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“Everything except what happened after.” The words come out before I can stop them.
She looks up, those brown-hazel eyes searching my face. “I know you were worried.”
“Worried doesn’t begin to cover it.” I lean against her kitchen counter, needing its solid support. “You acted like you weren’t involved.Then, when Jaxson told me just how involved you’d been—“
“Luke.” She moves to stand in front of me. “I’m okay. Nothing happened.”
“But it could have.” I reach out, unable to help myself, caressing the curve of her face. “You don’t know what Marcus is capable of.”
“Can you tell me what Jaxson’s team found?” She gives me a rueful smile. “It’s been hard not knowing.”
The scent of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies fills the space between us as I blow out a breath. “We met with Chen and Hartley today. Showed them everything we found—everything you helped us get.” I grimly tell her of Marcus’ plans. “The look on their faces when they realized what Marcus has been doing...” I shake my head.
“How is Crystal? Does she suspect anything?” Lila moves to her oven, pulls out a hot tray of cookies, and sets them to cool.
“Honestly? I don’t know. I haven’t been in touch with her.” Lila glances up in surprise. “I almost feel sorry for her. She didn’t pick her father, but that doesn’t mean she’s innocent. She brought most of it on herself.” I think of Crystal’scalculated manipulations over the last few weeks. “I have a feeling she’ll always land on her feet.”
Lila nods, then hesitates. “So, it’s over then?”
I shake my head. “Not yet. But hopefully, it will be next week, after the board meeting. Chen and Hartley are firmly in Dad’s corner now. Jaxson’s coordinating with federal authorities—turns out Marcus’s creative accounting caught some serious attention.” I run a hand through my hair. “We’re setting up a sting. The less you know about it, the better.”
“Luke—“
“Please.” I cross the kitchen to her, catching her hands in mine. “Just trust me a little longer. Until this whole mess is behind us.”
She nods and squeezes my fingers. “Of course. Always.”
The simple declaration hits me like a punch to the gut. The sunlight streaming through her windows cast shadows across her face, and I want nothing more than to pull her close, to show her exactly what those words mean to me. But there’s more I need to tell her.
“There’s still the balloon payment to deal with,” I say reluctantly. “Even with the board backing Dad, last year’s fire put the company in a tough spot. Between my music revenue and our other holdings, we’re still coming up short.”
“How short?”
“Too much.” I don’t want to burden her with the exact figures. “We need a miracle, basically.”
She’s quiet for a moment, then says, “You’ll find a way. I’m sure of it.”
Her faith in me is humbling. Dangerous. I’m already too invested, too attached to this woman who moved in next door—into my life and turned everything upside down.
“Lila.” My voice is rough. “What you did—helping us, risking everything—I need you to know...”
She presses her fingers to my lips. “Not yet. Tell me when this is over.”
She’s right, of course. There’s too much at stake right now for declarations or promises. But standing here in her warm kitchen, I’ve never wanted her more.
I watch as she places three still-hot cookies from the oven on a plate and hands them to me.
“Here, I made these for you. You said they’re your favorite.” She smiles. “And I know you’re always hungry.”
Instead of taking the plate of cookies, I reach for her, pulling her into my arms. “You’re right about that,” I softly whisper as I cover her lips with mine.
“Luke, what if someone saw you come in here?” She says as she reluctantly starts to pull away.
“And I told you, I’m done caring,” I tell her roughly, then lean down and sweep her off her feet and cradle her in my arms.
I carry her into her bedroom and proceed to make slow, sweet love to her, so different from the last time—until she softly calls out my name and comes in my arms.
Afterward, I hold her close, keeping the words I long to say locked inside—at least for now.