Page 81 of Let Me Love You

The words don’t feel right. I’m lying to her, but I don’t know what’s going on, so it isn’t intentional. I click Victor’s contact and try him again. But after listening to it ring and ring, it goes to voice mail once more.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll see him tomorrow,” I say, helping her lay back down.

I stand, but before I can take a step, Summer says, “Wait.” She climbs out of bed and pads over to the nightstand. “I drew him a picture.”

“It’s okay. You can give it to him tomorrow.”

She shakes her head, her ringlets moving with the motion. “If he comes back tonight, I want him to have it. Please, Mommy.”

I accept the piece of paper, and when I look down, my heart plunges. “Is that you and Victor?”

She beams at me. “Yes, and we’re holding hands, walking around the parade.”

I search her picture for me, but there’s only the two of them. And I can’t help but wonder if she’s replacing me with him. “Why aren’t I in the drawing?”

“You’re the one taking the picture of us,” she says in the most serious tone I’ve ever heard from her. “I can’t wait to be in the parade. It’s going to be the most exciting day of my life.”

I can’t stop the laugh that bubbles out. I suppose in the four years she’s been alive, that might be the most exciting thing to happen to her. “Okay, dear, get back in bed, and I’ll give this to Victor if I see him before you.”

Summer wraps her little arms around me. “Thank you, Mommy.”

She climbs back into bed without complaint, happy I agreed. I tuck her in all over again and give her a quick kiss on the forehead before turning off the light. “Good night.”

Heading down the hallway, I stop at Victor’s door. I wish I could close my eyes and when I reopen them, he’d be inside. I shake my head. He’s only going to be gone for one day. Why am I acting like he’s gone for good?

Maybe because one day Paul left the house and never came back.

After Paul, I learned to never dismiss something that just isn’t right.

I push into Victor’s office and turn on his light. The room is spotless. A jacket hangs on his chair, and that’s the only sign that someone is staying in here. I head over to his desk. It will be a nice little surprise for him to come back and find this drawing. For a four-year-old, it’s really well drawn. I’m not just saying that because I’m her mother either.

Placing the drawing on his desk, I’m about to pull away when something catches my eye. A piece of paper with Paul Nolan typed across it. Why would Victor have this? I scan more of the page, and my jaw drops.

Every detail of Paul’s life is listed here. Including all of his debts, who he owed money to, and the year. Below is—my stomach bottoms out—his mistress’s name and how much money he funneled to her. From my money since Paul lost his job. For how long, though? I scan a little farther down and find my answer: he was unemployed for six months before his death.

I flip over the page, and my name is on the top. Every little thing about me is listed here. My career and how long I worked for the hospital. My condo and how much I owe. How backed up I am on the property taxes. Answer to that: a fuck ton. He even found how much I paid for my Jeep and when I paid it off—years before all this debt landed on my shoulders.

How long has Victor been looking into my life? If he wanted to know how much I owed, I’d tell him. All of that was part of the reason for our bargain anyway. I never once hid anything from him. Maybe I didn’t go into every detail about Paul at first, but who would want to?

I go back to Paul’s page. Victor knew all of this and didn’t tell me. I should’ve known everything my pathetic, late husband did. I deserve to know the truth.

I have no coherent thoughts. I fucking knew Victor was too good to be true. If he withheld this information, I can only wonder what else he kept from me. I started to allow myself to believe he was good because he was so gentle and great with Summer. Because he helped me with an investigation and included me.

But now that I think about it, he might’ve used her to get to me. Why, though? He didn’t need to make me fall for him when I already agreed to the contract. Or maybe he’s trying to scam me out of the agreement. He thinks if I fall for him, I’ll rip up the contract and do everything he agreed to pay me for, and more, for less.

The thought of his lips on me—him inside of me—sends a chill down my spine.

I keep the picture Summer drew for Victor, deciding to put it on the kitchen table instead. That way he won’t know I’m on to him. But first, I need to figure out what’s going on and how to safeguard my heart.

I won’t let a second man trick me.

Chapter 36

Victor

I’ve been back in Granite Falls for two days after my meeting with Matt’s guy. Luckily, I got the information I needed and was able to pull my guy out.

The debt Serenity thought she had paid off isn’t done. It’s been years since Paul took out the loan, so they tacked on about another five hundred grand in interest. I’ve tried to tell Serenity countless times, but she’s avoided me. It’s almost like while I was gone, we went back to square one all over again.