Your One True Love (The Bennett Family 8)

“You still binge-watch TV shows?”

“Of course. Once a TV junkie, always a TV junkie.”

“I’ll leave you to your date.”

Taking her hand, I kiss her knuckles, then watch her enter her building.

We need to have that conversation, but I promised I wouldn’t bring it up today, and she’s still the birthday girl. For a few more hours.

Chapter Twelve

Caroline

A few minutes later, I slip between the sheets with my laptop and switch on my favorite streaming service. I have four brand-new episodes to watch. Rubbing my hands in excitement, I press Play.

I am midway through the third episode and my second glass of wine when my phone beeps. Someone who probably just remembered it was my birthday. I reach out for my phone without taking my eyes off the screen. The leads are just about to kiss for the first time, and it looks like the ten-episode wait will be worth it.

But then I forget all about the kiss as I read the message.

Daniel: 12:01, birthday day is officially over. Time to tackle that elephant.

I should have known he wouldn’t let me off the hook so easily. Pressing Pause on the screen, I sit up straight on the bed, my heart thumping in my throat. I can do this. It’s best to clear the air, and it’s easier to do it via text or on the phone than face-to-face.

Caroline: Tell me what you were worried about today.

Daniel: ????

Caroline: Don’t be cruel, ease me into this.

Daniel: Had two incidents with leaked photos from celebrity events to the press. The problem is I suspect someone from my team did it. On purpose.

I read through his text twice, my neurons a tad befuddled by the wine. But the second his meaning sinks in, my stomach coils. I call him right away.

“What do you mean, on purpose? Why?” I ask instead of saying hello.

“Money. Gossip magazines pay a good buck.”

“Let me get this straight. These are pictures of events you did for your famous clients?”

“Yeah.”

“And you’re sure some other attendees didn’t leak the pics?”

“Not one hundred percent sure, but everyone attending wants privacy. And it happened at two different events, no common attendees.”

I hug my knees to my chest, resting my chin on them. “What are you going to do?”

“Do a bit of detective work. I like my team. I trust them. Not looking forward to it.”

“I bet not.”

“So, time to bring up the elephant.”

Damn! I’d almost forgotten about it. Carrying out this conversation after I had two glasses of wine isn’t the smartest thing. I might let slip things I don’t mean... or worse, things I do mean but don’t want him to know. Breathe in, breathe out. I can do this. Time to rip off the Band-Aid.

“It was a one-time thing, Daniel. Let’s forget about it. These things happen, right? Wouldn’t be the first time two exes fall in bed with each other.”

A brief pause, and then he talks in a low, smooth voice. “It wasn’t just sex.”