Page 81 of Perfect Liar

A handsome as hell smile curved Will’s lips.

“Your talent is remarkable. Tell me what you need to start painting again.”

“Hmm. I don’t know. But late morning light from the northern sky couldn’t hurt.”

Ethan sat on the sofa facing ours. He tilted his head at the windows.

“Set up your easel in this room. This light should be perfect.”

Will rested his arm behind me.

“Maybe,” I said.

“Listen, Ellie. Next week is going to be quite busy at the firm. I need my brother focused on closing some business, and I’m hoping you’ll help me with that, darlin.”

My attention jumped back to Will.

“Will, take me with you.”

He shook his head.

“You’ll stay here. I’ll be tied up with new investors.”

“But I don’t want us to be so far apart all week.”

He didn’t say anything else, but his stern expression said enough.

I narrowed my eyes at him in return and then dropped it…we could talk about it again later without an audience.

My thoughts quickly shifted, leading my mouth to open, close, open again. Finally, words blurted from my big mouth.

“Ethan, you know Lissie looks a lot like you.”

He jerked his gaze to the floor.

“So she’s yours?” I asked.

He shrugged.

“Yes or no?”

He made eye contact with me again.

“Yes.”

“Do you plan to tell her? Are you going to raise her?”

He nodded.

“When we return from London, I’d like your help telling her. I want her raised here, by this family, Ellie.”

I withered beneath Will’s arm. He whispered something against my hair.

Ethan’s response should have pleased me. I wanted Lissie to have a family, to have her father. But his eagerness sliced into my heart, carving out another piece of wreckage.

Ethan reached out his hand across the coffee table for mine.

“I won’t take her away from you. I know she needs you. You’re her constant.”