The last of Daniel’s resolve cracked. He had to tell her. “I can’t just come up with another book. I’ve appreciated your patience up to this point, and I need you to hang in there for a little longer until I can deliver it.”

“But you did last time . . . and it happened so fast. I don’t understand.”

The cold blade of her challenge sliced deep into his anxiety, and any answers flitted back into the shadows.

Kelly took another step back. “You can’t tell me much nowadays. What about those photos you took of us? Why were you so intent on taking them?” His silence lit the fuse of Kelly’s frustration. “Why can’t you talk to me? Daniel, we need to talk to someone. This has reached the point where I can’t stay if things will be like this.”

Her threat hung heavy in the air, and it fueled a growing anger. With everything he was dealing with, now she played that card? “I’m a marriage counselor with a bestselling book about marriage. It’s not as simple as me seeing a marriage counselor.”

Kelly’s lips pursed below hard eyes and tear-streaked cheeks. “So you’re choosing your reputation over me? Unless there are other reasons you don’t want to see someone.”

Daniel’s voice rose in defense. “Are we back here again? You aren’t in a position to talk about refusing to see someone. I’ve already suggested we talk to Anna, but you won’t.”

“Ah yes, your work-wife. Can’t you see why I don’t want to do that? Why won’t you show me the photos from the work dinner? You keep talking about there being a problem with them, but what is it?”

Daniel fought hard to rein in his runaway breathing. “What do I have to do to prove—”

“I went to the film lab to find out what the problem is, but Simon wouldn’t give me copies.”

The stampede of Daniel’s anger ran headfirst into that wall of revelation. His voice dropped to a whisper. “You what?”

“Strange guy at first, but he has a real passion for honesty.”

Kelly had met Simon? Daniel’s voice stayed low, his ears almost ringing with the explosion that mental grenade had created. “What did he say about the photos?”

“That he couldn’t give them to me because of some nonsense about a sacred contract with you.”

Relief. Simon’s eccentricity was a good thing. Finally.

Thirty

Kelly thumbed through Jasmine’s message, each word cutting another inch deep into her. “Your name is mud here. Arnold is using it to describe people who aren’t Rubicon team players. And he’s reading your contract with a fine-tooth comb to see if he can take things further. Take care, hon, and get a lawyer if you haven’t already.”