Dirty Little Secrets (Dirty Little #1)(58)

“Hey Caleb,” Ben says, as he slides up to the edge of his seat. “Did you get the invite for that architectural society thing?”


“Which thing?”

“The benefit to raise money to preserve that old building?” Ben replies.

“How specific,” I tease.

“I don’t know,” Caleb says, flipping a steak. “I’ll check with my secretary. Why?”

“It’s because Marisa Blake is on the board,” Oliver replies.

Ben purses his lips together, looking a little…shamed? Bashful? I can’t quite place it. Oliver is grinning like a fool, and Caleb looks incredibly interested in this development. “Even after the thing with her parents?”

“Yep,” Oliver replies. “I think they’re keeping her on to avoid a drawing attention to her. That thing with her parents isn’t her fault, you know? And if they drop her, it’ll be a thing.”

“Who’s Marisa Blake? And what did her parents do?” I ask.

“Marisa Blake is Ben’s one that got away. And her parents embezzled a shitload of money,” Oliver explains.

“Marisa Blake, huh?” Caleb says. “Are you asking if I’ll be your wingman, or…”

“He needs someone to be a buffer so she doesn’t punch him in the face the second she sees him,” Oliver says, laughing.

“What happened?” I ask.

Ben rubs at the back of his neck. “She was my girlfriend during an…immature phase in my life.”

Caleb laughs. “That’s one way of putting it.”

“Like we didn’t all have one?” Ben asks defensively. Caleb and Oliver have the decency to look a little ashamed. “I…I didn’t treat her very well. I was too stupid to know what I had then.”

“He cheated on her.” The expression on Caleb’s face tells me that he did not approve, and even though I know he would never, ever do that to me, the fact that he’s so openly disdainful of it brings me comfort. “A lot.”

“Ben. Ew.” That’s the only thing I can manage.

“I know, I know. I’ve regretted it ever since. She was smart, and capable, and beautiful,” he says, with a wistful look in his eyes.

“And she was really good to you,” Oliver reminds him.

“That too.”

“You want to see her at this benefit?” I ask. “Make things right?”

Ben blows out a long, steady breath. “I’d like to try. We were always really…passionate. Fiery.”

Oliver raises a brow, then brings his beer up to his lips. “That’s one way of putting it.”

“We get together, and it’s like…all sense goes out the window. And then reality sets in. It’s…difficult. But that was my fault, for not being ready for her when she was ready for me.”

“You should at least apologize to her,” I tell him.

Ben scoffs at me.

“What?” I ask.

“I need to do more than that,” he says.

“Obviously. But it starts with an apology. I mean, if you’re sorry, apologize. The rest comes after that.”

Oliver leans over the arm of the sofa. “Are you paying attention to this, Caleb?”

Caleb turns toward us, and taps his forehead with the handle of the tongs he’s holding. “Got it.”

I lean forward, hoping Ben will take my advice. “Apologize to her, and see what happens. You’re never going to get what you want unless you’re willing to go after it,” I tell him, giving a pointed look to Oliver while I’m at it. Out of the two of them, I think Oliver’s the one who needs to take that advice to heart the most.

“I’m still going to need a buffer.”

“Or ten,” Oliver teases.

“Caleb and I will go,” I tell Ben. When Caleb shoots me a questioning look over his shoulders, I smile at him, imploring him to agree.

“Okay,” Caleb says. “We’ll go.”





* * * * *





“Why do you have that dopey smile on your face?” I ask, bumping my hip against Caleb’s as he hands me a clean, wet plate to dry.

“I don’t have dopey smiles, okay?” he replies, with yet another dopey smile. He motions to his face, with suds dripping off of his fingers. “This face is incapable of looking dopey.”

“If you say so.” Even though he’s being petulant, I stretch up onto my tiptoes and give him a kiss.

“What was that for?”

“For not setting anything on fire,” I reply, teasing.

“I should not set anything on fire more often.”

“I think that’s a good plan.”

Caleb flicks some sudsy water at me. I let out an accidental squeal, then wipe my face on his shirt.

“Oh,” he says, laughing. “Now you’re in for it.”


Caleb tickles me with wet hands, his fingers trailing their way up my sides. I’m laughing, and squirming my way out of his grip, begging for mercy in no time. He lifts me up and sets me down on the countertop in front of him, settling himself between my legs before he plants his hands on either side of my hips, and leans down for a kiss.