“I can be a friendly face.” He smiled and almost knocked her out with how gorgeous he was. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
She’d love for him to get her to bed in more ways than one. But the memories he triggered within her were concerning.
Was it a coincidence that the conversation was similar?
She couldn’t fight this feeling that she and Lachlan had already met. Or was that her libido’s wishful thinking? She wanted this man in a way that didn’t make sense.
Lachlan walked to the edge of the bed. She didn’t look back as she slipped under the sheets, rearranging the pillows until she was comfortable. He didn’t budge, just stood there watching over her.
“You’re staying, right?”
“I’ll be right over there.” He pointed to the couch that faced the bed. “Good night, Britt.”
“Good night, Lachlan.”
Chapter 19
Three minutes.
That’s all it took from when Britt’s eyes closed until she was blissfully asleep, her head cocooned by the down feather pillow. The desire to be close to her was overwhelming.
The moment she'd stepped out of the bathroom, time stopped. Those damn cotton shorts and that flimsy tank top were innocent enough—the kind of thing any woman might wear to bed. But on Britt, they were lethal. The fabric stretched tight across the hard nipples of her breasts. The shorts struggled to contain her ass. His cock had swelled instantly before his brain could shut it down. The same visceral reaction he'd had a thousand times before when they were together.
He’d kept his distance to stop from doing something he shouldn’t—like wrapping her in his arms and showing her how much he’d missed her. Play out every fantasy that dominated his mind as he grieved the woman he loved. The urge was strong, especially after she admitted her attraction to him. He’d been amused by her brazen eye-fucking and more than a bit turned on. But the pull was tempered by the look in her eyes—he was a stranger to her. For now.
Squatting next to the bed, Lachlan dragged his fingertips across her forehead, gently moving strands of hair from her eyelids. He’d watched her sleep hundreds of times. Thought he’d never get to do this again. But Britt was here—the purest of miracles.
It tore at his soul that she didn’t believe this beautiful face was hers. That the longing she saw in his eyes for her was for some other woman and not the one looking back at him. Every instinct screamed at him to tell her about the precious times they’d shared—flying on a helicopter tour of the islands on their first official date, walking along the black sand beach of the Tango Lowlands, staring at the ultrasound of their little hen.
He’d slipped up earlier. Britt had caught his comment about her and wanted answers. Answers he wasn’t prepared to give. Not without knowing the ramifications from a qualified medical professional. She’d already been subjected to horrendous mental and psychological torture. He wasn’t going to make things worse. He wouldn’t be like that bastard who’d held her captive, even if holding back felt like swallowing broken glass.
But he couldn’t help wondering if being around him was already helping her to remember. Compelling her subconscious to recreate conversations they’d had in the past.
Seven years ago, he broke protocol by concealing a key witness during the PIIB's investigation of a yacht explosion near St. Killian. Britt was traumatized, confronting the dangers of being a cartel leader's daughter for the first time. She needed time to process the attempt on her life and asked for his help to disappear.
And damn if he hadn’t been able to tell her no.
Days had turned into weeks, then months.
Until her reason for staying had nothing to do with the reason she’d wanted to be hidden. A pivotal moment had tippedthe scales between them, shifting from friends to two people destined to fall in love.
But you’re attracted to me, aren’t you?
Fuck Britt, why are you asking me this?
Because I need to know before I embarrass myself.
Trust me, you have nothing to be embarrassed about.
Prove it.
I’m not proving a damn thing while you’re wearing another man’s ring on your hand.
Britt looked down at her left hand, then used her thumb to flick the engagement ring from her finger.
His heart pounded as it tumbled to the floor.
He couldn’t think about their past when she was this close.
