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“Yes. She’s like this powerhouse of a woman who isn’t afraid to go after what she wants.”
“So are you.”
Lottie rolls her eyes. “Oh please. I was a broke waitress who was about to sell her body. Whodidsell her body.”
“No.” My hand reaches for hers as I bark out my denial. “Listen to me, Lottie. You’re a woman who put her brother first and did her absolute best with the shit hand she was dealt. None of what happened was in any way in your control. I hate the thought of you thinking about yourself that way.”
“But the truth is our contract states it.”
Her voice is softer as if she’s trying to make me feel better and it only makes me feel worse. I wish we could go back and I could woo her and make her fall in love with me and then I could have married her and rid her of her debt without the stupid contract between us. Now it will always be there, and I hate it.
“Hey, it’s okay. I’m happy with my decision. I’ve secured a future without debt for me and Eric, and I feel like I got my friend back and with orgasms to go with it. I’m not ashamed, Linc.”
“Good because you have nothing to be ashamed of. You’re amazing.”
“Thank you.”
I get the bill and take her hand, but as we walk toward the exit, I meet the eyes of the last two people on earth I want to see right now.
“Son, how lovely to see you.”
My grip tightens on Lottie as she moves closer to me. “Father.”
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your new wife?”
I have no desire to do so, so I counter. “Aren’t you going to tell me why you’re having a cozy lunch with a woman more than half your age who isn’t your wife?”
I see his lip curl and know I landed a hit.
“Don’t be silly, son. You remember Arabella. She was your date to the prom if I’m not mistaken. We were just doing a little business.”
I sense Lottie stiffen beside me as she’s reminded of the night I left her standing waiting for me at the door to her little house as I drove past her with Arabella as my prom date instead. He knows what he’s doing. After all, he was the one who instigated it but as I feel her hand shake in mine and turn to see the color has drained from her face, I wonder if there is more to it.
“Since my son is so rude and has forgotten the manners his mother and I taught him, I’ll introduce myself.”
He tries to step around me to Lottie, but she only leans in closer and I block his attempt.
“Violet, it’s lovely to see you again. All grown up and looking as delightful as the last time I saw you.”
If it’s possible, she seems to pale even further, and I know I need to get her out of there.
“Mr. Coldwell.”
Her voice is a whisper and I curse as I pull her closer to my side. “It seems Lottie is feeling unwell. We need to leave.” I glance at Arabella who was never a bad person, just the pawn in my father’s games the same as I was. “Arabella.”
“Lincoln. Violet, I hope you feel better soon.”
She manages to rush out a cursory thanks before I drag her out of there. The second she’s in the car, I reach for her, and she lets me hold her as she shakes.
“Tell me what to do, Lottie.”
“Just take me home.”
I give the instruction to my driver and for the hundredth time this week, curse the man who gave me life.
The closer we get to home the more the tension in her body eases and the shakes finally subside but as we step into the elevator for the penthouse, she’s still incredibly pale. I keep her tucked into my body and she holds on to me as if her life depends on it.
Sweeping her into my arms, I head straight for our bedroom when the doors swish open. Ignoring the questioning look from Mrs. Jenkins, my housekeeper, I place her on the bed and pull off her shoes, kicking mine off as I go and then I settle myself on the bed beside her, hauling her into my arms as I do.
