Page 45 of Protecting You
“Rock climbing, hiking, fishing, skiing, boating.”
“Oh, gosh. You’re one of those people who love the outdoors.”
“You mean planet Earth? Guilty. As your fiancé, I’ll need to get you interested in the things I love. We can do them together.”
“Thank God this is all fake.”
He bumped her shoulder. “Aw, Paris, you’re gonna love rock climbing.”
“I think you should lose the nickname.”
By the utter delight in his eyes, he was about to come up with some excuse as to why he couldn’t or wouldn’t, but the door to their private oasis opened, and a woman stepped out. Her hair was in a ponytail, and her makeup was overdone, from the too-thick eyeliner to the too-red lipstick. She wore jeans and a sweatshirt and a jacket. And a wide smile.
What were the chances?
Alyssa stifled a groan as the woman homed in on her.
“I thought that was you!” She hurried across the space, arms open wide. “I saw you through the window, and even from behind, I could tell.”
Alyssa stood and stepped around the coffee table to hug her former schoolmate, wanting to pull away long before the intruder let her go.
Finally, she did, stepping back. “It’s so good to see you.” She glanced at Callan. “I’m in town for a conference. Don’t you live nearby? What are you doing at a hotel?”
“It’s a long story.” Alyssa said. “Frannie, this is?—”
“Caleb,” he supplied, sticking out his hand.
They were keeping up their ruse. “Frannie and I went to school together,” Alyssa explained. “She and Brooklyn were in the same class.”
He shook her hand, then slipped his arm around Alyssa’s waist. “Nice to meet you, Frannie. I’ve hardly met any of Alyssa’s friends from Shadow Cove. It’s a pleasure.”
The woman’s eyes popped wide. “Uh… Okay. Are you two, um…?” Her gaze flicked between them.
“We’re engaged.” He winked. “But it’s a secret. We haven’t told our families yet.”
What was he doing? They couldn’t tell Frannie their story.
Telephone, telegraph—tell Frannie.
Her eyes widened as she focused on Alyssa. “Brooklynn didn’t tell me you were seeing anyone.”
“I didn’t realize you and my sister kept in touch.”
“Oh, yeah. We talk a lot.”
Great. Seemed Frannie kept in better contact with Brooklynn than Alyssa did. “I haven’t told her or anyone about Caleb yet.”
“We’ve kept it on the down low,” Callan added. “I travel so much, and she’s always busy and I guess”—he squeezed her closer to him—“we just haven’t wanted to share each other.”
Frannie’s expression morphed from concerned to smitten. “Aw, that’s so sweet. I’m just positive Brooklynn will be thrilled when she hears.”
Callan leaned in. “Keep our secret for us, would you? I’m guessing she wouldn’t be thrilled to hear about it from you instead of from her own sister.” He shot Alyssa a thin smile. “I probably should’ve kept my mouth shut, but I’m so ready to start telling people. Aren’t you, Paris?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
“Paris?” The woman repeated the stupid nickname, looking between them. “Is that where you met?”
He laughed. “Just a little private joke.”
