Page 141 of Love Arranged

“I thought I could start making amends with your mom by joining you both at Mass.”

“She’s not coming today.”

“Why not?”

“She’d rather rest. If she feels better, she’ll still go to lunch.”

Shit. “But you’re still going?”

She nods.

“Then let’s go before we’re late.”

She looks like she wants to argue, but she clamps her lips shut and locks up the door instead.

When she teeters on the stairs, I’m quick to wrap my arms around her so she doesn’t fall over. “Those heels will be the death of me.”

“Good idea. I’ll be dreaming of stabbing you with them all morning.” She pulls back with a smile.

“Now I don’t feel bad for thinking about them wrapped around my waist later.”

Maybe I do like when Lily stops talking, but only when I’m the one making her speechless.

I open the door and help her into the passenger seat. Before she can reach for her seat belt, I grab it.

She huffs to herself. “I can do that.”

“No one said you couldn’t, but I like taking care of you.”

She averts her gaze. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Make me think this is real.” Her voice drops, and I feel guilty for being responsible for that doubt.

“What if I want it to be?” I ask, surprised by my own outburst. “Or what if it has been real between us for a while but I was too stubborn to accept it?”

“That’s a lot of what-ifs.”

“I only care about one.” I snap her seat belt in place before kissing her temple.

“What if we gave this a try?”

36

LORENZO

The universe is playing a cosmic joke on me because as soon as we make it to my car after Mass, Richard Ludlow is exiting his only a few spaces away.

I’m not sure why he is attending church when he’s going to end up in hell, but I suppose the same can be said for me. Appearances are everything in this town, so we both play our parts, although I do wish his exterior matched his ugly personality.

He doesn’t have to pass by my car on his way to the church, but he chooses to do so anyway so he can stop and say, “I hear congratulations are in order.”

Lily and I stare at him.

He quickly dismisses me and focuses on Lily. “I’m surprised how quickly your relationship has progressed sinceyou were sleeping with menot too long ago.” He pauses, his gaze flickering over to my face.

Lily’s eyes widen and her mouth opens, but I rope an arm around her and speak before she can.