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“No.” He shook his head. “You’ve become incredibly important to me, and the thought of someone plotting against you wasn’t acceptable.”
“So, your needs superseded mine?”
“That wasn’t how I saw it when I chatted with Ken.” He lifted his gaze and saw her disappointment. It gutted him in a way he hadn’t expected. He could take her rage, frustration, or exasperation. But failing her, that was on a whole other level. “What can I do to fix this?”
“Nothing,” she said quietly. “I can’t handle another man who doesn’t believe in me.”
He leaned back in the chair and studied the ceiling. “The first time I laid eyes on you, I knew.” He dropped his head. “That I would never have enough words to describe the way it feels to have finally found you.”
“I need some time, Linc.” She turned her face toward the open window. “I don’t know if I can do this again.” She dropped her shoulders as a single tear slid down her face. “I wanted to believe what you said about accepting me and respecting my strength.”
“I know my actions didn’t show you that I admire your majesty.” He took her hand and pressed a kiss to it. “I’m just hoping you will give me a second chance to prove I do.”
Lucy pushed herself to her feet and strode to the door, opening it. “I need time.”
“Understood.” He reluctantly lifted himself out of the chair and ambled in her direction. When they were toe-to-toe, he lifted her chin with his thumb. “I have fallen for you. Not because you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, but because you have a fearsome heart. There isn’t a part of your cracked perfection that I don’t adore, and I am prepared to love when you are as still as day and as wild as a hurricane.” He kissed her cheek gently. “I’ll be waiting.”
Feeling her hand dig into his shirt let him know this wasn’t easy for her either.
Perhaps this was just a thing they had to go through, so they could learn how to get to the other side and trust one another.
He pressed their heads together and inhaled her scent, praying she would forgive him. “Stay well, sweetheart. I will be waiting.” Reluctantly, he loosened his hold and clomped down the stairs.
God-willing, this was just an intermission because their story was still in the opening act.
NINETEEN
Lucy wandered through the back of her store and admired how tidy it appeared. The flood sale had been a roaring success, and she’d somehow cut the inventory in half and raised over five thousand dollars. The loot would be divided between the person who read the most books and the library’s summer reading program.
All in all, a win for everyone.
Even Captain Underpants was happy with the cleanup and mentioned a fire safety award—something she was looking forward to receiving. And, yes, she did have an outfit picked out for the auspicious occasion that included some red slingbacks to die for.
Letting out a breath, she tried to count her blessings as she trailed her hand over the newly installed shelves and ignored the memory of Linc’s smiling face when he’d installed them. Why was the anti-prince occupying so many of her thoughts?
It had been a week since she’d seen him, and she didn’t understand why his allure hadn’t dissipated. When she heard Horace squawk, she turned toward the front of the store and wondered what the parrot needed to share. “What is it now, oh, great guru?”
“Pretty Lucy.”
She strode over to his cage and tilted her head. “You’re just saying that because I called you a guru.”
“Smart bird.”
“I don’t know if I’d go that far.” She picked up a little treat from the bowl she now kept on the desk and placed it in his little red dish. “Don’t make a mess.”
“Bossy boots.”
“You have no idea,” she quipped, taking a visual inventory of the store. Everything was in its place, and she didn’t know why it wasn’t more satisfying. Usually, a pristine paradise filled her soul with satisfaction. Had the doldrums found a permanent place and pushed out all the positivity she was trying to manifest?
“Time for another reset.” Shaking out her hair, she squared her shoulders. “I’m going to stick with it this time and not be distracted by tempting men who promise the moon but deliver disappointment.”
“Say sorry. Say sorry.”
Spinning around, she stared at the fair-weather fowl. “I didn’t commit the offense. Linc did.”
“Lost love. Lost love.”
“The man stomped on our budding ardor, and I will not hesitate to cut our visit short if you can’t be supportive.” When Horace provided no further parrot insight and returned to his snack, she knew her point had been made. She also became aware that she was treating him like a friend.
