"Well, I suppose I didn't say the actual words. I was working up to it."
Shifting Finn to his other arm, Burke shoved his hand through his hair and sighed. "You thought coming here and slinging accusations at my wife would gain my favor?"
Cheeks reddening, Anna darted a glance between us. "That's not what happened."
"Yes, it is," I said. “And this house is covered in surveillance cameras if we need proof of who’s lying.”
"All you've done, Anna, is dig a deeper hole. Good luck climbing out of it."
Turning his back on his sister, Burke put his arm around my waist and led me from the room. We were halfway up the stairs before we heard the sound of something breaking from behind us.
Burke dug his phone from his pocket and pushed a speed dial button. "Noah, what part of the house are you in?" He paused to hear the response. "Mrs. Keller is throwing a tantrum in the living room, and I need you to escort her from the premises."
He hung up the phone, slipping it back in his pocket and grasping my hand. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry for Anna's actions."
"It's not your fault, Burke."
"I'm afraid she's jealous and acting out."
I shrugged. "She admitted she's jealous of Finn. I told her she could see him whenever she wants, but I guess you're not willing to allow that."
"She needs to learn a lesson, Kinsley."
Knowing there was nothing I could say to change his mind, I continued by his side as we turned down the hallway. Warmed from the inside at his words, I wished I could properly thank my husband for supporting me against his nasty sister.
We entered the nursery, and Burke set Finn in the crib, smiling down at him. "Is it nap time, sweet boy?"
Finn yawned, and I smiled. "Looks like it."
The baby's eyes were drooping as we backed away and left the room. Wordlessly, Burke tugged on my hand to draw me into our bedroom.
"Anna has always been a sweet woman. I'm not sure what's gotten into her."
"Are you making excuses for her?"
Burke paced to the window and back, coming to a stop in front of me. "Absolutely not. I'm simply confused by her attitude. She and Ma were the sweet, polite, unassuming women in the family. Now, that seems to be impossible to find."
"I believe your mother is remorseful for her actions. Anna, on the other hand . . . I don't know what her deal is."
"I kept you a secret, Kinsley." Taking my face in his hands, he gazed into my eyes. "I didn't want to share you with anyone, and I knew if I told them about you there would be background checks and security guards, and lectures about how I was meant to marry a White."
"Looks like fate had other plans for us."
One side of his mouth curved up. "Apparently. Because of my secrecy, Anna thinks I'm ashamed of you and Finn. I've explained it was a need to protect you, not to hide you in embarrassment. Either she doesn't think I'm telling the truth, or she's more shaken up about me not getting together with her friend than I expected."
I rolled my eyes. "Her friend isn't a White, either, so it wouldn't have mattered. By the way, I told Anna to make sure Harper knows we have nonstop sex." I giggled at his shocked expression. "I know, it was a low blow."
"I think it's funny." Lowering his head, he kissed me softly. "Funny, but true."
Just as I wrapped my arms around him, there was a knock on the door.
"Fuck." Letting go of me, Burke stepped over to open the door.
It was Noah. "Ms. Lewis has arrived."
With everything happening, I forgot I'd asked her to come over. "Oops."
Burke bit back a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose and addressing Noah. "Show her to the dining room. We'll have lunch together."
