“You scared me!” I said with a nervous laugh. “Did you need something?”

He didn’t return my smile. Instead, Gavin stared at me with unnerving intensity.

“Who were you talking to?”

“Just a…why do you ask?”

Diversion. Finding out exactly what he heard mattered more than risking his suspicion.

And Gavin was most definitely suspicious.

“The person who called you earlier? The one you didn’t want to talk to in front of me?”

Damn. Double-damn.

I wouldn’t have assumed Gavin was jealous but it was hard not to think it when he asked in that particular way.

“Yes and no. Yes, it was the same person, but no, I didn’t answer because I didn’t want it to interrupt my lunch with you.”

“Why did you come down here to make your call?”

“Because I didn’t want to be seen taking a personal call.” Flimsy excuse at best.

“Who was it, Paige?”

“My father.” Fuck me but I didn’t want to tell him that. I rushed and said, “I’m sorry to do this but I have to leave.”

“For the day?”

“For the next day or so.”

Gavin’s brows snapped together in a hard frown. “Paige, I need you here.”

“I know. I’m really sorry.”

“I can’t allow that time off. You still have two days left.”

I hated this so much. I wished I had the courage to tell my father to go to hell. If so, then Gavin wouldn’t be looking at me with such suspicion and wariness.

“I understand, but I’m afraid I can’t stay. This is an emergency.”

“What kind? Family? That’s why your father called?”

“Family and yes.”

Please don’t pry. Please don’t pry.

“What’s wrong?”

The best lies were those wrapped in truth. I hated that I’d see how well it worked with Gavin.

“It’s my stepmother. She’s really not…she isn’t exactly healthy and wants me to come down.”

Gavin’s frown dropped away along with his suspicion. He put his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry to hear that, love. Is she sick?”

I could tell by his tone he didn’t mean sick in a common cold kind of way but rather something more serious.

“You could say that. It’s complicated.”

The sweet and kind man I manipulated followed my lead.

“I get it. You should go. I can handle things here.”

“Thank you.”

I’d make it up to him. I’d shower him with so much attention and devotion when I got back he’d get sick of me.

Gavin cupped my cheek. His eyes darkened with concern. “Is there something you’re not telling me, Paige?”

My stomach felt like it plopped out of my body and skidded away. Something must’ve shown in my face. Lightheaded, I licked my lips.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re so pale.”

“Oh.” I smiled weakly. “I’m just worried about going home. I just hope everything turns out okay.”

“It will.”

If only I could be as confident as him.

I could pretend. I could do anything as long as it meant Gavin didn’t find out my ugly truth.

Nuzzling his palm with my cheek, I said, “I’m sure it will—but only because you said so.”

“Do you think you can be back by Friday?”

“I’ll try.”

“Good. The staff is throwing you a party. I’d hate for you to miss it.”

How nice! I didn’t expect it considering I was just a temp.

“Was it supposed to be a surprise?”

“Yes.”

“You shouldn’t have told me that then.”

Gavin leaned in close until his forehead bumped mine. “I told you to make sure you come back.”

I guess he wasn’t above laying down his own lead. At least he was honest enough about it.

“I’ll do everything I can to be here. I swear.”

“All right. Can you finish out the day or do you need to go now?”

I didn’t want to leave ever. I wanted to push it off as much as possible. But if I had any chance of getting back by Friday then it was best if I left immediately.

“Honestly, now would work better. I really want to be back as soon as I can, Gavin. I hope you know that.”

He pulled me in for a hard hug. I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed back.

“Since we’re confessing things I want you to know I’m going to miss you, Paige. Seeing you is the favorite part of my day.”

“Me too. I’m going to miss you so much.”

“Aww, you sound so sad.” Gavin leaned far enough away to kiss my forehead. “It’s okay, love. Family is important. You need to be there for your stepmom.”

“You’re such a nice man.”

“Nice? That sounds boring.”

I shook my head vehemently. “It’s anything but. I love you being nice. I wouldn’t change a thing about you, Gavin. Honest.”

“Paige, you don’t have to butter me up,” he grumbled. “I said you could go.”

He didn’t understand but that was okay.

“Thank you for this, Gavin. Really.”

“Think nothing of it. You’re going to California, right?”

“Yes.”

Gavin paused and then cleared his throat. “You can use my plane. If you want.”

I was falling way too fast for him because he was so kind to me. I didn’t want to get attached to this wonderful man, but it was getting harder each minute I spent with him. Especially when he did things like this.

“Thank you, but my ticket is already booked.”

“Ah, I see. Maybe then on the way back?”

I’d much rather fly in his plane than my father’s. It wasn’t going to happen because it’d raise too many questions.

“Maybe.”

“So that’s a no. You’re a frustrating little thing, aren’t you? One day you’re going to let me take care of you.”

Gavin hugged me again before letting go. I missed him already and barely resisted the urge to tug him to me again.

“I’m glad we at least got some lunch together.”

“Me too. I guess you should get going, love, so you can hurry back to me.”

“I should.” I really didn’t want to. I wanted to stop time so I could just stay here with Gavin.

“Call me when you get to California.”

“Okay.”

“Be safe.”

“I will.”

We looked at each other, clearly not wanting to be the first to leave. Abruptly, Gavin admitted, “I suck at saying goodbye, Paige. I’m going to walk away now, okay?”

“Sure.”

He kissed me quickly and then turned around. His fast clip echoed until I heard the stairwell door clang shut.

My smile died as soon as that happened. I’d lied on some level to everyone I ever met. It didn’t bother me that much until Gavin. This was yet another time I really wished I could be honest.

If so I’d tell him everything.

I’d tell him about how I didn’t mean for this to go so far. I’d tell him that I really just wanted him as a friend and made the rookie mistake of wanting more. I’d tell him I’d never been happier than I’d been these last weeks.

I’d ask Gavin to protect me and help me get out from beneath my father’s thumb.

No. This is my burden, never to be shared with anyone else.

There were very few things I held sacred in life and that promise was one of them. My family problems were mine. No one else’s.

Okay. I knew what came next. I just needed to survive it and then I’d be free to wing my way back to Gavin.

For however long I still had him.