I want.

She meets my gaze, so I ask, “Do you want to watch a movie?”

She touches her chin for a moment. “Can it be a horror movie?”