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‘I don’t expect you to. I’m assuring you that, no matter what else happens, you have my money. Your money. Whatever your brother needs, come to me. It’s just money, Oti.’
Shock then relief skittered over her lovely face. And then she smiled and her face lit up. It was like being dazzled by the light from the glory of the sun itself.
More than that, it seemed to warm his very soul. It seemed to make it feel whole again.
‘I called them today and they’ll see him at the end of the week.’ She shifted in her chair and he realised it was with excitement.
And something else that he couldn’t quite isolate. As much as he didn’t want to dampen her mood, Lukas couldn’t help asking more questions.
‘Do you mean that?’ She sounded almost breathless, and what did it say about him that he liked the impact he’d had on her?
‘I do. So your father wouldn’t pay for any of it?’ he asked.
‘He said he would. He promised he would pay for it with the obscene sum he extorted from you. But...’ She trailed off.
‘That’s why you agreed to marry me,’ Lukas realised. ‘Your father promised to pay for Edward’s operation if you married me.’
‘Yes.’
‘He reneged, though. That’s why you asked me. As your husband, I’d be honour-bound to agree? It was a last resort, but you still thought I needed buttering up?’
He didn’t need to spell it out for her; she was clearly embarrassed enough. She was also torn. He could read it in every line of her tense body. Still, he wasn’t surprised when she tried to defend the repugnant man.
‘I hoped he would honour it.’
‘Your father is too greedy for honour, Oti,’ Lukas murmured quietly. ‘He wanted the money for himself, whilst you wanted the money to save your brother’s life.’
‘You make it sound entirely noble and selfless.’ She frowned.
‘Because it is.’ Remorse stirred within him. ‘You’re the only one who hasn’t been self-serving throughout this entire arrangement.’
‘Am I?’ Her gaze slammed into his without warning. ‘So why did you marry me, Lukas? What’s in it for you? I mean, I understand the part of the deal where you got Edward’s company, and my father got his money, but why me?’
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that this conversation was about her, not him—just as he had back at the roadside that morning—but the words didn’t come.
‘I’m guessing my father thought our marriage might somehow keep you around to tap for more money when he blows through the first lot. But why agree, Lukas? You could have refused that part of the deal. He would still have taken your deal—it was almost double anything Rockman could offer.’
What was it about this one unique woman that had him twisting and turning, no longer sure of the difference between black and white, night and day? It was all a glorious confusion where Oti was concerned.
And, for the first time, he felt an inexplicable urge to talk to her as he’d never talked to anyone in his life.
* * *
Oti wasn’t sure at what point she realised she was holding her breath, but suddenly she was aware of the feeling that her lungs were about to burst.
Lukas had been silent for so long that it seemed as though he was actually going to talk to her. She desperately wanted him to. What wouldn’t she give to be the person Lukas Woods talked to? In a way she seriously doubted the notoriously closed-off man had ever talked to anyone.
But then, without warning, he shut down again.
‘You should have told me what was going on, Oti. I asked you several times if you knew what you were doing.’
‘I remember.’ She drew in a long breath, trying not to let the disappointment flood through her. ‘And in that sense, yes, I knew. But I couldn’t tell you about Edward, I didn’t know what you would do—if you would use it as further leverage against me.’
‘You think I’m capable of that?’
He looked utterly appalled. But there was something adding to her disappointment now. Something more. Something like the beginnings of anger.
He wouldn’t answer a single one of her questions, yet he was virtually flaying her with every one of his. And she was supposed to answer without complaint?
