Page 152 of Theirs to Tempt: The Marriage Claim

Caleb studies me for several long seconds. “That sounds remarkably like we’re still deciding what she can handle.”

I clamp my jaw.

I’m not withholding the truth. I’m controlling the order in which she receives it.

Between us, Sophie moves, yawning and stretching a little. There’s also a smile on her face, and I intend to keep it there as long as possible.

She looks between the two of us, and obviously sensing something is wrong, she pushes herself up, dragging the sheet with her. “Lucian?”

“Voss contacted me.”

Her expression changes instantly. “Why?”

“About the archive.”

Caleb looks at me.

I ignore him.

Sophie tucks the sheet beneath her arms. “What about it?”

I choose my words carefully.

“He apparently feels we should examine what we won sooner rather than later.”

Her eyes narrow.

“What exactly did he say?”

There it is.

The question I knew was coming.

The easiest thing in the world would be to turn the phone around and let her read it.

Instead, I set it face down on the nightstand. “He was being Voss.”

“That isn’t an answer.”

Her gaze shifts to Caleb.

He doesn’t rescue either of us.

“What does being Voss mean?”

“Vindictive. Smug. Deliberately provocative.”

“All right.” She watches me for another second. “And what did he say?”

Carefully I choose my words. “He implied the contents might be more interesting than we expect.”

Not technically a lie.

Caleb’s silence becomes oppressive.

With a tiny frown, Sophie moves her attention to Caleb and then back to me.

She’s confused but not suspicious.