One True Secret

One True Secret
Bethany Campbell

What if the truth doesn't set you free?Emerson Roth has one mission–protect her family by keeping their secrets. If the decision was left to Emerson, she would stop the lies and live with the consequences, but she has her sister and elderly grandparents to consider.Eli Garner has one job–uncover the truth about the Roths. And his reputation proves that he just might be able to do that. In the past, when Eli went after a story, nothing stopped him, and he has the scars to show for it. If Emerson thinks she can keep secrets from him, she's dead wrong.But what happens when Eli realizes that exposing the Roths means ruining the life of the only woman he's ever cared about?

“You know, for a guy who has Emerson Roth exactly where he wants, you’re in a rotten mood.”

Merriman narrowed his eyes as he continued. “You know what I think? I think you’re attracted to her. And you blew your chance with her—big time. Smooth, Garner.”

Merriman’s words annoyed Eli because they were true. Emerson was a beautiful woman. But more than that, she had spirit, she was smart—and loyal to a fault. He didn’t want her to be guilty, but he feared she was.

He wanted her to have a reasonable, moral excuse for the games her family played. He didn’t want her to hate him. But it was too late for that. The damage was done.

Eli was relentless; it went with his job. He could go beyond relentless to ruthless when he had to, and he had been ruthless with Emerson.

She would talk to him again tomorrow, because she had no choice.

And he would show her no mercy, because he couldn’t.

Dear Reader,

People often ask if my characters are based on real people. In One True Secret, the answer is yes and no.

Most of the characters are composites of the real and the imaginary. The heroine, Emerson, owes her beauty and boldness to one of my friends who has the good fortune to have both. But Emerson’s other qualities are drawn from a number of different people, some of them members of my family. And part of her is pure imagination.

Still, I confess that one character is drawn completely from reality. The only thing that is made up about him is his name.

This character is Bunbury, the overweight gray cat who chirps rather than meows. Bunbury is nearly identical to my overweight gray cat, Hodge, who chirps instead of meows. Hodge could sue me for invasion of privacy and libel, but he couldn't care less about being in a book. Outrage, even mild irritation, would be a waste of his preciously hoarded calories.

His passions are (a) eating (b) coveting the food of others and (c) being petted. He hates the vacuum cleaner, all doors that shut him in or out and, most of all, travel.

As this is being written, Hodge is lying on the dog’s cushion, hogging it as he manages to look both sleepy and superior. He will not answer to the name Bunbury, but he won’t answer to the name Hodge, either. He’s a real cat, but he’s also, in every sense of the word, a real character.

Best wishes,

Bethany Campbell and Hodge, a Very Fine Cat Indeed.

Bethany would love you to visit her at her Web site, www.bethanycampbell.com.

One True Secret

Bethany Campbell

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To Wheels and Mrs. Wheels with affection and gratitude.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER ONE

“I DON’T WANT to talk to those men,” Claire said. She sat under the buttercup tree, glumly feeding almonds to the parrot.

“Then don’t.” Emerson lay stretched on the chaise longue beside the pool. She wore a purple bikini and a green baseball cap. “I’ll do the talking.”

“For them to come barging in this way? I think it’s just—rude.”

“Arrak!” said the parrot. “Rude! Rude!”

“They’re journalists. It’s their job to be rude. Pass me some almonds, will you? I’ve got the munchies.”

Claire rose and handed Emerson the bowl. Then she paused, furrowing her smooth brow. “What’ll you do if they get—you know—too pushy?”

Emerson shrugged disdainfully. “Cut ’em into little pieces and feed ’em to Gollum.”