Page 81 of A Simple Love

I shook my head as I reread the horrible lies.

It was already out there. And there was nothing I could do to make it go away.

Kassie was horrified at the article. “Oliver, it’s all lies! None of it is real.” She flicked her finger at the screen. “Well, we are, but that’s beside the point.”

Somehow, her words comforted me.

She leaned near the monitor. “How the hell close was he to get that picture?”

“Zoom,” I replied. “I think he was on the other side of the cedars. Probably on a ladder to see over your fence.”

“That’s an invasion of privacy!”

“Something he doesn’t care about. He has no morals. None.”

“Thank God he didn’t get a nude shot.”

She was remarkably calm.

I tugged on the back of my neck. “I’m sorry. I had no idea this would happen or you’d get dragged⁠—”

She cut me off. “Stop it. This isn’t you.”

“But now you’re stuck. Associated with me.”

She leaned on the table, crossing her arms and regarding me. “So, some asshole tells the world that the hottest man on the planet is having sex with me, and I’m supposed to… What? Be upset? Offended?” She tapped the screen. “I mean, I don’t like my private life out there, but I know for a fact that every woman in this town alone will give me a high five for hitting that.”

I felt my lips quirk. “Stop it. If we don’t nip this, he’ll find out everything. Our past, if he digs hard enough.”

She pushed off the table, heading to the coffeemaker and slipping in a pod. “Good God, Olly. Everyone here knows our history. They know my legal history. I don’t give a shit what some stranger in another city thinks of me. Or of us.” She pulled the cup away, taking a sip. I didn’t mention the coffee was still dispensing into the empty drip tray or that she had neglected to add cream. “Use your people. Nip it. Surely your name and the she-devil you call Annie have more clout than a small-time rag reporter. Use Davis. Your costars. Crush him and walk away.”

I blinked in surprise and delight. She was sexy as hell when she was fierce.

She crossed the room, standing in front of me. “And destroy that bitch Sheri. She thinks she can attack my man and walk away? Ha. Let me at her.” Then she shoved the mug into my chest. “And that shit is awful. I need a real cup of coffee.”

I glanced behind her, noticing the small river of steaming coffee dripping over the counter and running to the floor. Wisely, I kept my mouth shut about that. She was acting tough and brave, but she was upset. Aside from the weird coffee thing, she was cursing a lot. Kassie rarely swore. But I did like the words “my man” falling from her lips.

“Davis has already texted. He’s picking me up.”

“Okay. I’m going to bake pies. I need to roll some dough.”

I pulled her close, fighting down the words that wanted to escape. The feelings that hearing her defend me, refuse to back down, or show me how upsetting this was to her, evoked in me.

I love you was right there.

But it wasn’t the time or the place, and I knew she didn’t want to hear it.

“Thank you.”

“Thank me later. Go be Godzilla and destroy it all.”

I kissed her hard. “Done.”

21

OLIVER

Davis was all business when he picked me up. “I’ve been on the phone with legal, PR, and the reporter I spoke with last night. We’re getting ahead of this shit.”