The Secret (Single in Seattle 1)

“I wish my dad would come to more of these things, but he won’t. He’s never really told me why. He just doesn’t like living the lifestyle.”

My phone rings in my bag.

“Who in the world is that?” I ask as I fish it out and see that it’s Stella. “Oh, she’s probably just wondering how it went.”

I don’t accept the call but text her.

Me: Headed home. It was SO FUN! See you tomorrow. XO

I set the phone aside, but it rings again. This time, it’s my dad.

I don’t answer.

Guilt fills my belly.

I didn’t ask Christian and Jenna not to tell my dad that they saw me, but I hadn’t thought they’d call him first thing after leaving the dinner.

Dad doesn’t take no for an answer. This time, he texts.

It’s a photo of Vaughn kissing my hand at the party.

Dad: We need to talk.

“Fuck.”

Vaughn says, “You didn’t tell him.”

“No.” I swallow hard. “I didn’t tell him yet. And, apparently, someone snuck a phone inside that dinner.”

Vaughn sighs.

I close my eyes.

Fuck.

Chapter 9

~Vaughn~

We’re quiet for the rest of the drive to my house. Even once we’re inside, we still don’t say anything as we walk up to the bedroom to change out of our fancy clothes.

“Do you mind helping me out of this?” Liv asks. “It’s going to have to be unstitched.”

“I’d planned on ripping it off you in the heat of the moment, but somehow, I think the mood is gone.”

She sighs and rifles through her bag, coming out with a little tool before passing it to me.

“You just have to put the metal piece in the seam and give it a tug.” She instructs me on what to do. Before long, the dress falls around her, and she catches it at her bust. “Thanks. And I’m sorry. Let me get comfortable, and we can talk.”

She walks away. Without another word, I shed my suit and change into sweats and a simple, white T-shirt.

When she walks out of the closet, she’s dressed in similar attire, but her hair remains in those wavy curls, and her makeup is still in place.

“You’re mad,” she says before I can comment on how beautiful she is.

“I’m confused,” I reply honestly. “You said you’d take care of telling your dad about us, so I figured you had before we came here.”

“I didn’t have time,” she says and chews her red lip. “I did see my mom at lunch the other day and told her. But I asked her to let me tell Dad. And I was going to.”

“But you didn’t.”

“I chickened out, okay? I thought about going up to his office, but I was busy, and he was busy, and then I decided to just go to their house this weekend for dinner and talk to him then. I didn’t think a photo of us would leak because you assured me that it was impossible.”

She gives me a hard-eye stare, and I shake my head. “Nope. You don’t get to blame me for this one, honey. I took you to a party that didn’t allow cameras or phones. You saw it for yourself. I can’t help that someone didn’t follow the rules. I hate that it happened, but it’s not a lewd photo or even a scandalous one. I’m kissing your hand. I like kissing your hand. And you were my date.”

“I know.” She sits on the edge of the bed and sighs again. “I know it’s not your fault. It’s my fault. I’m not embarrassed by you or us or anything like that. It’s just…it’s my dad.” She hangs her head in her hands. “And he’s a great guy. The best. But I hate it when he’s mad at me, and this could make him mad.”

“Why do you think that?” I sit beside her and pull her against me, kissing her hair. “I mean, I’m not the best guy in the world, but there are worse out there.”

She chuckles, and it makes my stomach loosen just a little. “I don’t know. Like I said before, he’s never really told me all the ins and outs of why he feels the way he does about Hollywood. Or about being famous. But I’m going to sit down with him and dig into all of that because it’s important.”

“I’m sorry that he found out the way he did, but I’m not sorry that he knows.”

“Same.” She lifts her face to mine and offers me a small smile. “It’ll work out. Right?”

“Of course. There’s nothing you can do tonight, so let’s go cuddle up and watch something on the TV for a while before bed.”

“Okay.” She stands with me. “I should go wash my face and brush out my hair, but I’ll do that before bed.”

“You looked incredibly beautiful tonight,” I say as I lead her to a little room down the hall that I use as a TV space. “I didn’t have to kill anyone, but it was close a couple of times.”