Page 97 of Lucas

“Isaid my door is always open if you need me, and I meant it.” I keep my voice gentle as I cross to her, placing a steadying hand on her trembling shoulder. “What’s happened?”

“I told my dad. About...” Her voice cracks, and she ducks her head, swiping at the fresh tears spilling down her blotchy cheeks.

“I take it he didn’t react well?”

“He called me a freak. Told me to get out and not come back until I ‘straighten myself out.’ That I’m not his son anymore.”

She meets my gaze, eyes glassy. “I didn’t know where else to go. I’m so sorry for barging in and imposing like this. I swear I’ll get out of your hair as soon as I find a cheap motel or something. I just need a place to crash for a few days until?—”

“Stop right there.” I fix her with a stern look. “You’re not imposing, and you’re sure as hell not staying in some fleabag motel. I have more guest rooms than I know what to do with. You’re going to stay here with me until we figure this out. No arguments.”

Her face crumples again, this time in relief. “I don’t know how to thank you. I swear I’ll pay you back for every cent.”

“You’ll do no such thing. I offered, remember? Let me help. Please.”

She nods, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. “Okay. Thank you, truly. You’re like my guardian angel or something.”

I bark a humorless laugh at that. “I think you’ll find I’m no angel, sweetheart.”

I open my arms in invitation, and she sags against me, letting me enfold her in a fierce hug.

“Hey. What’s going on?” Ava’s voice shatters the loaded silence.

I release Kaia and turn to face my wife, drinking her in. She’s changed into a gauzy sundress that clings to her damp skin, her dark hair loose and curling softly around her shoulders. The light honey scent of her body wash reaches me. She’s a vision, and it physically pains me to tear my gaze from her.

An awkward beat passes as Ava’s assessing stare darts between Kaia and me, something inscrutable flickering across her lovely face before she shutters her expression.

I clear my throat. “Ava, this is my friend Kaia. She’ll be staying with us for a while. Kaia, meet my wife, Ava.”

“Nice to meet you.” Kaia extends a hand, offering a smile. “Wow, you’re like stupid gorgeous.”

Ava returns the handshake with a polite, close-lipped smile that doesn’t touch her eyes. “Likewise. I didn’t know my husband had such young, pretty friends.”

Fuck. This looks bad.

“Kaia is more of a little sister, really,” I say in a rush.

Kaia touches my forearm. “I really am sorry for crashing your night like this. I know you’re newlyweds, and you probably want to be alone with your knockout wife. I don’t want to make things weird.”

Summoning a reassuring smile, I pat her hand and step back. “You have nothing to apologize for, I promise. I’m going to get you settled in the blue guest room—it has an ensuite and a lovely view of the east gardens. And I expectyou to join us for dinner, no arguments. You’re skin and bones.”

She huffs a laugh at that, some of the tension draining from her thin shoulders. “I could murder a burger, not gonna lie.”

“Ava, can you make sure she gets something to eat while I go talk to Hugo and take a shower?”

“Sure,” she says, but her body language is stiff. “Come with me.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

AVA

“So, you’re not relatives?” I ask the young blonde woman, my eyes roving over her youthful features.

She looks young, twenty at most. Who is she? Is this his type? My mind races with questions.

“No,” Kaia says.

I point toward the kitchen, and we start forward.