Dirty Little Secrets (Dirty Little Secrets #1) by Cassie Cross Page A

but Caleb’s thick, lined curtains keep the sun from shining through and waking me up like it normally does.  
    Slowly, I begin the process of getting out of bed. The nurse was adamant that I not move too quickly for the first few days I’m home. I move my legs across the soft sheets, until they dangle off the side of the bed. When I’m feeling confident that I’m not going to be dizzy or pass out when I step onto the floor, I slide down off of the mattress.  
    I’m only marginally woozy. The doctor said it’s common and that it would pass soon enough. Honestly, I can’t wait for that day to come.  
    The only clothes I have with me are the ones I was wearing when I was robbed, so I’m wearing a t-shirt that belongs to Caleb, and actually looks like an overly large dress on me.  
    Standing in the middle of the room, I notice that I can’t hear the voices as clearly as I did before. Caleb is still talking to his guest, but I can only make out faint sounds of the conversation. Even though I know it’s terrible to eavesdrop, I really can’t help my curiosity, so I step out into the hallway and quietly walk toward the main living area.  
    The closer I get to the end of the hallway, the clearer those hushed voices are. When I’m at a place where I can get a good listen, I immediately recognize one of the voices as Ben’s. The fact that they’re being hush-hush about whatever it is that they’re talking about makes me think that whatever it is that they’re talking about is me .  
    When I get to the point where I can’t walk any further without the risk of being seen, I stop.  
    “What makes you think that?” Ben asks.  
    There’s a long silence from Caleb, before he finally says, “She was just…carrying that bag around with her everywhere.”  
    God, they are talking about me. And about my suspicious behavior with my bag, which…well, it can’t be good.  
    “I can’t blame her for not wanting to leave it at a hotel. My laptop is my livelihood too, and there isn’t a chance in hell that I’d leave it where anyone who had access to my room could take it.”
    “I’m sure that drives Oliver crazy,” he replies with an amused lilt in his voice.  
    “I’ve told him about it several times. He’s always got some kind of rebuttal about how he screens his employees, and has top-of-the-line room safes, but I take an extreme stance on the safety of my electronics: trust no one.”  
    “Still,” Caleb continues. “She carried that bag around like it was the only thing she owned.”  
    “What would be wrong with that?” Ben asks.  
    I barely even know the guy, and I feel like I have an ally. He could just be riling Caleb up by coming up with counterpoints to all of his concerns, but even the illusion that someone’s in my corner feels nice. I like Ben more than I already did.  
    “I don’t know,” Caleb replies. “Don’t you think she’d have some furniture stored somewhere? Or have movers bringing it here from Chicago? Something?”
    “Have you ever asked if she has furniture stored somewhere? Or if movers are bringing it here from Chicago?”
    This conversation is making me uneasy. Of course, I have given Caleb reason to be at least a little suspicious of me, what with the staying in hotels and carrying that damned bag everywhere. I had foolishly hoped that he wouldn’t ever raise those suspicions. The good thing is that he doesn’t sound angry about it; he’s just trying to talk it out with his friend. I suppose I should be thankful for that; at least now I won’t be blindsided if any of this ever comes up in conversation.  
    “I’m really trying not to push her too hard.”  
    “I get it,” Ben replies. “Maybe there are some things you should push, though.”  
    Now I feel even worse than I already did about not being totally honest with him. He’s offered me a place to stay despite his misgivings, and…god, I’m just so lucky to have met him. I’d be lucky