An Understated Dominance novel · Chapter 4 of 24

Chapter 4: Dead Parents

"Gilbert Merrow is my father," Colter said.

The bookkeeper picked up her purse and left without a word.

The door clicked shut behind her.

"You told me he was dead."

"Yes."

"On our second date. You said he died when you were twenty."

"I did say that."

I sat down on the edge of the desk because my legs wanted me to.

"Say it again, slowly," I said. "I want to be sure I understand how stupid I am."

"You're not stupid. I lied."

"Why?"

"Because I had a name that people could do math with," he said.

"Merrow Freight runs trucks and rail from Seattle to Denver."

"My father owns warehouses in nine states, and he owns the men who run them."

"My grandfather started it, my father grew it, and I was supposed to finish it."

"At twenty-four, I told him no."

"He said I'd be back in a year.

"I changed my name to my mother's and went looking for a job nobody would call me about."

"I became a claims adjuster."

"I met you at a friend's barbecue, and you asked me what I did, and I told you."

"And you didn't ask who my father was."

"I wanted so badly to be someone nobody was buying," he said.

"You were the first person who ever looked at me and didn't see a price."

My eyes burned, and I hated them for it.

"That's lovely," I said. "It's lovely, and you still lied for six years."

"Yes."

"I mourned a man for six years who was alive in Seattle."

"I know."

"Did your mother really die?"

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