Page 67 of Reckless Chance

Lowri is sound asleep, draped across me with her head resting on my bare chest. I don’t have the heart to wake her, even though it’s morning. It hadn’t been my plan to spend the entire night in my panic room. Between the physical exertion and the emotional talk, we were wiped out and didn’t have the energy to leave. After I notified security not to expect us to emerge from my hideaway until morning, we turned out the lights and crashed.

I haven’t slept that well in ages. Why did I share so much though? Lowri is so easy to talk to that I spoke without my normal filter, which is surprising. It’s unusual for me to let anyone in, much less a woman I’m sleeping with. Of course, she’s technically more than that.

As I absentmindedly smooth her silky hair that’s flowing over the side of my torso, it hits me that I feel closer to Lowri than ever. This relationship is comfortable. Did I use the termrelationship? Whatever it is, she’s wriggling her way further into my life.

Shit.

I wonder if we’ll feel awkward with each other after our conversation last night.

After our openness, she’s going to kill me when she finds out that there’s one secret I didn’t share. It’s time. Actually, it’s well past time for Lowri to know about the requirements of my trust.

I never intended to wait this long to tell her. We’ve been busy. The timing hasn’t been good.

No, those aren’t the real reasons. I’m rationalizing because I hate to admit that fear is powerful. What if she won’t agree to stay, leaving me without my dad’s legacy? It’s not that I think she’d purposefully screw me, but I have no right to expect her to remain married to meandsleep in my bed the whole time.

A wild alternative invades my thoughts. What if I subconsciously want to her stay even longer, but this is my way of pushing her away and protecting myself? By not telling her about the trust requirements, I’ve virtually ensured that she’ll be pissed off when she finds out.

No, that can’t be it.

Anyway, time is passing quickly, but the ninety days are not going to elapse without her finding out. Even if they do, there’s a bigger issue. If she learns about the trust requirements later, she’ll wonder if anything between us was real. Other than not telling her about the trust, our connection, albeit temporary, has been real to me. She’ll never believe that. Lowri will assume everything I’ve done and said has been a ruse to keep the Grand Athena. She’ll never have faith in me again.

My stomach lurches at those thoughts.

I’m so screwed.

Lowri stirs, yawning. Rolling onto her back and stretching her limbs to their full length, she asks, “What time of day is it?”

“Morning. It’s five minutes before 10.”

“No way. I rarely sleep that late. Without any windows to let in light, my body must be confused.”

“Same here.”

“It was a treat to sleep in, but I better get cleaned up. We have a busy day.”

As she starts to sit up, I pull her back against me. “Hang on a minute. I remembered something else.”

“You sound unexpectedly serious. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s about the annulment.”

“Oh. What’s the status?” she asks.

It’s strange. She sounds a little sad at the thought. Huh.

“It may take a little longer. There’s a delay.”

“Really?” She perks up, lifting her head to look at me.

“Yeah. I’ll explain. You see …”

My phone rings, interrupting our conversation.

“You better answer that.”

I take the call on speakerphone.

“Hello.”