The Divorce That Brought Us Back novel Chapter 143

Nora found Cassidy's theory highly improbable.

There had to be a misunderstanding somewhere.

Besides, if she confronted him and it turned out to be nothing, she'd be the one dying of embarrassment.

Better to keep her mouth shut.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing."

Nora buried herself back under the duvet.

Maloney didn't buy that for a second.

He peeled the blankets off her and demanded again, "Tell me what's wrong."

Clutching her phone to her chest, she shook her head. "It's seriously nothing."

With lightning speed, Maloney reached out and snatched the device right out of her hands.

Nora hadn't seen it coming.

She blinked in shock. "Hey! What are you doing?"

Right in front of her, he casually swiped the screen and entered her passcode, unlocking it.

Nora stared in horror.

"Ahhhh!"

She launched herself like a rocket, tackling him as she lunged desperately for her phone.

Maloney sat up, holding the device high above his head out of her reach.

Nora scrambled all over him, practically trying to use his shoulders as a step ladder to vault higher.

He raised an eyebrow.

Just how many dark secrets was she hiding in that thing?

Wrapping a strong arm around her waist, he effortlessly hauled her down and pinned her back against the mattress.

Nora thrashed against his grip, her cheeks flushed a furious pink. She puffed out her cheeks like an angry hamster, though her large, watery eyes begged for mercy. "You peeked at my passcode!" she accused.

It was a threat. A blatant, undisguised threat.

"I..." Nora looked utterly cornered. She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. She simply couldn't bring herself to ask, 'Did you have a crush on me when I was thirteen?' It sounded completely unhinged and ridiculously narcissistic.

Weighing her words carefully, she finally mumbled, "I just heard a rumor that you only liked 'exceptional' women, so I... I was just wondering."

Maloney's brow furrowed. "I like exceptional women?"

Nora nodded. "Yeah."

"I've never said that in my life," he stated flatly.

"If you didn't say it, then forget it." Nora lightly nudged his thigh with her toes. Employing a subtle distraction tactic, she curled her toes to catch the waistband of his sweatpants, giving it a suggestive tug. "Just pretend I never brought it up."

"Nora." Maloney released her wrists, his expression turning deadly serious. "I mean it. I have never uttered those words, in any context or combination."

His gaze hardened. "Who told you I said that?"

He tossed her phone back onto her chest. "Text Cassidy right now."

Nora visibly paled.