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“Okay, okay,” Kayley says, letting out a nervous laugh. “I don’t need all the details, Dad. Jeez.”
“Says the detective,” I banter with a smirk. “I thought you wanted to get into the nitty-gritty.”
“Well, not that much nitty-gritty,” she laughs, shaking her head. “This has officially been the craziest weekend ever. A home invasion. You two falling for each other. Getting engaged.”
“I know,” Lola murmurs. “I think Valentine’s is going to take on a whole new significance now.”
“But we haven’t gotten to the really important part yet,” Kayley says.
“Wait.” Lola leans forward. “Are you saying you’re okay with me and your dad being together? I think we need to get that sorted before we talk about anything else.”
“I agree,” I say, leaning forward next to Lola, my elbow brushing against hers on the table.
I have to fight yet more urges at this simple touch, my body thrumming hotly at the closeness of her. I feel full of energy after the fighting after I proved that I have what it takes to protect my woman. I always knew that, of course, but now it’s set in savage stone.
Whatever happens, whatever comes our way, I’ll never let anything bad happen to her.
Pride lights up like explosives inside me when I see how well she’s bouncing back from what happened.
She’s got more resilience than she gives herself credit for.
Kayley’s eyes flit between us, her smile tugging wider and wider.
“God, you two really do look like two peas in a pod right now. It’s so weird.”
“Bad weird,” Lola says, “or good weird?”
“Weird-weird,” Kayley says. “But yeah, good weird. As long as this isn’t just some passing fling. As long as things aren’t going to get awkward … or more awkward than they already are.”
“Never,” I snarl passionately. “I haven’t so much as looked at a woman in almost two decades. After your mother left, I focused on my work. I focused on raising you. Now I’ve found somebody, something I thought would never happen. And if it did happen, I never guessed that she’d be your best friend. But sometimes life just works out that way. A man can’t always control who he falls for.”
A man can’t control who he loves.
The words dance on the end of my tongue, unsaid.
“I fell just as hard,” Lola murmurs, glancing at me from the corner of her eye.
I smirk, and she smiles. Suddenly it seems like everything could be alright after all.
“Okay,” Kayley laughs. “I get it. You have my blessing. Just no more romantic speeches, okay?”
“I can’t promise that,” I grin. “But what were you going to say? What was the most important part?”
“Oh,” Kayley says, mirroring my grin. “Lola’s singing, obviously. She hasn’t told us if she’s going to sing tomorrow at Hidden.”
“That’s right,” I smirk, turning to her.
Lola’s eyes flash between us.
“So you two are ganging up on me now, huh?” she says with a smile. “I don’t know if I’m going to sing. The idea of it terrifies me. I know it sounds crazy, but it makes me even more scared than Quinn and his goons did earlier. With that, I could just disappear into myself, you know? With this, I’ll be there, on stage, seen, really seen. I won’t be able to hide.” She throws her hands up. “I’m not making any sense, am I?”
I reach over and softly touch the back of her neck. I do it without thinking, and only when Lola stills do I realize that this contact might be too much for Kayley. But Kayley doesn’t react. She just watches her best friend.
I feel like roaring in triumph. Kayley really is okay with this.
Lola and I really do have a sun-bright future.
“You can do it, Lola,” I tell her, feeling the thrumming warmth of her skin. “I’m not saying you have to do it, but you can. I believe in you.”
“So do I,” Kayley says. “You have an incredible voice. And you’ve been working hard on your songs.”
“I don’t have my guitar,” she murmurs.
“I can get you a guitar, no problem,” I tell her. “Whatever you need. I’ll do anything for you, Lola.”
My voice gets unexpectedly husky and intense. I feel the emotion rising to the surface, swimming in my words.
Lola takes a deep breath, turning toward me. Emotion glistens in her eyes. I half expect Cupid to flutter from the balcony and dart into the snow-whirring air.
I’m not a soft man, I’ll never be a soft man, but at times like these, I can’t help but feel more human than I ever anticipated.
“Okay,” she says, nodding, ramping herself up. “I’ll do it. I’ll sing. I’ll be the opener.”
I can’t stop myself from leaping to my feet and pulling her into an embrace, whisking her up and spinning her around and around. She giggles and flails against me.
I remember myself a moment later, placing her down. Her cheeks are flushed and her smile is heavenly.
