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“I did and it is my pleasure. I want you and Lane to feel comfortable while you stay with me. My lawyer informed me that your lawyer says there is a lot of media presence at the front gates of your home. Companies will harass you and come after you to buy you out or threaten you. That is a lot to handle alone when you just lost a husband and Lane just lost his father.”
My eyes well with unshed tears at the reminder of losing Lane. Kalum must see the hurt and pain in my expression that I have been trying to hide to be strong for Lane Jr.
“I know it hurts, Aura. I see the love you have for him. The way you take care of Lane Jr. It is plain as day you both loved each other. I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that he asked me to watch over you. Of all the people, it should have been Exie.”
“Exie took over the family business and Lane wasn’t on speaking terms with his mother or father because of his choices. Those choices also include me. They weren’t very happy when we married because of the way we did it and—”
He interrupts and finishes what I was about to say. “Because you don’t come from a predominant family and have no money.”
I shake my head. “Yeah. I guess he thought it would put Exie and me in a bad spot with his family. It wouldn’t be good for Lane Jr. and what his plans were for his son for the future.”
“I guess Lane and I both agree on one thing. We don’t give a shit about what our parents think and don’t let them dictate what we want for our future. It makes sense. But there is one thing I don’t understand, Aura.”
“What is that?”
“What do you want for your future? What do you want to do? I understand Lane Jr.’s future is secure as it should be, but what about you?”
My head lowers and I avert my gaze because, for the first time, someone has asked what I wanted. All my time with Lane, I just waited for him. He was quiet and reserved but his focus was on Turner Racing and his builds. He showed me his work and taught me things I never thought I would learn about cars and how fast they could go. Lane loved me and took care of me. He made sure my needs were met and when he was vocal, he would tell me he loved me and that everything he was doing was for us. Then I fell pregnant and my life revolved around raising our son but not once did he ask me what my dreams were or what I wanted to do.
“I-I don’t know. I guess having Lane, I never had time to think about it. There weren’t many options for someone like me.”
He knows I’m referring to when his parents washed their hands of me the year I lost my parents. I had no money. I was alone and I had no one. Not even him.
He doesn’t press me further, and I’m relieved when he changes the subject.
“Let’s find the master bedroom so you can get situated. Camila chose a room right next to Lane so you wouldn’t have to worry if the master bedroom was too far.”
“I could have taken the room next to his. The master should be your room.”
He snorts. “I’m not staying.”
I pull up short and almost run into him. “Oh. I thought.”
“I’m staying in my apartment in the city. It’s convenient. I’m not—”
I finish for him. “Domesticated.”
He flinches and it lets me know I hit the mark. I get it. He sent me and Lane away to live in a house. I should be relieved, but the fact that we are being sent here to hide away like a secret annoys me for some reason.
Suddenly, the house seems like a trap, like we are in a witness protection program. Kalum wouldn’t want to be seen with us anyway. He has a life and I’m sure a slew of women he entertains. This is just a request from someone he knew and maybe he feels doing this would help him with his guilt about what happened in the past.
“I live a fast-paced life and I’m always on the go. I have business meetings and—”
I raise my hand to stop him, and we are still standing in the middle of the hallway.
“You don’t have to explain anything to me. You have a life and honestly, you don’t have to do this. I appreciate it and so does Lane, even if he is no longer with us. I already feel bad for imposing on you. I could go back and I’ll figure it out. It really is no big deal. I can handle it on my own.”
“No,” he says in a hard tone. “If I agree to something, I’ll go through with it. I agreed and I wasn’t only Lane’s friend back in high school, but I was also yours. Lane and I weren’t that close, but we were friends. He was older, and he had his plans and so did I.”
I scoff. “Fine. One thing I want to make clear about this crazy arrangement is that you are doing this for Lane. We were never friends. We were never anything. You hated the fact that your parents agreed to have me stay in your home.” I laugh sarcastically. “My presence was a nuisance and an inconvenience.”
He walks up to me. He is so close I can smell the hint of his expensive cologne. My breathing picks up.
“Was it?”
My head tilts up. “Was what?” I challenge.
“Was it an inconvenience when I tasted you?”
