Page 48 of The Rebel Billionaire

Whynot?

I didn't have anything to hide, and her brothers or the Sinclairs would probably tell her if I didn't. But not now. Not with the Sinclair team and Evers in thenextroom.

Glancing over my shoulder, then back at Charlie, I said, "I will.Anothertime."

A thud and curse sounded from the kitchen and Charlie nodded. "Later," sheagreed.

I wondered if she'd still welcome me into her bed after she knew the whole truth. I was going to find out. The truth was ugly, but I wouldn't lie to Charlie. She'd have to take me as I was, scarsandall.

CHAPTERELEVEN

CHARLIE

Ileftthe Sinclair team at work securing my house. Lucas went home to check in on a new job, and I was headed to Winters House to ransack my storage bins in theattic.

We'd finished with the fireplace mantle, and it was as gorgeous as I thought it would be, but I'd underestimated exactly how messy stripping paintcouldbe.

I'd spent the last few years wearing mostly suits and dresses. I didn't have a large collection of clothes I was happy ruining while I worked. I was pretty sure that after college, I'd thrown a bunch of old jeans and T-shirts into a storage bin and hauled them up to theattic.

Assuming they still fit, they'd be exactly what I needed. I'd already dropped a bunch of money on the futon, the mini-fridge and the coffeemaker. The idea of a newish truck to replace my ancient sedan hovered in the back ofmymind.

If I decided to trade my car for a truck, I didn't want to have wasted money on new clothes I was just going to end upruining.

I let myself in the front door and locked it behind me. Footsteps echoed through the front hall, too heavy to be Mrs. Williamson. Still edgy after being jumped the night before, I spun around andfroze.

Aiden loomed in front of me. When his eyes landed on my bruised, scraped face, they went white-hotwithrage.

"What the fuckhappened?"

Aiden took my face in his hands, his touch gentle in contrast to his furious voice. He tilted my cheek to the light and gritted histeeth.

"Are you okay? Did Lucas Jacksondothis?"

"Why does everyone think Lucas would hurt me?" I asked, stepping back and jerking my face out ofAiden'shold.

A thought occurred to me. "How do you know about Lucas? Did Everscallyou?"

"How does Evers know about Lucas?" Aiden asked with a raised eyebrow. "To answer your question, I know about Lucas Jackson because my sister bought the house next door to his and I make it my business to know who her neighbors are. He helped out Jacob with Big John, but that doesn't mean he isn't a dangerous man,Charlie."

"Well, he didn't do this. I got jumped in my front yard last night and Lucas happened to be sitting in his truck next door. He ran the guy off. Lucas would've had him but I tripped and he let the guy go so he could make sure Iwasokay."

"Fuck," Aidengroundout.

"He called a police detective he knows so I could make a statement without it getting out to the media. He may be dangerous, Aiden, but he took careofme."

Aiden's jawclenched.

"And how does Evers know aboutLucas?"

I shrugged one shoulder and studied the crown molding in the entrance hall, suddenly feeling like a teenager getting the third degree after missingcurfew.

"Lucas was at my house this morning when Evers got there to start working on my security system," I said, trying to soundinnocent.

Aiden let out a harrumph that let me know he wasn'tbuyingit.

"Charlie," he said on agrowl.

I pinned him with aglare.