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Chapter Twenty-Nine

PAYTON

Not my wife. She’s my bodyguard.

The words keep playing in my head. That and watching Lily take off my jersey as I said it in front of a dozen or more reporters.

I suspect she did that out of professionalism.

Or perhaps to demonstrate the truth as we answered a multitude of questions about my cousin Sebastian’s supposed accident, my sister’s insistence that I have a bodyguard, and my knuckle-headed decision to create this entire charade to protect my identity.

Not my best moment, that, but the press seemed to find much of it amusing by the end. Now, everyone will know the truth. Or at least, the hockey world and this quaint beach town called Sarabella that I consider home.

Although, I’m unsure how I’ll feel about staying here if Lily’s on the other side of the pond. That’s what I wanted to talk to her about tonight before the press invaded our little bubble. But after all that went down, I don’t think I’m ready for this conversation.

I must look more exhausted than I feel because Lily insisted on driving us home from the arena. Or she’s still playing that game of hers. Time to bloody well clear up that rubbish.

My phone buzzes against my leg—text alerts.

Lily throws a glance my way as she stops at a traffic light. “Hope that’s not more reporters.”

I slip from my pocket and touch the message on the screen. “No, just the lads checking in.”

Luke: You doing okay, Pay?

Payton: If drowning in embarrassment is good, then I’m fine and dandy.

Elias: What did I miss?

Ethan: Check your news feed, man. I’m sure the story broke already. Those guys work fast.

Wade: The sooner it breaks, the sooner it will ride out with the tide.

Elias: Whoa! Pay, are you actually connected to the British Monarchy?

Payton: Loosely. Just glad my cousin is alive and recovering well.

Elias: And Lily’s your BODYGUARD!!! That’s sick!

Luke: I think your fever is talking, Elias. Settle down, bro.

Elias: Figures the one time I get sick, I miss the really good stuff.

Ethan: Contrary to what you believe, Elias, the world does not revolve around you.

Elias: Hey! Sick person here. Have some compassion.

Mathéo: You know this is going to bring the fans in like crazy.

Wade: Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Barbie-man. This is like a slam into the pipes. Let the snow settle and give our guy Pay a chance to catch his breath.

Luke: Wade’s right.

Ethan: What about Lily, Payton?

Payton: What about her?

Mathéo: Does this mean she’s going back to England now?

Payton: I don’t know.

Luke: Do you want her to?

At first, I hesitate to reply, debating how much to tell them, but then I remember how they all stood by me tonight, and I realize I don’t have to carry my burdens alone anymore.

Payton: No. It guts me to think about it.

Wade: Sounds like you’re in love with her, Pay.

Payton: I am. Head over skates. I think I have been since the first time I met her.

Wade: Now that’s a story I can’t wait to hear.

Luke: Don’t tell Sophie, or she’ll want to write about you two.

Payton: Wouldn’t dream of it. I’ve had enough publicity to last a lifetime.

Ethan: Don’t let her get away, man.

Payton: Not sure how to get her to stay.

Wade: Take it from me. Tell her how you feel. Or else you’ll regret it.

Luke: Sounds like another story to tell there, Cowboy.

Wade: Maybe one day.

Ethan: Elias, where’d you go, man?

Mathéo: He’s probably getting cozy with his toilet again.

Luke: Way to bring the convo to an end, Barbie-man. Literally…

Wade: And now we’re talking potty. Get it? Not party, but potty…

Luke: Seriously, Cowboy, what’s with the dad jokes?

Payton: Right, you lot. I’m off. Thanks again for having my back.

Elias: Ugh. Being sick sucks. What did I miss?

Ethan: Read the texts, man! Anytime, Payton.

Luke: Always here for you, bro.

Mathéo: Got that right.

Elias: Can somebody bring me some chicken soup?

I chuckle and pocket my phone again. The other blokes can handle that one.

The parking spots in front of my apartment are full, so Lily parks on the opposite side. Thunder rumbles in the distance, and the wind seems to pick up, blowing the palms back and forth beyond what a gentle breeze would do.

And Lily isn’t moving. She’s just staring out the windscreen.

I turn in my seat. “What’s going on in that gorgeous head of yours, luv?”

She sends a weak smile my way, but tears sit in her eyes. “Your world.”

“What about it?”

“It’s…so beautiful.”

“That’s because you’re in it.” Cheeky, I know, but true. I want her to understand that my life will be forever incomplete without her in it.

She shakes her head. “No. It’s because of you, Payton. You’ve built this wonderful life with people you love. And they care about you. So much. Seeing that tonight was amazing.”

The way she pauses sends a sick feeling into my gut. There’s a giant ‘but’ about to follow, and I’m dreading it. “What are you trying to say?”

“I know everything, Payton.” She stares at me as if she’s expecting some kind of retaliation. “Del told me about what you did with the signs and all the rest. I’ve known since the day you and I kissed.”

“I know.”

Her lips part with her surprise, which tempts me to crush her against me and kiss away her worries, her fears…and her doubts.

“What do you mean, you know?”

I chuckle softly. “You were acting off while we were making dinner, so I texted Del to ask what was going on. She fessed up that she told you everything.”

“And you didn’t say anything?!”

“I didn’t want to ruin your little game of seduction.” I give her a cheeky grin.

Shaking her head, she holds her hand up. “I wasn’t trying to seduce you.”

I bug my eyes out at her. “You changed into that sexy white dress.”

She bites her lip. “I just wanted to be comfortable. ”

“Bloody hell, you drove me bonkers!”

She says nothing to that, and I’m too busy drinking in this gorgeous woman who quite literally inserted herself between me and the world when I think about it.

All those reporters vying to take their best shot at me, how she shoved the first git away, and not to mention how she stood by me the entire time. Just like she promised.

All my life I’ve fought for what I wanted—what I wanted to do and be, how I wanted to live my life. And I’ve done it alone. So has Lily. But tonight, she contended for me. Sounds absurd to think about it, considering my dalliances with romance stories. I should be the one fighting for her.

And I do want to fight for her. Even if I have to follow her around the world. Because with her, I’m not alone anymore. Kind of a duh moment, I know. But it’s true.

Another rumble of thunder pierces the night as fat raindrops pelt the car.

I touch Lily’s face, running my fingers along her hairline, then tuck a loose strand behind her ear and cup her cheek.

“Lily, I started falling for you the day you followed me onto that airplane and began planning our ruse. None of this has been fake for me.”

Her eyes dart back and forth as though she’s searching for what to say.

But instead of words, she lunges forward and kisses me hungrily, clinging to me almost as if she’s saying goodbye.

I wrap my arms around her and press her closer, refusing to believe that’s the case, all the while trying to convince her I meant what I said with each nibble of her lips and stroke of my tongue against her softness.

I love her with every cell in my being. Her leaving would be like depriving me of my ability to breathe. Somehow, I have to make her see we belong together, whether that means she stays here with me. Or I go back to England with her.

Gently, I pull away from her. “What do I need to do to convince you this is real?”

Tears well in her eyes, and for a moment, I think she’s going to tell me she feels the same and maybe even that she loves me.

But then she pushes me away, jumps out of the car, and runs into the pouring rain.