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Brit crossed and uncrossed her legs, all nervous energy too. She had kids at home and a hot surgeon husband, who probably had plans for their Sunday together. Not to mention her successful business as a makeup artist and owner of a shop in town.
Lara put her hair in a ponytail. “Listen, Brit, I’m sorry. I mean, thanks for listening, but you probably have stuff to do, and I’d hate to keep you.”
Brit lifted her hand in denial. “Are you for real? How many times you’ve helped me? And you still do. We’re friends for life, Lara. Why would you think your problems don’t matter?”
Lara’s pulse jumped at the base of her throat. She’d been so used to prioritizing her brother’s problems that somehow hers always fell behind. Why wouldn’t they? She had a nice career, a great home, and solid friends. A lot of people had a lot less and still managed to get by. “I don’t know… I guess Miguel’s kept me busy in the past few years.”
“Now it’s time for you to keep yourself busy. With your wants.” Brit flashed her a gentle smile. “You’ve always tried to keep everyone happy. To help everyone.”
“Yes. Well, my man picker is broken, so helping others gives me something to do.”
“Is it really broken? Just because Troy didn’t agree with you right away doesn’t mean he won’t change his mind. A few seconds ago, you assumed you were being a burden to me and told me to get going. What if you left him too soon?”
A bit of insecurity stabbed at her, but she willed it away. “That’s different… if he doesn’t love me, I can’t make him. Even if he tells his father, he never said anything about staying with me after the six months.”
“Then he’s an idiot. And I’m down for toilet papering his house or sending him one of those nasty grams you can purchase online.”
“I love your team spirit, but maybe not going through with the marriage is enough punishment,” Lara said, hating herself for how worried she became. She’d left him for self-preservation, but she never meant to keep him from completely making things right by his brother and his family. What would happen now, she wondered, how would he spin things to his family about their breakup?
14
“Dad?” Troy knocked on the semi opened door to his father’s home office. A mere formality to announce his entry.
His father sat at the imposing table with a couple of computer screens to his right, and a half empty tumbler to his left. Several floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with leather bound books his father probably had not read but had bought anyway, to make an impression, filled the office. Also a large fireplace and a set of leather sofas. “Yes? What’s going on, Troy? Have you heard from Lara? Is everything okay at her work?”
Troy strode to the wet bar, grabbed an empty tumbler and poured a decade’s old scotch in it. He took it to his mouth, and chugged it down like he’d been fresh from a dry January challenge. The alcohol burned down his throat, sending his senses into an overdrive for a moment, but there was a good chance that was just stress.
He couldn’t go back and tell Lara how much he loved her until he talked to his father.
Even if he put everything on the line. She had taught him to show up for those he loved. She inspired him to be better, and he couldn’t live that truth if his life with her—his real marriage, the one he hoped she’d agree to—was based on a lie.
“Yes, she’s fine. The reason I’m here is… I love her.”
His father rocked in his chair, visibly amused. “And that’s news?”
“In fact, yes. I married her because I thought that would make it easier for me to get back in your good graces, make up with Mateo and also get control of the family business.”
The planes of his father’s face tightened, his expression growing serious. The wrinkles around his eyes crinkled as he narrowed his eyes. He reached for his tumbler, but didn’t drink it.
Troy sat the tumbler he’d been holding on the desk, then squared his shoulders. “Her brother got in trouble when working for us and accidentally hit the wrong person. Conor O’Donnell. So I proposed to marry her for protection and to help her keep her brother safe, while in turn she married me to smooth things out.”
His father ran his fingers down his face. “So you two lied to all of us. We took this girl in our home, were planning a reception for you… I thought you finally got it together, but I have to give it to you son… you always keep me in my fucking toes.”
His blood throbbed, and Troy stood, too restless to stay still. He put his hands in his pockets, pacing around. “None of this is Lara’s fault. It was all my idea. And she’s a wonderful woman.”
“A wonderful woman I thought as well, but that was when I believed you two loved each other.”
“I do love her,” he said, raising his voice like she could hear him. “I just wanted to set things straight.”
His father’s hands balled into fists. “And that makes it all right? You deceived us, you jeopardized my company, the one you say you’re so fond of, and now I’m supposed to believe you?”
“I believe him,” his mother said, stepping inside the office.
Troy turned to see her. Alessandra Gallucci seldom showed up like this, unannounced and after probably listening to a conversation. How else would she know what they were talking about? But there she was…
She glanced at Troy, a touch of warmth and love glittering her eyes. A sweet energy bounced between them, and a twinge of joy surged through him. He hadn’t asked for her help. He hadn’t done anything to get her attention. He’d not even considered coming to her about it, sadly.
Yet she came. And here she was, in the middle of the office, stretching to her full height in challenge.
