Page 100 of Love In Hiding

Paris glanced at her again. “What did you hear?”

“That Noelle figured out who you two are.”

“Oh,” she said. “Not that we wanted that, but we knew it wouldn’t stay secret forever.”

“No,” Nelson said. “But she wascomplainingabout you.”

“I can’t believe Noelle is still holding onto the fact that I told her to stay in her lane weeks ago.”

“That came up,” Nelson said. “Good for you, she needsit. I don’t like the way she talked to Kenzie, but she’s dialed it all back. She wasn’t thrilled she was put under Spencer, but from what I heard things were fine.”

“Then why are you here winding up London?” Paris asked.

Nelson grinned. “Sorry. Don’t mean to be. More like watch your back. She’s pissed that she thinks you’ve got a chip on your shoulder and can do and say what you want because of who you are.”

Her lips sucked against her teeth, her tongue aching from holding back the urge to say what she was really thinking.

“That’s not true for us any more than it is for you,” she managed, her voice flat.

“I know that,” Nelson said. “Most people do.”

“But not all?” Paris asked, her tone sharper.

Nelson gave a half-shrug. “Just a heads-up that Noelle knows. And she’s the type who likes to get her digs in. Petty, dramatic, and not above stirring shit or pretending someone else started it.”

“I know,” she said, her jaw tight. “I’ve seen it.”

“Then watch your back,” Nelson continued. “I’ve seen her flirting with Spencer. As if she’s trying to get his ear or get him to lean into her ways more.”

Her fists clenched so hard her nails dug into her palms. She forced her expression to remain neutral, like none of this bothered her. Like hearing that wasn’t setting off warning bells and something disturbingly close to jealousy.

Noelle stirring the pot was one thing.

Noelle hitting onher man—the man she wasn’t even sure she had a right to claim—was another.

Just one more reason to tell Spencer she wasn’t working with Noelle anymore. Period.

Petty or not, it might be time to put her foot down.

“I’d like to think he knows what Noelle is doing,” she said, her voice coming out hoarse and barely controlled.

“He does,” Nelson said. “He’s not stupid. And he’s a good guy. Seriously, don’t take it to heart. Everyone knows what Noelle is like. Spencer won’t buy it. Just… stay aware when she’s hovering when you’re on the floor.”

“Got it,” she said.

“I’ll reach out with a time to meet.” He dipped his head and walked away.

She shut her office door before Paris even spoke.

“Get it out. Let it out,” Paris said.

“If I scream as loud as I want to, Molly’s going to think you’re murdering me in here and then you’ll lose your new favorite.”

Paris huffed. “I’m honestly not sure what you’re more pissed about. Noelle knowing who we are, her trashing you, or flirting with Spencer. Iwantto say it’s the last one, but that doesn’t sound like the sister I know.”

“The first two,” she said immediately.

Paris just raised an eyebrow. “Don’t lie. The last one is at least tied.”