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I decide to give him another tidbit of information he can use against me for the rest of my life. “She’s a trivia buff. Loves that shit. Wins tournaments all over the city.”
“Trivia, huh?”
“She and her friends call themselves the Nerd Herd.”
“So, let me get this straight. Lawson Hall, playboy extraordinaire, has fallen head over ass for a geek?”
“A hot, sexy, incredibly gorgeous geek that makes me look like a dumbass at these events. One night, I was schooled on the elements and chemical make-up of semen.”
His jaw drops, and it’s my turn to grin. “Yep, semen.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, because I’m thoroughly convinced you have lost your mind. This makes me as evil and deranged as you. But tell me more about this girl. Maybe I can figure out a way to help you keep her when the truth comes out.”
I know my time is limited, but I launch into the story, leaving out only the intimate details. When I’m done, he looks as sick as I feel.
“You’ve got one thing going for you. She’s in love with you.”
“Let’s hope it’s enough.” I blow out a breath as my phone dings with the text that she’s ready.
“Give her this weekend, Lawson. But, next week, you have to tell her the truth.”
I nod, knowing he’s right, but selfishly, I’m not prepared for the risk.
•8•8•
“Babe, you’re freezing.” I strengthen my hold to try and stop her shivering.
“I’ll get warm in a second. The fire’s about to get going.” She curls into me further, her still damp hair soaking into my shirt. “Besides, you’re like an inferno. Your body heat is all I need.”
“I could carry you to the truck and turn on the heat. At least until you stop trembling.”
She raises her face to mine with a determined glare. “I will be fine. Soon, Enrique and Jonas will use their master pyro techniques to have a blaze so big we’ll be sweating.”
“Here we go!” Jonas steps back from the fire pit, and a huge blaze sparks in the air, the flames growing wide and high.
The heat reaches us instantly, and Greer claps along with her friends.
“Okay, we have almost an hour until dark. Who’s helping me with dinner?” Bessie looks around for takers.
“The pasta salad is done and in the cooler. I’ve already marinated the kabobs and veggies, too,” Greer tells her.
“So, the guys can cook, and we can lounge back and drink?”
“Actually,” Greer unfolds herself out of my embrace and hoists to her feet, “I wanted to show Lawson around.”
There’s a low grumble from the group, but Jenny flashes me an encouraging smile. An unnerving feeling settles in my gut, but I rise and take Greer’s hand in mine.
“Lead the way.” I let her trope me through the campsite and along a well-paved path until we stand at the edge of a vast manicured lawn. A hundred yards in the distance is an enormous mansion lit up brighter that anything I’ve ever seen. The stone structure is built in an English architecture style, with high points in the rooflines and tons of intricate details.
It’s an architect’s dream. Whoever designed this structure is brilliant.
“That’s amazing.”
“It’s mine.” She moves in front of me, chewing on her bottom lip. “All of this is mine.”
I tense, unprepared for her confession. “It’s yours?”
“I’ve been hiding a part of my life from you. It’s something I hold close and don’t share with anyone outside of my circle. But it’s not fair to be dishonest with you anymore.”
