by Kensie King
The confident Roe would chat and charm. The confident Roe would flirt with Lucas and make him believe it was all real. But part of me wondered just how much of it was going to be pretend, and how much was left over from before.
It rattled me how easy it was to step up to his side. To smile up at him like we were falling in love.
But I had to remember, always remember, that Lucas Stone wasn’t the man I’d once believed in. More than that, he wasn’t the man I’d end up with, even if my heart was constantly trying to betray me.
11
____________________
LUCAS
I didn’t like it.
Bringing Roe here was supposed to be part of the ruse. It was supposed to prove to the partners that I hadn’t lied, that I had a boyfriend, and not only that, we were falling madly in love.
But now, all I wanted to do was bring him back home and run my fingers down his cheek and over his shoulder before pressing my lips to his neck and breathing him in, that strange and alluring combination of cologne and soap.
He looked delectable, and I bet he tasted that way, too.
The problem was, I wasn’t the only one who seemed to think so. I’d seen more than one gaze drawn to him this evening, eyes watching as he joked with the partners of the firm or following him across the dance floor as we made our way to the dinner table.
Right now, he had his second glass of champagne in one hand while he talked with Olivia and another associate at the firm. His smiled was wide, sincere. Nothing like the way he smiled at me.
As if he felt my gaze on him, he glanced over and caught my eye. One eyebrow lifted and his lips curved just slightly. Fuck. How was I supposed to get through the evening if he kept looking at me like that? It wasn’t enough to pretend we were together, to steal little touches and brush my lips on his cheek like we had something that wasn’t really there.
I wanted it to be real. I wanted to touch him whenever and wherever I wanted. I didn’t want to pretend and holding back—even out in public—was hard. But for me, there didn’t seem to be any in between with me and Roe. Either I held back completely, for his sake, or I went all in.
You had your chance and you fucked it up, I reminded myself. I had. He’d given himself to me completely back then and I’d done the worst possible thing I could.
Would he ever trust me and want me that completely again?
Only one way to find out.
I plucked a glass of champagne from a tray when a waiter walked by and made my way across the room, my eyes locked on Roe.
His laughter hit me hard, like a punch to the gut, and I picked up my pace.
When I reached Roe, I slid my hand around his waist. I tried not to wince when he tensed just slightly. Time. That’s all. I couldn’t expect him to come around as quickly as I wanted. Even if it was killing me that I saw an edge to his smile whenever it was aimed at me.
“How did you keep him a secret so long?” the other associate asked.
I smiled. “It hasn’t been that long.”
He shrugged. “Roe said you’ve been together over a month but that you met last year.”
“We did meet last year,” I said, glancing at him but unable to read his expression. “But neither of us were in the right place. This time, it just all came together.”
The complete truth. Last time we’d been together I hadn’t been ready. Too many things in transition. My heart and my brain not in the right place.
But now, I was where I wanted to be. Almost. I almost had that perfect job and things were clearer. I could handle a boyfriend now. I could handle more than I could before. Eventually Roe would see that.
Music started up. I took Roe’s hand. “Let’s dance.”
He flashed that guarded smile again but continued to play along.
“Save one for me,” Olivia said, saluting with her glass of champagne.
I squeezed Roe’s hand before he could answer and tossed him a laughing smile like I thought it was a joke, though I didn’t want Roe dancing with anyone but me.
Roe kept his champagne in hand, but he tucked the other one into mine as I stopped us on the dance floor. He was a few inches shorter than me, a good height for him to rest his cheek on my shoulder. We fit—I already knew that.
But he only looked up at me as we moved together as though we’d done this before. “I’m having a good time.”
“I’m glad. I’m pretty sure everyone here is convinced you’re too good for me.”
He grinned. “Well, I’m not going to argue with that.”
My shoulders relaxed slightly. I could handle light banter. It was a start. “They don’t seem too interested in our backstory. They’re all just kind of enamored with you.”
“Well, I’m sure most of them know your backstory.”
I angled my head as I swiveled him on the floor. His hips brushed mine and he stepped back to put more space between us. I had to struggle to keep my body in check though it wanted to strain toward him. “My backstory?”
“You know, with relationships. The love ‘em and leave ‘em mentality. You know, minus the love part.”
His words stung but I couldn’t argue. I’d been with other men since Roe, but it was the same story. A fling. A weekend. Nothing serious.
“I deserved that,” I admitted.
“Hmm,” he said in agreement, though he continued to stare over my shoulder. “Who’s that?”
Distracted, I glanced over my shoulder at the man he was looking at. Fuck. Adam.
“No one,” I said, turning him on the floor a little so he’d look in a different direction.
Roe stiffened in my arms. “I’m perfectly fine going along with this ruse in front of your partners and friends. But if you lie to my face again, I’m ending this whole thing.” He stepped back and downed the rest of his champagne. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to use the bathroom.”
He walked off before I could respond, leaving me standing in the middle of the dance floor. And everyone saw it. Right before their eyes followed him from the room.
I tucked my hands in my pockets, stung for the second time that night. Roe sounded like he meant it. He’d walk right out if I didn’t tell him the truth and there was no way I could risk that.
So I followed him from the room. I waited outside the restroom, going over what I wanted to say. But when he stepped out and spotted me, all the words—the fancy explanation—dropped away.
All I could do was tell the truth. “His name is Adam,” I said.
He folded his arms but kept listening.
“We went on a few dates when he started working in my office.” I stepped closer to him, keeping my voice low. “We didn’t even sleep together, though I know he wanted to. I didn’t feel it.”
“Then what?” he asked, eyes cold on mine.
My jaw clenched. Then I’d ended it. But that wasn’t the whole truth, and it was like Roe could see straight through me. Like he could tell if I was lying. So, again, I told him the truth. “I was supposed to meet him for dinner and I didn’t show up.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Sounds about right.”
It did. Even if I hadn’t told him the truth, he probably could have guessed. Walking out was my specialty—at least in relationships—because it was easier than confrontation. Easier than dealing with things.
Easier than loving and losing.
“I’m sorry,” I said, holding out my hand. “Would you like to go?”
He debated for a moment, and then placed his hand in mine. “No. I appreciate you telling me the truth. Let’s stay a little longer.”
Relief made my body relax. I squeezed his hand in mine and more relief came when he put on a cheerful smile and walked with me back into the room.
Roe was amazing. He was giving me a chance even though I didn’t deserve it. But now, I realized it was going to take more to win him over.
And I had a plan.
12
____________________
ROE
No money worries and everything—well, almost everything—at my fingertips. I didn’t have to deal with rent or any other bills and Lucas paid me a healthy monthly stipend that went straight to savings.
I was freer than I’d ever been in my life, but if I let myself think about the situation too long, I felt trapped.
It’s just a means to an end, I told myself. The same thing my mother always used to say to me before she passed away. Everything in life we had to do and deal with that wasn’t ideal was just another step to getting to where we wanted to be.
I wanted the theater, plain and simple. It had been my dream since I got here—before that, even. When I’d been taking care of my mom and watching late-night movies with her, when I’d been teaching drama at the community college. All of that had instilled in me a love of the arts and the theater was the final piece I never knew I needed or wanted until I got here.
Spending last night with Lucas, his arm around me or hand touching my back as we danced, networked, all of it was just a means to an end. I had to look at it like that.
Especially when I found a note on the counter this morning from him.
Thank you for last night. I’m going to the gym and then maybe we can get some lunch? I look forward to spending time together this weekend.
It was sweet. That was my first thought. Then, Hell no.
Our arrangement wasn’t about sweet. We weren’t supposed to be having a real relationship. Thanking me for last night was one thing but wanting to spend more time together for no reason was another.
I started toward the elevator and then cursed, feeling guilty about not leaving a note as well. I planned on being gone the whole day—especially knowing he wanted me there.
But I couldn’t leave him expecting to see me later.
I jotted a quick note, Sorry. Going to the community center for work. See you later. Then I put him out of my mind and got in the elevator.
Dressed casually in jeans and a gray hoodie, my worn leather satchel over my shoulder, I felt like a completely different person than last night.
The strange thing was, I was comfortable both ways. I thought I’d feel out of place, but Lucas’s colleagues were fun, nice, and very down to earth. The whole night felt like a dream, but one I was part of, not on the outside of.
The doorman held the door for me as I walked outside, and I gave him a smile. “How are the kids?”
“Wonderful, thank you for asking, Mr. Pierce. Looks like we might get some rain later.”
I looked to the sky as clouds spread across the surface. “Looks like. Don’t get too wet.”
“Of course, not, sir.”
I set off on foot to the community center. I was further away than I used to be, but since I didn’t have a car and didn’t want to get one of Lucas’s drivers to take me, walking worked.
And gave me time to wind down. To remember why I was doing what I was doing and focus my brain so I wouldn’t be distracted for the kids today.
I loved working at the community center. I’d gotten the job only weeks after moving here and teaching was always my favorite part of the week. I taught two classes for adults each week and one for teens, which I was heading to today.
Our current project was Romeo and Juliet.
If I let the kids choose, and I usually did, they often opted for something familiar and tragic. I’d done this production so many times I’d lost count, but it didn’t bother me.
Acting was acting and seeing kids enjoying themselves and getting involved meant everything to me.
That was why I wanted a theater space for them so badly, a way for them to get up on stage and perform like a professional. Once they got the taste of that, saw what it was really like to be out there acting in a real environment, that’s when the real passion grew.
The same kind of passion I’d had in high school and college.
Before the kids arrived, I set up the room, putting the chairs in a circle so we were all facing each other. I had more than a dozen kids in this class and the community director said it was more interest than they’d had in a long time.
Even the adult acting classes continued to fill up each time and if there continued to be interest, I was going to think of planning a play for them as well. Or maybe a musical.
I’d die to do Hello Dolly or something similar. The community would love it, too.
I had no doubt Mrs. Lewis would be the first one to get her tickets.
She’d been a constant outlet of support for me since I’d been fired from the coffee shop. The only one who could still see my dream and wanted nearly as badly as I did to see it come to fruition.
When the kids started to come in, I greeted each one of them by name, happy to hear they’d all been doing well. One had gotten a part in his school play and another was helping his grandmother with a performance at her retirement home.
After the last one came in, I reached for the door to pull it closed when a hand moved out to stop it.
My breath caught in my throat when I looked up to see Lucas standing here, dark eyes warm on mine.
“Hi,” he said.
My mouth opened but nothing came out for a long moment. “I…thought you were at the gym.”
Even though an hour had passed. I’d effectively put Lucas out of my mind, but now he was here. Freshly showered and shaven and smelling like a dream.
He gave a patient smile. “I was. And then I came home but you weren’t there.”
A few of the kids in the group peered over, curious. Some of them grinned or snickered.
I heard one of them whisper, “boyfriend,” and my cheeks heated.
“My class is about to start,” I said.
“Mind if I join? I already asked the lady at the front. She said if you were willing, I could sit in on a class and see if I wanted to join.”
“But…” I glanced back to the group. “This is a class for teens.”
“Let him in!” one of the girls yelled.
“Only if he plays Juliet,” another said with a laugh.
My lips curved. I looked back at Lucas, realizing how good it was to see him somewhere else besides a fancy dinner or in his penthouse. He wore a simple pair of faded jeans and a Henley I had no idea he had in his wardrobe.
Lucas’s eyes looked slightly panicked but he nodded. “I’ll play Juliet if you’ll let me in.”
He really wanted to be here that badly? I couldn’t dismiss his gesture. It was too sweet—and it showed a different side of him I’d almost denied was there.
“All right.” I stepped back from the door and gestured to the remaining chair. “Have a seat.”
He smiled. “That one’s yours. I’ll get another.”
He walked to the stack of chairs in the corner, easily lifting one off the top while I watched in complete surprise. Something stirred inside of me. It took several seconds to realize it was hope.
Maybe things were shifting between Lucas and me. I told myself to focus again. Not going to happen.
Maybe, just maybe, we could be friends again. We already knew we could be civil.
But when he turned, smile flashing again before he put his chair between two others in the half circle, my stomach fluttered. He crossed one ankle over the opposite knee, almost looking like one of the teenagers sitting there.
I cleared my throat and stepped in front of the group. “Okay, so we’re ready to start rehearsing the balcony scene. Did everyone read the scene before you came?”
There were several nods around the room. The girl sitting next to Lucas held out her script and pointed to the section I was talking about. He took the photocopied paper and scanned through the words while I gestured to where I stood.
“Who’s our Romeo?” I asked.
Carl, a boy who’d been in my beginning class, raised his h
and. “Me. I’m going to audition for this part for the spring play at my school.”
“Good. Get in character.”
He hopped up and went to the box with our props. I arranged the chairs slightly so it looked like he was standing behind some bushes. Then I circled a few others to imitate a balcony before turning to Lucas.
“Juliet,” I said. “You’re up.”
His eyes flashed with surprise, like he hadn’t actually believed I’d make him follow through on his promise. He stood hesitantly and blinked when Carl walked back and gave him a flower crown to put on for his character.
Lucas moved to where I instructed him, standing amidst the chairs and looking almost adorable with the flower crown on. The girls in the chairs giggled, whispering with each other.
I grinned at them, enjoying myself as well.
“Okay. Really put feeling into it. Be your character,” I said. “Romeo.”
Carl peered up through the window. “’But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks.’”
I nodded to myself, pacing as he went through the monologue and making notes in my head.
“Good,” I murmured as he finished. “Juliet.”
“Oh.” Lucas looked at the paper and then cleared his throat. “’Romeo, Romeo’—“
“More feeling.”
Lucas lifted his voice, the low timbre of it vibrating through me. His voice was almost musical—nothing like a Juliet, but he was committed, which made all the difference.
I made comments as they progressed and then stepped in toward the middle. “Like this,” I explained to Carl, reaching my hand out to Lucas. “You’re appealing to her. You’re saying, Juliet, don’t deny me.
“And Juliet is peering down, already in love with him, already having professed as much…”
Lucas looked at me, eyes locked on mine, something in the depths I wasn’t expecting. A commitment to character so complete I was starting to think it wasn’t just acting. It was real.
I swallowed and stepped away from the fake bushes. “Good,” I said, my voice coming out softer than I meant it to. “Why don’t we get another Juliet in here to practice?”
