Catherine lowered her hands. Her face looked pale again, but not panicked the way it had when Isla first walked in. This was different. There was a quiet fear that came before doing something hard.
“We have to tell them,” she said.
I let out a slow breath. “Yeah, it’s the right thing to do.”
“Tonight,” she added.
I nodded. “Tonight.” There was no point in putting it off any longer. I couldn’t imagine not seeing Catherine anymore. Isla had seen me with my tongue down her throat. Talk about inconvenient.
Catherine’s eyes lifted to mine. “I should go.”
“No.”
She frowned. “Hunter.”
“We go together,” I said. I was not the kind of man to send the woman I cared about into the lion’s den on her own. I had to own up to what we had done even if it meant that Cole would want to have me traded.
Her eyes were bright again. “I’m scared.” I stepped closer. Her fingers curled into the front of my shirt, and I covered her hands with mine.
“I know,” I said quietly. “I’ll tell them my part. I’ll tell them I pursued this too. I’ll tell them this isn’t casual.”
For a second, I thought she might cry. Then she swallowed, nodded once, and let go of my shirt.
“What about Isla?”
Right.
My daughter was on the couch, holding lip gloss, emotionally managing two adults, and waiting for permission to text Mila the kind of news that could destroy my life.
“We need Taylor,” I said.
Catherine blinked. “Taylor?”
“She can sit with Isla.”
“After she just escaped this apartment?”
“She’s down the hall.” I shrugged.
I pulled out my phone and texted Taylor.
Me: I need an emergency sitter.
Her reply came immediately.
Taylor: Did Isla text Mila?
Me: Not yet. Can you come sit with Isla for a bit?
Taylor: Yes.
Three dots appeared.
Taylor: I’ll be there in two minutes. Don’t let the child near a phone.
Taylor knocked once and let herself in two minutes later, carrying her mug like she had prepared for war. “I’m here,” she said. “No one panic.” She walked into the living room and gave Isla a bright smile. “Okay, lip gloss expert. Show me what we’re working with.”
Isla picked up the tube immediately. “It’s clear but sparkly.”