Logan (Carolina Reapers 4)

“You wanted her to love you for you before you revealed that you make millions of dollars a year and have a rabid fanbase of women who would like nothing more than to strip you naked at the first opportunity?” She tilted her head, still wearing that smile.

My stomach immediately settled. “Uh. Yeah, exactly that. And I know it’s time to tell her. I really do. I just need to make sure that I don’t lose her in the process because damn, she’s incredible. She’s nothing like Blaire.”

“Good. That woman was truly heinous. You boys have some of the worst taste in women.” She flicked a side glance at Cannon. “Now, if you can convince her to work with the Reapers, I’ll see what I can do about keeping your secret a little longer, but Logan, it’s going to come out. Especially if we do a fundraiser.”

“I know. I guess her ex was a real ass, and he played college ball or something, and he soured her on athletes. But I’m breaking her in slowly. I brought Connell to dinner with Annabelle, and Cannon brought Lillian, so it wasn’t completely awkward, and she really likes Connell. So if she likes one professional athlete, maybe she’ll warm up to the idea that I’m one, too.”

“Everyone likes me,” Connell said with a snort.

“Who is Lillian?” Persephone asked. “I wasn’t aware that you were in a triple-date relationship, Cannon.”

They locked eyes, and the air in the cabin got a fuckload thicker with tension.

“I don’t have to run my dates by you for approval, Persephone, even if you think I have the worst taste. And I’m not in a triple-date relationship unless you mean three women at once.”

Sephie’s lips parted for a breath before she composed herself.

“Don’t look so shocked, Princess. We all don’t have trust-fund boyfriends that our daddy picks out for us.” He took his book from the table and opened it.

“What? Michael and I are not dating. Not that it’s any of your concern.” She flushed, and then her shoulders dipped as if she’d realized something. “And that’s exactly what I just did to you. You have my apologies, Cannon. Of course your personal life is your own business.”

Cannon grunted and started to read.

“Do you think you could get her to work with the Reapers for a fundraiser? I know we could easily net a million…” her eyes lit up. “I think I might just have the best idea.”

“I can ask her. Cannon might be able to help me out there since she thinks we work together.” Or I could just come clean and tell her the truth.

“We do work together, asshole,” Cannon muttered as he flipped a page.

“She doesn’t know he’s a Reaper either?” Sephie asked, arching a delicate eyebrow.

“I’m in deep.”

“Apparently.” She sighed lightly. “Okay. Why don’t you make an appointment with your librarian—”

“Delaney,” I offered.

“Delaney,” she said with a smile. “Well, let’s all go see her once we’re back in Charleston and make that woman some money.” She unbuckled her belt and rose.

“You don’t have to do this. I know how busy you are,” I told her.

She waved me off. “Shush. It’s literally my job to give money away to nonprofits, and the library is a fabulous cause. I mean, imagine—without it we might actually have to endure multiple word sentences from Cannon.”

His fingers flexed on his book, but that was his only reaction.

“Well, thank you. What’s your idea, anyway?” I asked as she stepped into the aisle.

“Oh, well, how about we get Delaney on board and then I’ll tell you.” She smiled and waved her fingers at me as she headed back to her seat.

I looked over to find Cannon staring at me like he could see inside my brain.

“You have to tell her before she hears it from someone else. This isn’t some stupid fucking rom-com where you make a mad dash to the airport at the end and get the girl. I know Delaney well enough to know that once she’s realized you’ve lied, you’re fucked, and I don’t care what you say about omission. You have to tell her.”

“I know.” I swallowed as my head hit the back of the seat. Telling her was the right thing to do. She deserved to know who she was dating. Who she was sleeping with. And if she was just going to leave me because I was a hockey player, wasn’t it best that I know that now—before I fell even harder for her?

Five days later, I walked into the library with Cannon on my left and Sephie on my right. We’d decided on the flight back the day before yesterday that ambush was the best way to go.

Plus, after we’d won two out of three games against Nashville, I was feeling pretty lucky, so here we were.