Page 74 of Love Arranged

While Lorenzo helps her, I take in the space. There are two massive islands—one for prepping food and one for eating—a walk-in wine cellar, integrated appliances my sister always gushes over, and a picturesque view of Lake Wisteria sparkling in the distance.

The kitchen, like the rest of the house, is beautiful in a showroom,no one actually cooks herekind of way. I’m afraid to touch anything because every surface sparkles and all the appliances look expensive as hell.

Every counter is spotless, void of typical clutter like spice jars and oil bottles, and all the small appliances are concealed. The only room that looks slightly lived-in is the butler’s pantry, and that isn’t saying much because the smaller room is fancier than most people’s kitchens, with ingredients stored in apothecary-style glass jars and snacks hidden inside labeled baskets.

After Willow and Lorenzo get the fire alarm to stop blaring, she starts cutting some fresh, non-burnt bread. “This will take a few minutes to heat up.”

I step up beside her. “Any way I can help?”

“Lorenzo and you can set the table?”

I assume she is referencing the breakfast nook that faces the lake and forest beyond, but Lorenzo chooses to put the placemats down at the second island before showing me where the silverwaredrawer is.

We both reach inside it at the same time, sending sparks scattering up my arm from a quick brush of his pinky finger against mine. The sensation startles me, and I suck in a breath.

It’s not fair to be this…imbalancedaround someone. It throws me off, turning me into a bumbling fool who can’t seem to handle his presence. I blame the fact that I see bits ofLaurencepeeking through, like when he talks about his car collection or how he automatically serves me water without any ice because I once told him I preferred it that way.

I also see the man who threw me away like I didn’t matter. Like the connection we had wasn’t worth it, which sent me running straight into Richard’s arms because I wanted to feel desired.

All I ended up doing was hurting myself.

Remember: You’re doing all this to save your shop, so stop thinking about this as anything but an arrangement.

Yes. That’s it. This is a mutually beneficial, strictly logical, no-strings-attachedarrangementthat will end once Lorenzo becomes mayor.

I only need to make it through the five longest months of my life first.

“What happened to Sunday lunch?” Lorenzo asks.

“What about it?” I don’t answer until I finish my bite of the branzino.

I’d never admit such a thing to Lorenzo, but his skills in the kitchen deserve high praise.

“Since when do you skip them?” he follows up.

“Why do you care?” I reply, more guarded than before.

Willow leans back in her chair and sips her wine. “I assume your family is still upset by the news?”

“Yes,” I say with a heavy breath. “It’s been less than twenty-four hours, so they need time to adjust.”

Lorenzo puts his fork down. “I’m still curious why you agreed to date me when you knew they wouldn’t approve.”

“Fakedate,” I emphasize. “And I have my own reasons for wanting you to become mayor, none of which are your business.”

“But what if we could help you?” Willow is making this meal feel more like an interrogation than a strategy meeting.

“You can by making sure Lorenzo wins.” I soften the words with a smile.

Telling Lorenzo about the mayor’s plans will only help our cause and strengthen his campaign platform, but I refuse to share anything about it until I feel like I can trust that my mom and everyone else on Lavender Lane won’t be put in legal jeopardy.

My mom’s health can’t take it, and I care too much about our neighbors to cause them more distress.

So until Lorenzo proves himself worthy, I’ll keep quiet on the matter and enjoy the way it eats him up inside to not know all my secrets.

15

LILY