Page 113 of Love In Hiding

“Thereis no upper handhere,” he bit out, shoving his shirt off his shoulders. “He made a business decision.Whatever his reasons were, he probably thought he was doing me a favor.”

She laughed out a sharp, disbelieving sound. “Oh,bullshit.Do you actually believe that? Are you that delusional?”

He froze mid-movement, then slowly turned to face her. “I don’t know why you’re getting so worked up about something that happened before we even knew each other. Unless you think there’s more to it.”

“Nope,” she shot back. “I believed what you told me. One hundred percent. But I also believe you never stood up for yourself.”

Of all the things she could have said, that was the one that detonated him.

“I stand up for myself all the time,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, foreign to his ears because he rarely used it. “But I do itmy way.People like Ryker get off on provoking a reaction. Everyone knows that. The best move is to not give him what he wants. But you”—he stabbed a finger in her direction—“walked right into his trap. And worse, dragged me in with you.”

She flinched like he’d slapped her.

“I dragged you down?” she said, her voice gone thin. “I’m an embarrassment to you. Just say it. That’s what you mean.”

“London—”

“No,” she cut in, her eyes blazing fire ready to light his ass up. “Say it.”

She just couldn’t control herself. She had to push and push.

“You don’t know when to keep your mouth closed,” he snapped before he could stop himself. “It’s my life, not yours. And I’m positive Ryker already knew I was workingfor West. Long before tonight. He would have made it his mission to find me the week I left.”

“Then what’s the big deal?” she demanded.

“You’re making it one.”

“Fuck that.” She shoved her hair back with a shaking hand. “Be honest with me if you can’t be honest with yourself. You didn’t like when Ryker brought up our relationship. That’s what set you off. I saw it. Ifeltit. I know you better than you want to admit.”

“You must not know me well enough if that’s how you act in public around me or in a situation that doesn’t concern you,” he snarled.

Her eyes went wide. Tears gathered instantly. She blinked them back hard and her shoulders stiffened.

He knew he’d crossed a line. And because he was already hurt, already angry, he let the worst version of himself keep talking. He lost the control he prided himself on and lectured her about.

“I know you better than you think,” she whispered fiercely. “I know you’re scared.”

“Scared?” he snapped. “Of what?”

“Ofus,Spencer.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. “You have insecurities about your job just like I do. And now add our relationship. Things were going well. I stand up for the man I love and suddenly I’m the fucking villain?”

His pulse stopped. Actuallystopped.

“What did you say?” he said, his voice barely there.

“You heard me!” she shouted. “But sure, act like you know everything. Guess you’re not as smart as you think.”

She spun on her heel, stomping toward the shoes she’d kicked off earlier.

“Where are you going?”

“Home. Away from you until you can calm down.”

“I’m the calm one,” he said, throwing his arms wide. “You’re the one who can’t control yourself.”

Her whole body shook. Her nose twitching, fists clenched, jaw tight. As if there was an internal vibration ready to shoot out of her fingertips.

“Feeling things isn’t a flaw, Spencer. Letting it out is better than pretending you felt nothing at all. Maybe if you let yourselffeelfor once, you’d understand that.”