These were Graham’s friends.
They trusted Graham. They thought he was a good guy.
If he was honest with them, if he told them the truth, they’d know better. He’d destroy every fragile thing he’d found here, salting the earth of their friendship.
Secrets rose up in his throat, threatening to suffocate him, and he hated the taste of them.
He fingered the phone in his pocket and pulled it out. “Because the rat bastard asked me for money not to tell you.”
They all stared at him, not daring to put the pieces together.
“I... don’t understand,” Jenny finally said.
She didn’t want to understand, Graham knew.
Darla gave a little inhale of revelation, loud in the quiet room, and Graham closed his eyes.
“I’m Grant Lyons,” he growled. “I’m Grant Lyons,” he said louder.
It was one of the worst moments of his life.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Travis asked quietly.
“Does Scarlet know?” Bastian demanded.
“Oh, Graham.” That was Lydia, sounding shocked and sorrowed.
Wrench gave a low growl.
“Do we have to call you m’lord?” Breck asked.
Graham opened his eyes in time to see Darla elbow the waiter in the side.
“It’s a valid question,” Breck protested. “Weren’t the Lyons landed lords?”
“Why didn’t you say something when you realized you could buy the resort?” Jenny demanded, sounding understandably put out.
“With what money?” Graham countered, angry. “I don’t have a penny. And yes, Scarlet knows. She’s known all along. She’s in no position to come up with three hundred and fifty million. She’s facing pretty certain bankruptcy already. Jubilee Grant’s lawsuit came through, and she... didn’t want to spoil Neal and Mary’s wedding by letting them know.”
Apparently, coming clean meant coming completely clean. Graham made himself snap his mouth shut before he said even more.
“Little late for that, Grant,” Travis muttered sympathetically.
Graham turned, to find that the wedding party had come quietly through the open door behind him, and they were staring at him with the looks of shock and betrayal that he had expected.
He had eyes only for Alice, who was standing behind the others, the disillusionment in her face like a blade.
“So much for honesty,” she said coldly, and she turned on her heel and stomped out.
Then it really was the worst moment of Graham’s life.
Chapter 21
Alice turned blindly on the path and ran, grinding her teeth and wishing herself anywhere else.
She’d told him everything, and he’d told her half-truths.
I want to be honest, he’d said. It’s nice to have someone to trust, she’d told him.