Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #7)(12)

“Thanks for dinner, Brayden.”

“It was my pleasure, Cat.”

“I can’t invite you up tonight.”

“But you want to?”

“I don’t know. I can’t just forget what you did.”

“I really am sorry for scaring you. And hurting you.”

“But you’re not going to stop, are you? Even though you promised Reina, and you act like you like me.”

“I do like you, but I need that information.”

“Goodnight.”

“Darcy.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I want to say more, or pull her back into my arms, but I can’t. I have to watch her walk away from me, knowing that she’s someone I would want to really be engaged to and marry. If circumstances were different, I would move heaven and earth to make that happen. Unfortunately, I have to save all of my energy for pulling that secret from her while trying not to destroy her. I can’t promise that, though. Not at all.





Chapter 5


Darcy

I’m back in one of my “costumes” as I head to the airport to meet Brayden. Well, Brayden and the thirty other people we’re traveling to Cyndryann with. I’m thankful again that this isn’t a real engagement, because I seriously couldn’t handle all these people around me for the rest of my life. I love the other Society girls—and of course my boys Nate, Aiden, and Matt—but that’s about all I can handle. I grew up in a close-knit family, but I was a lone wolf for the three years before I joined the Society, and old habits die hard.

I get out of the car and head up the steps of the small plane, as my many bags are loaded up. I’m still not completely comfortable with Brayden, but I’ve spent the last two days with him and his mother going over the list of things I need to feel safe. Brayden agreed to everything, but his mother didn’t. Well, not at first. Once she thought I would walk—which I couldn’t, but she didn’t need to know that—she gave in.

“Darcy, there you are.”

“Yes, Your Highness, here I am. Where else would I possibly be?”

Her smile slips, but only slightly. She is, after all, a queen. “Please have a seat wherever you’d like.”

I look around and take in my options. My first instinct is to move to the back of the plane with the staff, but I know I can’t. It’s my second choice that scares me a little, but I go with it. Brayden looks up in surprise—and more than a little annoyance—as I settle onto the couch with him. Feeling stupid for sitting next to him, I start to stand up, when he places his hand on my arm.

“Don’t go.”

“You don’t seem to want me next to you.”

“I want you too much. That’s part of the problem.”

“I’m having the same problem.”

“Maybe we should just give in.”

“Maybe.”

I let him take my hand as we smile at each other. I know getting involved with him is a horrible idea, but I’m more drawn to him than I have ever been to anyone else. When he leans into me, I ignore my brain and move towards him as well. Our lips are less than an inch away when we’re interrupted.

“That’s my seat,” Noah says with more than a little anger in his voice.

“Find another one,” Brayden tells him, never taking his eyes from mine.

“Really? So that’s how it is? You don’t have enough chicks to choose from?”

“Watch it, Noah.”

“I’ve been watching ‘it’—you—for years now. You use the girls who want to f*ck a prince, and then cast them aside.”

“Are you f*cking kidding me? You’re going to say that in front of the girl I’m trying to kiss? Whose side are you on?”

“Mine.”

I see the hurt mixing with the anger in Noah’s eyes, and it nearly does me in. I won’t come between him and his best friend. “I’ll move.”

“What? No.”

“Yes. He’s your best friend, Brayden. It’s just one plane ride.”

“I get a rain check, though, right?”

“Maybe.”

“Thank you.”

I smile in response, and stand up. Noah is glaring at me, but I ignore him. I understand that he’s worried—and protective of his friend. I won’t engage him. At least not right now.

I choose an empty window seat and spend the short flight responding to emails from my team back at the Corrigan & Co. Foundation. They’re working on a few projects with local women and have been doing a great job while I’ve been gone. I never thought I’d be someone’s boss, but it’s not as scary as I thought. Probably because we’re doing important things—helping women who really want to help themselves, but haven’t been given the chance they needed to make it happen. I’m proud to be part of an organization that works to empower and teach, rather than just trying to put a temporary band aid on the problem.

I’m given five minutes when we land to touch up my hair and makeup. Once the plane door opens, I can hear the cheering. I panic for a moment, but then Brayden has his hand in mine again, and I feel a little better. He starts whispering ridiculous things in my ear, and I can’t help but smile.