My heart is touched by his offer, and I know better than to do that.To feel something I have no business feeling.I stand quickly.“I’m going to use the bathroom.”
Then I flee.I’m glad that I’m faking being married.Otherwise, I’d probably fall for Locke’s charm.If he were a jerk, he’d be easy to dismiss.
I deliberately waste as much time as I can fixing my hair then straightening the dress Locke bought at the resort.It fits like it was meant to be mine.I don’t have to guess to know the cost is way out of my budget.
After what I’ve experienced thanks to Doug, I don’t like this world.It’s all about appearances and having the finest of everything.As soon as I get what I need I’ll be back in my own environment.Where I belong.
The thought makes me ache.Telling myself to get a grip and shake it off, I square my shoulders and step from the bathroom right into Locke’s path.I put my hands out to prevent a fall and end up gripping his forearms.
His hands land on my waist.Warm and protective.I can’t move away because I can’t make my body obey.
And then his fingers flex, gripping me harder and foolish me, I think about him holding me tight while he’s inside of me.I don’t dare look at his face.If I meet his eyes, he’ll see what’s in mine.
“You don’t get involved with rich men and I don’t sleep with married women,” he says, his voice taut.
My head snaps up.
His eyes are dark, his expression tumultuous.Full of suppressed need like a storm on the verge of breaking and sweeping away everything in its path with its power.
“I-I know.”I hate that my voice is shaky.I hate that I want him.Hate that my heart leans toward him like it needs his warmth.
“I won’t take you to bed and make love to you,” he says, his gaze memorizing my face, lingering on my lips.“My father slept with a married woman when I was nine.Her husband was enraged when he found out and he kidnapped me.”
“What?”I gasp.
“He kept me locked in an abandoned housed tethered to the floor for two days.He told me what my father had done and said I had to pay for it.”
“But your family rescued you quickly?”My heart breaks for the frightened boy he must have been.
“They didn’t.Because my father didn’t want my mother or grandmother to find out about the affair, he lied and said I was spending that time at a friend’s house.One of the contractors who’d arrived to start the home’s renovation found me.I always wanted to find out who he was, but my father’s influence to keep the kidnapping quiet swept everything under the rug.”
Now it all makes sense.The loneliness I sense in him.The way he’s sought out the company of women but never settled down.His wound can’t be filled by the ways he’s tried to find relief.
“I can’t be like my father,” he says softly.“I can’t ruin someone’s life and let a child pay the price.”
“Oh…Locke,” I say fiercely and forgetting to keep my distance, I wrap my arms around him and hug him tightly.I’m such a fool.Because now I know what his body feels like against mine.
“Fate is a funny thing,” he says, lifting his hand slowly toward my face.“I believe we were meant to meet.But I can’t be with you.”His fingers hover just above my mouth without touching me.“It’s agonizing.”
I clench my teeth and step away from him.I hate that I’ve lied but I can’t tell him the truth.Not if I want to save my family and get my life back.I need this job.Need the connections.
He lowers his hand, then turns and leaves quickly.
My knees buckle and I brace myself against the wall.I can’t believe how foolish I was thinking this was going to be something I could easily do.My chest hurts and I press my hand against it.I wish I could ease Locke’s hurt and comfort him.What have I done?
Once I get myself together, I return to my seat.
He’s looking out the window but glances toward me as I sit.“It might make me a complete asshole for saying this.And I hope for the sake of your happiness it never happens.”
“What is it?”
“Like I said, I can’t ruin someone’s life and there’s no way in hell I’ll be like my father.But if for some reason things don’t work out with your husband, come to me.”
There’s no way I can respond to that.I’m afraid to.Afraid he’ll hear in my voice that I’m attracted to him.I don’t answer and finally, he turns his attention back to the window.
Fate really is a funny thing.If I’d met Locke first instead of my ex, I wouldn’t have lost everything.
***
