AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I need you to move out.”
“What?” My façade crumbles, and the confidence I exuded moments ago is gone. Lucian is kicking me out, and now I am officially homeless. Why did he have to come here today of all days, and why did he have to keep goading me?
“Only for a few days,” Lucian adds, and taps his chin in thought. “I have a team of builders starting work on the shop. I will have them sort the mess out up here, after which I’ll arrange for my interior design company to spruce the place up.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I say, my words sheepish.
“Yes, I do. You have no idea what lengths I would go to to ensure your happiness.” He speaks with earnestness, and for the first time it’s as though I’m seeing a totally different side of Lucian.
He tugs at the lapels of his pristine black jacket before clearing his throat. “Have you got somewhere you could stay? If not, you’re welcome to stay at one of the Calloway hotels.”
I shake my head and swallow the hot lump building in my throat. “No, thank you. I’ll crash at my sister’s for a few days.”
“Very well.” Lucian motions his hand in the direction of the bedrooms. “I encourage you to spend the evening packing away your possessions.”
My gaze lowers to the floor and I shrug. “There’s nothing to pack. Anything of sentimental value was taken. The outfits I made for my baby nephew will need to be dry-cleaned and pressed. And as for my clothes, they are mostly ruined, and those that aren’t need sterilising.”
Warm fingers capture my chin, and Lucian lifts my head. “You are not going into work today, not after what has happened. You’re not in the right mindset.”
“I’m fine,” I lie. Warm tears roll down my cheeks. I have no idea why I’m crying. I step back and lower my head so he can’t see, but it’s too late. “I can’t miss time off work,” I say, my voice cracking.
“Chelsea, I’m not asking.”
Lucian
Never have I seen her look so vulnerable or so lost. All I want to do is scoop her up in my arms and carry her to my car. I’d take her away, far, far away where no one could hurt her, no one could touch her. I’m tempted to suggest it but fear it would concrete her earlier assumption of me being a stalker. I don’t want to add ‘kidnapper’ to her list, although the idea itself is more than a little tempting.
Chelsea Janssen is mine, even if she doesn’t know it. Every tantalising inch of her belongs to me. I have no way of articulating the depths of my feelings for her, I just know they’re painfully real.
Chelsea turns her back on me. Her shoulders rise and fall jerkily, and I know she’s crying. The floorboards creak as I advance toward her.
“Don’t.”
Her one word cements my feet to the floor. Chelsea spins around, her expression devoid of emotion. “I’m fine,” she repeats with more certainty. Though try as she might, she can’t hide the mottled pink patches on her cheeks or her bloodshot eyes.
“Very well,” I say. If she doesn’t want me to comfort her, I won’t. But there is something I will do. I reach into my jacket pocket and retrieve my phone. I search for Kenneth Richardson’s name and shoot over a quick text.
“Done,” I say simply.
Chelsea’s expression falters. “What’s done?”
“I texted the farmer to let him know that you had a break-in yesterday, and subsequent to that you will not be at work today.”
Chelsea’s eyes narrow. She doesn’t speak but I can see there is so much she wants to say. Awkward seconds pass, and she opens her mouth to say something when her ringtone sounds out. She pulls her phone from her pocket and taps on her screen.
I lean forward. “The farmer?”
“He’s given me the day off,” she says between gritted teeth.
“I will recompense what you have lost today.”
“I don’t want your money, Lucian. I didn’t want it two years ago, and I don’t now.”
Finally, we’re addressing the elephant in the room. I run my fingers through my hair. “About that—”
Chelsea shakes her head. “You asked me to your house that day so you could purchase my photograph, but instead offered me a million pounds to spend the night with you. Do you really think so little of me?”
I advance toward her, but she doesn’t step back. She’s facing me head-on, which I find more than a little intriguing. I capture her hands and hold them between mine. “I just wanted to prove a point to my brother. I promise you, my intentions were honourable. I would not have expected…”
