She inhaled, forcing her body to stay still. “Why did you really come here?”
“I missed you.”
The words, so simple and clear, spoken without looking away, had a flicker of hope dancing inside her. “That’s it?”
“It’s everything.”
She swallowed a sigh. “Why did you fire me?”
He nodded in the direction of the thick file. “Because of what’s in there.”
Lowering the bottle to the counter, she traced her finger around the edge of the file. “An investigator compiled it.”
“Yes.”
“You thought I did it before you saw the report.”
He started shaking his head before she finished the sentence. “There were two investigations. The first one put you on a list of suspects then presented evidence and a report. The second one I hired. I don’t want to believe any of the accusations.”
“The second investigation backed up the first.”
“Yes. The first one targeted you without my knowledge. The second was specifically about you and to check on the findings of the first.”
So, the sting wasn’t meant for her. Well, that was at least something. Not much, but something. “What do the reports say?”
He frowned. “You don’t want to read them?”
Last thing in the world she wanted to do was read line after line of lies. He’d believed the contents, if even for a second, so he should spill it. “Tell me.”
He stared at her, quiet and still. When he started to talk, his voice came out as little more than a grumble. After clearing his throat, he tried again. “There was a large deposit into your bank account right after the draft bid report ended up in Tanner’s hands.”
A white-hot rage spilled through her, burning every inch. “You looked at my banking.”
The thought repelled her. It was such a violation, so awful. She couldn’t imagine Linc stepping that far over the line. Being that desperate.
“Everyone in the company was a suspect. We gave the first investigator a lot of leeway and told them to push ahead. Our bonding company insisted and we didn’t fight it. Apparently Nick and I were investigated too.” Linc continued his explanation in a flat voice, one devoid of emotion. “Because of your access to the information, the investigator checked your finances. Yours and Nick’s and a few others.”
She picked up the water bottle and slammed it down again. The only reason she dug her fingers into the counter was to keep from strangling him. “You didn’t ask, Linc. Is that even legal?”
He wiped his hand through his hair and fell back against the fridge. Glass clanked and the whole thing shook, but Linc didn’t seem to notice. “I didn’t know it was happening. That investigator got its direction from the bonding company. But I’m the boss, so I take responsibility.”
That didn’t give her much comfort. Something in her stomach jumped and churned.
“The money came from the insurance proceeds for my parents.” The words ripped out of her. They sounded desperate and awful in her head and even worse out in the open.
“I know.” Pain pulled at the corner of his eyes and mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
She held up a hand, warding off his sympathy. He wanted to hear it, fine. He could hear it all.
“I waited until the last day the check was good to cash it. Debated every day until I heard my father’s voice in my head telling me they had the insurance for a reason and I needed to use it.” She choked out a harsh laugh. “Good thing I have it now since I’m unemployed.”
Linc closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the blue was dull. “I would do anything to take that day back.”
When he took a step toward her, she kept that hand out until he stepped out again. “What else is there?”
His chest fell on a hard exhale. “You had access to the information, as I said. You were one of very few people. We also had you on video.”
Nick had said something like that. She had no idea what either of them was talking about. “Doing what?”
“Coming in after-hours and going into my computer and my personal safe.”
The words smacked into her and it was her turn to close her eyes. Those days replayed in her head and a weight pounded down on her. “Oh my God.”
“That’s the part I can’t make sense of. It was the night before the bid got leaked.”
No no no. She pressed a hand to her forehead. “My timing can’t be that terrible.”
“What does that even mean?”
Here she was blaming him and judging his actions, but this one was on her. She did this. She had to own it. “Linc, you have to believe me. It had nothing to do with work.”
He didn’t balk. “Okay.”
She took a deep breath and admitted her sin in all of this. The one thing she actually did wrong and should pay for. “Gwendolyn.”
His eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”
“Your girlfriend.”
“What are you talking about?”
Thea hated talking about this. Hated thinking about those days and her desperation.
“She meant something to you. You gave her your private cell number and she wrote you notes.” Thea looked all over the house then forced her gaze back to his. He deserved eye contact as she gave him the truth. “I went into your safe and email because of her.”
“Why did you care about Gwendolyn?” The man looked genuinely confused. “You and I weren’t together yet.”
And here Thea thought she’d been so obvious. She’d watched him, spent time with him. The first chance she got, she slept with him. Did he really not get it? “You can’t be this clueless.”
He threw up his hands. “Looks like I can.”
He was going to make her say it. She had to stand in front of him and bare it all. Forget being naked, this was the ultimate in vulnerability.
She debated giving him the words. She’d barely come to terms with them herself. But there were so many secrets and they’d taken so many wrong turns. And now they had a baby that would bind them together forever.
The least she could do was take the first step. “Because I was in love with you. I was sick with jealousy and thinking I had to quit because the idea of seeing you date her and bring her around the office made me heave.”
“Was?” The blank expression didn’t change but his voice held new life.
That didn’t make any sense. “What?”
A smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. “You were in love with me?”
“You wouldn’t be standing here if it was past tense.” When he put his hands on her waist she tried to slap them away. “No, don’t touch me.”
He pulled her in until their bodies touched. “I am definitely going to touch you.”
She shook her head. “Linc.”
“Gwendolyn was a stalker.”
Thea froze. Stuck right to the spot. “You said…wait, what?”
“She got my private phone number during a date. I think she took it while off my cell while I was in the bathroom or something because I didn’t give it to her or call her on it. She also got Nick’s number and called him incessantly asking for information about me.”
That little… “Are you kidding?”
“The main reception desk had specific orders to block her calls. That’s why you didn’t get any at work. Gwendolyn called all manic and out of control. I kept the notes in case I needed them for the police.”
Thea shoved at his hold. She wanted to get her phone and track this woman down. “Where is this psycho now?”
“Not near me. Nick talked to her brother. It was all handled quietly.”
Not good enough. Thea wanted to know where this woman was and warn her way from Linc.
She also wanted to shake Linc. One more secret led to one more misunderstanding. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to talk with you about other women.”
“Why?”
He closed both eyes. Just stood there holding her in the quiet. She thought he’d ignore the question until his eyes popped open again.
His hand pressed against her low back. “Because I love you too.”
A spinning started in her stomach and took over her whole body. “Don’t say that unless—”
“Thea, look at me.” He held her chin and traced his thumb over her bottom lip. “Why do you think I decided I didn’t care about the bid or if you stole it?”
“Linc, we need to—”
He kissed her. Long and deep and full of promise. When he lifted his head again, his eyes lit with life and more than a little mischief. “Go back to bed.”
Chapter Fifteen
Thea woke the next morning with the distinct feeling they hadn’t settled anything. She now understood why Linc believed the charges, even for a second. The evidence piled up and looked damning. It could all be explained away and would have been if he’d given her a second. Even with the admissions of love, the part where he’d refused to listen still hurt her.
But she wasn’t giving up. He loved her and she loved him. They had a mess but they also had a family on the way. They needed time together, talking and relaxing, and she decided to give it to them. She’d even enlisted Nick’s help to keep Tim and Becky away all day yesterday, but Becky kept texting. At some point, Thea knew the outside world would intrude and she’d have to face it.