Kim’s heart was in her mouth as she drove the others back to the hotel. She was so distracted by Gabriel’s message—and the fact that she couldn’t reach him on his phone in the meantime—that she was lucky they made it back in one piece.

We need to talk. I think I’ve figured it out.

What could he mean? And what exactly had he figured out?

Bidding a quick good-night to her friends, Kim quietly let herself into their suite, aware that Lily would likely be asleep, and since she and Gabriel were about to have some kind of...conversation, she definitely didn’t want to wake her up.

He was outside on the terrace, a glass of whiskey in his hand.

“Hey,” she greeted nervously. “What’s up?”

“You tell me.” His tone was ominous, a sharp contrast to its usual warmth.

“I’m not sure...”

“Kim, I’ve always been straight with you, haven’t I? No matter what. Right from the start there’s never been any secrets between us—on my part at least.”

“Gabe, what’s this all about?”

“I understood how important this project here in Italy was—this so-called tribute to the roots of your business. And I was happy to go along with that and do whatever it took to support you. But I won’t be made a fool of. Neither will Lily.”

“I really don’t know what...” Kim’s mind was reeling.

Had Hank since got a better picture about the lawsuit and told Gabriel everything, including the truth that she was in fact a complete fraud? That she’d used a journal and words that were never hers in the first place and passed them off as her own?

No matter about public perception or bad publicity, the last person in the world she ever wanted to disappoint was Gabriel. He was the only constant in her life—the best thing that had ever happened to her.

She sighed. “I never meant for any of that to happen, honestly. It just seemed to take on a life of its own. And then things had gone way too far for me to stop them. If it weren’t for Antonio—”

“Seriously?” His eyes flashed as he glared at her. “You mean there’s actual merit to this? I thought it was impossible, that there was no way... Man, I feel so stupid.”

She couldn’t get over the look on his face, one of complete and utter disappointment in her. It was devastating.

“I swear, for me, it just started out as some fun, a distraction, even. Gabe, I had no idea it would go so far. If I had, believe me, I would never have got so involved.”

“He’s twenty-five years older than you, for chrissakes. And we have a child! What the hell are you playing at?”

“What? What’s Lily got to do with anything?”