Of course she was right. He sighed, motioning with the bags for her to go first.
She opened the door and the cheers and cries of, “Surprise!” nearly bowled Ken over.
“Wow!” Dewi said, almost sounding surprised. “This is…wow!”
Ken followed her inside but, even as everyone swooped in to hug Dewi, Peyton stood to the side, smirking at Ken with the identical smirk his little sister had just given Ken in the garage.
He walked over to Ken and took one of the bags from him. “When’d she figure it out?”
“Just now, out in the garage,” Dewi said. “I smelled Asia and Gillian out there by the freezer when I passed.”
“Goddammit,” her sister-in-law grumbled. She turned and swatted Trent on the shoulder. “Told you she’d smell us.”
“So wedidactually make it to almost the minute the party happened before she figured it out?” Trent asked. “Excellent. I consider that a win and a job well done, my friend.” He offered Ken a fist-bump, which he returned.
“I’ll be right back,” Ken said. “Need to put these away.” He indicated their bags.
But Peyton insisted on following him upstairs with the other bag.
Once in the bedroom, Ken happily tucked his gun into the lock box in the closet. He was glad to be rid of it for a while.
“You did good,” Peyton said. “I’m impressed.”
“Sorry about her figuring it out. We were so close.”
“No, seriously. You did good.” He then held out a hand, and Ken realized it wasn’t to shake with him.
When he took Peyton’s hand, the wolf silently spoke to him.“I had an ulterior motive.”
Fear curled through Ken.“What?”
“Remember how you did this. How you kept it from her.”
“Why?”
“Because I heard a few more disquieting rumors. Not about Faegan Lewis.”
“That someone might try contacting the government?”Ken asked.
“Yeah. And I don’t necessarily want Dewi trying to run the info down. But there will be times I need to talk to you to pass messages to other Enforcers, or even go on assignments with them.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. And I won’t necessarily want Dewi knowing about it. Not all the details. Especially not while she’s pregnant.”
Ken swallowed hard.“Okay.”
Peyton gently squeezed his hand but offered him a smile.“Nothing dangerous, more that we’d need your tech skills.”Then he spoke aloud. “Again, good job. I’m impressed.”
Ken blinked as the realization hit him. “Youhonestlydidn’t think I would be able to keep it a secret from her, did you?”
Peyton patted him on the shoulder. “See? That right there is another reason why you’re perfect for Dewi. You’re brilliant, and quick on the uptake.” He dropped Ken a wink.
* * * *
Dewi wasn’t sure if she was happy or irritated about this development.
Although she supposed the two emotions weren’t necessarily mutually exclusive.
