Page 73 of Deceived Wrath

Zoe looks taken aback before her face breaks out into a huge smile. “You slept with him, didn’t you?”

There’s no point in trying to lie, not when my face has turned the color of a ripe tomato.

I pull apart my croissant and quickly shove a piece in my mouth to buy me some time.

“Oh my god, you did! Fiona Callahan, I don’t know whether to be impressed or disgusted.”

“Uh, thanks?” I say with a mouthful of pastry.

“Fi, what’s going on? This whole situation…quitting your job and now sleeping with your boss? This isn’t you.”

She’s right. It’s not. But right now, I need to pretend that it is because the alternative is coming clean about Lorcan. And that’s not an option.

“I already explained about the job.”

“Okay, so explain to me about the fact that you’re dropping your panties in the middle of the workday.”

“Zoe…” I glance around at the nearby customers.

Thankfully, everyone still seems too half-asleep to take any notice of our conversation.

“What? You said so yourself, you’re sleeping with the guy, and I’m guessing it’s not after a nice long romantic dinner at theRitz.”

“No…but?—”

“But what? Are you trying to gain something from this, is that it?”

I push my pastry away and glare at Zoe. “I thought you, of all people would be happy I’m getting out there.”

“Believe me, I am.”

“Tell that to your face.”

“Fi…”

“Don’tFime. I’ve listened to you tell me about all of your casual hookups, in excruciating detail, by the way, without judgment. And the second I tell you about mine, you act like I’ve committed a crime.”

“Because for you, youhave!”

For a beat, we just stare at each other until Zoe lets out an exhale and reaches across the table to push my croissant back toward me.

“I’m sorry,” she says.

“Are you giving me my own croissant as a peace offering?”

“Yes, but only because I know you don’t like banana bread.”

I roll my eyes but happily tear off a piece and pop it in my mouth.

“I’m just worried, that’s all. Guys like Cormac aren’t known for settling down.”

I think of the phone call I overheard and wonder if that’s true. Then again, he’s sleeping with me, so either he doesn’t have a girlfriend or he’s pretty lax about committing adultery.

My stomach sinks.

I really hope it’s the former. Because if it’s the latter, that would make me no better than Carly. And while I love my sister, I can’t forget how it feels to find out the guy you thought was the one was, in fact, sticking it in someone else on a regular basis.

I keep my gaze down. “What I have with Cormac is purely physical. It’s a way to blow off steam, that’s all.”