Her Silent Revenge novel Chapter 101

"What about Arlo?"

"What about him? We do this one bite at a time. Introducing you as my girlfriend now will be a whole lot easier than digesting the whole truth at once. Trust me."

The anxious knot in my belly tries to climb up and spout more silly questions, but I choke it back down.

This is Patton's family. He knows them better than I do, no argument. "Okay," I say.

"Remember when you told me about Arlo? We'll ease into it." "I know, I know. I trust you."

And I do.

He kisses me one last time for good measure, then slides past me off the bed.

"Speaking of Arlo, we better see what he's up to," he says, glancing back at me with a hint of that wicked smile he saves just for me. "Damn, woman. From the way you're acting, I might think you've never met a man's folks before."

Deep breath. "I haven't."

He stops midway through finding a shirt from his huge walk-in closet.

"Ah." The material slips through his fingers as he turns back to me. "Ever?"

"I never had a serious boyfriend before you came along. Then with a newborn it was impossible, and after he got older, I was focused on my career, so yeah." I shrug, hating the crawling, itchy shame that comes with this confession. "This is it. My first time."

"God, Salem. I didn't mean—"

"You didn't think?" I quirk an eyebrow, daring him to smile. "My dating history isn't very long. Or complicated."

There's another loud thud. Arlo!

I swing into action, throwing on a robe over the t-shirt I wore to bed.

"I'd better go see what he's up to," I say ruefully. "Just in case he's out of his room, destroying your house."

"It's a big place. He'd have a hard time ruining it." "Don't say that to his face. He loves a challenge."

Patton smiles, but it partly fades as he walks with me. "Hey, Salem? Thanks for trusting me."

He could be a morning god, standing there in a shirt open at the collar, his hair still mussed from sleep. His eyes have that sleepy, sharp look he specializes in.

I don't know how it happened, but I've placed all my trust in this man. A smile curls my lips.

An answering smile lights in his eyes.

Thankfully, there's no disaster waiting down the hall, just Arlo dumping his backpack out, trying to find his tablet.

We're not expected at the Rory estate until dinner, so we spend the day together.

Snorting, I drop my hand and reach for my makeup.

Thirty feels like it's coming fast, but it's not a death sentence. If I haven't made it yet, that's not a crime.

I haven't failed.

I have my crap together and I have a wonderful son.

Except, there's still this burning need inside me for more. Patton fulfills that need beyond my wildest dreams, but I don't just want to be a rich man's arm candy, assuming he's crazy enough to stick around.

At least the makeup brightens my face.

I brush my eyebrows into shape, cover the mole, then apply eyeshadow that brings out the gold in my eyes.

There.

Now I feel prettier with my flaws smoothed out. I curl my hair and leave it hanging loose over my shoulders, wishing I could leave my brain hanging too.

It's just his family.

Just his filthy rich mother and two driven brothers who eat ambition for lunch.