Page 145 of See You Soon

But would it be enough?

The old whispers sounded in her brain. Could it last? Was she a substitute? When he got bored, would he want Melody again? She shook herself mentally.

No!

She trusted him.

“You, okay?”

Luke emerged from the bedroom in sweatpants and a UGA T-shirt, his dark hair tousled from sleep.

“Yeah.” She forced a smile. “Just nervous about today.”

“You don’t have to do this. We can find another way.”

Cara shook her head, and Luke looked at her with a knowing expression. “Does the brooding have anything to do with you asking me last week if I believed in love?”

Her mouth quirked. “He says he loves me.”

“You think he’s lying?” Luke’s question seemed simple, but she knew him well enough to know that there was a wealth of subtext behind his words.

“I know hebelieveshe does.”

“Are you unlovable then?” Luke poured a stream of rich coffee into a mug. “I happen to think you are extremely lovable.”

“No.” She took a sip of coffee. “But it’s not that straight forward.”

“Ah, so he’s a gold digger after your nonexistent fortune.”

She glared. “Ha-ha. Hilarious.”

“Clout chaser? Looking to cash in on the Bloom name?”

“No, he didn’t even know who I was when we met.”

“Hmm.” Luke sipped his coffee. “What’s his angle?”

“He doesn’t have an angle,” she said, instantly defensive.

“He’s not stupid. He knew what he could get by helping the Blooms.”

“He knew who Declan was, eventually,” she admitted. “But that’s not how he is.”

“Wasn’t he just in love with someone else? And then he just gave up? So, he’s a quitter?”

“He’s not! I mean, she’s engaged to this Italian guy with all the connections she ever wanted, and then…” she gestured to her face. “This happened.”

“Ah, he only started showing interest after he got shot down by the model.”

“No! Oh my god! You are the worst!” She laughed, throwing her napkin at him.

Luke caught it against his chest. “I’m just saying the man I saw the night of your break in, the one who sat up the rest of the night, despite the fact I live in a doorman protected building, is not someone who suddenly decided a couple days ago he was in love with you.”

“I didn’t know he’d done that. Do you really think so?” She hated how vulnerable she sounded.

“I know so.” Luke kissed the top of her head. “Now go start your creepy transformation. You have a big day ahead.”

It took Cara well over an hour to style her hair and apply the stage makeup and clothing required to transform her into an approximation of Courtney Bloom. Wes walked with her to the suite.