Page 46 of Lucas (The Valeur Billionaires #2)

Chapter Thirty-One

AVA

“ Y ou look happy,” I say to Cora as we settle into our seats at the café. We haven’t gotten together since the wedding, and she’s the only person I can talk to who knows the truth about our marriage besides Lucas, the only one with whom I don’t have to pretend.

And she sounded thrilled when I asked to meet up.

“Yeah?” She holds her hands to her cheeks and smiles, her eyes sparkling. “I don’t know. I think Arlo might be the one.”

“Really?” My eyes widen. “How long have you been dating?”

The server arrives to take our orders, and we fall silent.

“Santa Fe sandwich for me.” I hand back the menu.

“Same for me. And a vodka orange,” Cora adds.

I shoot her a look, my eyebrow arching.

“What? It’s five o’clock somewhere. ”

I laugh. “So, how long have you been dating?” I ask again once the server leaves.

“A few months,” Cora replies with a wave of her hand.

“It’s not long, I know. I’m not expecting him to propose or anything, I just want to know I’ve found him.

You know? My one.” She sighs and sits back in her chair.

“I look at Logan and see how much he’s changed.

He was so serious before Sloane. I don’t think he even remembered how to smile, and he’s a different person now.

He’s so happy with her. I want that for myself too. That life-changing love.”

I nod, understanding the longing all too well.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” She places her hand on my arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Here I am rambling on about my boyfriend, and you’re stuck in this fake marriage with Lucas, bound by a contract, without love. I really am sorry.”

“It’s okay.” I lower my gaze, fiddling with the napkin in my lap, twisting the paper between my fingers.

“Ava?” Cora narrows her eyes, studying me. “Did something happen with Lucas? You’re blushing.”

“I’m not blushing.” I deny, but my cheeks only heat further under her scrutiny.

“You just turned red before my eyes.” Cora grins, a knowing gleam in her gaze. “You slept with him, didn’t you?”

I smile, unable to hide the truth from her.

“Yes! I knew it. You slept with him,” she gloats, bouncing a little in her seat.

“ Shhh ...” I glance around, hoping no one overheard her exuberant outburst.

She lowers her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “From that look, it was good. ”

“He’s—”

“No! Wait. Don’t tell me. God, I can’t hear stories about my brother. I’m pretty sure that’s illegal or something.” She shudders dramatically.

I laugh, the tension easing from my shoulders. “Let’s just say there’s probably an advantage to the fact that he’s very experienced.”

She grins. “So, you like him now, or is it just sex?”

“I kind of like him,” I admit, picking at a loose thread.

More than like. I think I’m falling in love with him, but there’s no way I’m saying those words out loud. Saying them would make it real and give him the power to destroy me. So I’ll keep it locked away in that small, neglected corner of my heart where I shove all the inconvenient feelings.

“Ooh, I’m excited. It’s funny because you’re already married, but if you become a real couple?—”

“That’s not going to happen.” I deflate her enthusiasm, my stomach twisting at the thought. I can’t let myself hope for the impossible.

“But why not? I know our families aren’t on the best terms, but you know, that was in the past. You’re not your dad, and Lucas isn’t his dad. You can start fresh. Bring the families together. It would be so cool if you were part of the family. I mean, not that you’re not already, but you know...”

I don’t have a family to bring together anymore. That bridge is well and truly burned. “It won’t happen because Lucas isn’t interested. He’s just waiting for the day our contract ends. As soon as he gets the CEO position.”

Cora shakes her head. “I don’t think he’s waiting for the contract to end, not like you think. At family dinners, he talks about you, and he says good things.”

“He talks about me?” I’ve never gone to their family dinners. His father isn’t keen on my presence for understandable reasons. At least he hasn’t banished Lucas from his home like I’ve been.

“All the damn time. It’s always Ava this, Ava that. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was well on his way to being smitten.” She grins, looking far too pleased with herself.

“Smitten? What is this, a Jane Austen novel? No one says smitten anymore.” I deflect, trying to ignore the way my heart is suddenly racing, my palms gone clammy.

“Yeah. I think even Dad has softened a bit. Maybe he’ll invite you soon.” Hope colors her voice, but I don’t let it take root in my heart.

“I wish my father would soften a bit.” I sigh, slumping back in my chair.

“What’s really going on? Have you tried talking to him?” Cora asks, sympathy softening her features.

“Not since he visited my office and Lucas threw him out.” I deflate further, the memory still stinging. “Maybe it’s better this way. ”

“I don’t understand why he gave you control of the company if he wants it back now?” Cora frowns, puzzlement creasing her brow.

“I don’t know either,” I lie. I don’t mention that he’s been embezzling for years and hid it from me and that now I’m tangled up in his lies. That his intention was for me to take over the company and become a scapegoat for his actions.

“I know this is going to sound radical, but maybe just give the company back to him? I mean, you said it’s in bad shape, anyway.”

I shake my head. “I can’t. Not now. Lucas wouldn’t allow it. He’s invested money in the company, and he hates my father.”

Cora purses her lips. “Well, it was a thought.”

“Tell me about Arlo. Do you see each other a lot?” I ask, desperate to change the subject to something less painful.

“We’re meeting up in a bit. He’s coming to pick me up from here after a week of not seeing each other. We don’t get to meet up as much as I’d like. We both work a lot.” She shrugs, trying to appear nonchalant, but I can see the disappointment lingering in her eyes.

“So I’m stealing your time with him?” I furrow my brow, guilt niggling at me.

“No, of course not. I love meeting up with you. And Arlo wasn’t free, anyway. Sometimes I don’t understand how he’s busier than me.” She laughs, but it rings hollow.

“Everyone’s busy these days.” I smile, trying to lighten the mood. “What does he do for work?”

“He’s an IT engineer,” Cora says, fiddling with her straw. “You’d expect he could make time for a personal life, but it seems they work him really hard. He’s always so tired, the poor guy.”

I nod, thinking of Lucas and his demanding schedule. “Maybe you should encourage him to look for another place if he can’t even go on a date.” Lucas canceled his plans so he could come with me to Michelle’s party even though he doesn’t even care about me, and you can’t say Lucas isn’t a busy man.

“Yeah, maybe. He doesn’t like to talk about his job much.” She pulls a face, wrinkling her nose. “Lucas said you went riding together over the weekend? Did he sucker you into it? ”

“Sucker me into it?” My eyes widen.

“He’s been trying for years to get all of his siblings to join him. No one agrees except Liam. Everyone knows his route is brutal.” She laughs, shaking her head.

“Wow, yeah, it was definitely brutal. And he claimed it was the easy one. I almost passed out at the end.” I grimace at the memory of my screaming muscles and the burning in my lungs. But his treatment of me after was worth it.

“Oh, Wait. I see Arlo.” She waves, and the man who just entered starts making his way over to us. “You haven’t met yet, right?”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ava.” I extend my hand, and he shakes it, his grip firm and cool.

He smiles. “Nice to meet you too.”

Arlo is very handsome—though not Lucas-level handsome—tall and lean, with sharp features and dark eyes. He leans over and kisses Cora.

“Ava was just telling me how my brother took her on his weekly bike route,” Cora says, smiling up at Arlo.

“His weekly route?” Arlo glances between us.

“Yeah. He goes out every weekend morning for a ride. A tough route, lots of miles. He’s been doing it for years,” Cora explains. “He loves riding. It’s a serious hobby.”

“Yeah, and this time, he convinced me to join him.” I laugh.

“He’d never convince me,” Cora says. “Good for you for surviving it. I’d die in the first mile,” she adds, shaking her head.

“So you enjoy cycling?” Arlo asks, his eyes boring into me with an intensity that makes me shift in my seat .

“It’s a new thing, actually. Lucas taught me how to ride,” I admit, feeling defensive under his probing gaze.

“Really? You didn’t know how to ride a bike?” Surprise flickers across his face before he smooths his features back into polite interest.

“No. You could say I had a childhood trauma with it.” I shrug, not wanting to delve into the painful details.

“Ah, I see.” Cora smiles, understanding dawning. “So, he guilted you into joining him. You felt obligated because he taught you to ride.”

“No, it wasn’t like that. Not exactly.” How do I explain how important that moment was to me? How he encouraged me not to give up, to believe I could do it? How he made me feel worthy and capable for the first time in my life? The only person who’s ever said those words to me and meant them.

“Yeah, that’s Lucas. He could sell sand to a desert dweller.” She chuckles, shaking her head. “One reason he’s such an excellent business manager, I guess.”

“Yeah...” Maybe she’s right. Maybe it’s all just part of Lucas’s charm and has nothing to do with me at all. The thought sits heavy in my stomach, a leaden weight.

We ask for the check and stand, gathering our things. “It was nice to meet you, Arlo,” I say, offering him a small smile.

“Yeah, you too.” He shakes my hand again.

I watch them leave, Cora tucked under his arm, and a pang of longing lances through me. I want that. I want inside jokes and shared history, easy affection and unwavering support.

I want a partnership in every sense of the word.

I want love. Real, messy, complicated, extraordinary love.

With Lucas.