Last Chance

by Christy Reece

  It was as if they’d never parted. McKenna found herself telling Jamie about how she met Lucas and how wonderful he was. There were still things to say, secrets to share, sorrows to overcome. That could wait till later. For now, McKenna leaned back against her pillow, watched her sister’s beautiful face, and rejoiced in the fact that miracles really can happen.

  Hours later, Lucas stepped back into McKenna’s room. The sisters had spent several hours together until the nurse came in and shooed Jamie back to her room to rest. And from the looks of the sleeping McKenna, the visit had exhausted her as well.

  Lucas eased down into a chair beside the bed and watched her sleep. He’d made some damn difficult decisions in his life, but he was about to make the most difficult one of all. Was it the right one? Yes. That didn’t make it any easier.

  “Lucas?”

  “Didn’t mean to wake you.”

  Her smile was one of warm, sleepy contentment. “I’m glad you’re here, but you look exhausted.”

  “It’s been a rough few days.”

  She scooted over in her bed and whispered, “Hold me.”

  Unable to resist temptation, Lucas slipped off his shoes and slid into bed.

  Wrapping his arms gently around her, he breathed in her fragrance. The tension he’d been carrying for the last few days eased, though not totally. He’d been damned terrified when she’d been shot and hadn’t woken. Now that he knew she would be all right, the relief was immense, but there were still things to get through.

  “Did you have a good visit with your sister?”

  Her head rubbed against his chest as she nodded. “It was wonderful. She’s so bright and interesting…funny, too. And she’s absolutely beautiful.”

  He smiled against her hair. “That’s because she looks so much like you.”

  “You’re prejudiced.”

  He couldn’t deny that. To him, there would never be a more beautiful person inside or out than McKenna.

  “The doctors said I can leave the hospital tomorrow.”

  Lucas stiffened. This was the perfect time to tell her, but dammit, not yet.

  “You need to take it easy for a few days.”

  She snuggled deeper into his arms. “I intend to.”

  Lucas swallowed hard as arousal surged. His body didn’t care that she wasn’t up to making love; it only knew what it wanted. And from the first time he’d met her until his death, he would want McKenna. That wasn’t something he could change.

  Kissing the top of her head, he whispered, “Go to sleep.”

  “Night, Lucas…love you.”

  Lucas stared up at the white ceiling of the hospital room. There would be no sleep tonight. Damned if he’d miss one moment of having McKenna in his arms. Morning would come all too soon.

  McKenna hurried through her shower. She’d woken alone this morning, but with the knowledge that Lucas had stayed with her all night. She’d woken several times to the comfort of his arms around her. Each time she’d fallen back into a deep sleep, relishing an enormous sense of relief.

  Last night she hadn’t said anything, but she could tell something was bothering him. He wasn’t the easiest person to read, but she’d gotten pretty good at it. Exhaustion could be one of his problems. Poor man looked as though he hadn’t slept in weeks.

  Samara had brought her some clothes yesterday, so at least she had something to wear out of the hospital. Slipping into a pair of khaki pants and a button-down pink cotton shirt, McKenna spent a few precious minutes adding color to her cheeks. Though her eyes sparkled and she had a bit more energy than she did yesterday, she still looked paler than she would have liked.

  She opened the door to find Lucas setting out a breakfast tray and coffee for her.

  “Good morning.”

  His perfect mouth moved up into a smile, but his eyes remained solemn and serious. Something was definitely bothering him.

  A good strong cup of coffee was needed before she asked any questions. McKenna grabbed a cup, took a sip, decided it wasn’t too hot, and gulped it down.

  As she returned the empty cup to the tray, she noticed Lucas’s grin. “What?”

  “Were you thirsty?”

  Laughing, she stood on her toes and pressed a kiss to his mouth. “No, just needed some caffeine. Good morning again.”

  Instead of returning the kiss, he put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her slightly away. “We need to talk.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m headed back to London today.”

  Her heart plummeted. A million questions and protests came to mind. All she could manage was “I see.”

  “Do you, love?” As he held her hand between his, his expression was as earnest as she’d ever seen it. “For the first time in years, you can finally breathe easier. Finally have a life. You no longer have to look over your shoulder to see if anyone is following you. You’ve lived in the shadows for so long, without choices. You said yourself that you’ve been on a roller coaster. Now you have an opportunity to get off that roller coaster and see what life has to offer you.”

  “But you—”

  “Don’t look like that, McKenna. I’m doing this because I love you, not because I don’t.”

  Only able to concentrate on one thing, McKenna felt as if her heart would explode. “But you said you don’t leave.”

  Silver-gray eyes locked with hers. “You know where home is, sweetheart. You’ve always known. Take some time to think. Do things you’ve always wanted to do. Get to know your sister again. Get to know yourself again.” His mouth tender on hers, he softly repeated against her lips, “You know where home is, my love.”

  Speechless, unable to do anything for the mountains of tumultuous emotions bubbling inside her, she watched as Lucas walked out the door.

  twenty-eight

  One month later London

  McKenna stood on the steps of Lucas’s home. Her heart was pounding so hard, she probably didn’t even need to knock on the door for anyone to hear her. Would he still want to see her after all this time?

  The second after he’d walked out of the hospital room, she’d burst into tears. A box of tissues later, she’d pulled herself together. And then she’d finally thought about what he said…and she had understood. At least she hoped she understood. Lucas had said she finally had choices, and he was allowing her to choose. Something she hadn’t been able to do in a very long time.

  The fact that he knew her so well boggled her mind and humbled her. From the beginning, Lucas had been able to see through her tough-girl persona. He knew the real McKenna, the one she hid from the rest of the world. How could that make her feel anything but incredibly special?

  The heady feeling of not having to look over her shoulder and hide like a criminal was unlike anything she’d ever felt before. Freeing…and scary as hell. That alone was an incredible rush. But in combination with the miracle of her sister being alive, it had been almost more than she could comprehend.

  Samara and Noah had left the same day as Lucas. Noah’s words as he’d hugged her goodbye told her his thinking was in line with Lucas’s. He’d said, “Give yourself time to figure out what you want from life, McKenna. You’ll always have a place at LCR.”

  Noah’s words had helped what Lucas had said sink in even deeper. She had decisions, choices, options. McKenna began to feel like a kid who’d been let loose in a toy store. She wanted to experience everything all at once. Though a large part of her had wanted to rush after Lucas, she accepted that she did need some time, not only for herself, but to spend with her sister.

  She and Jamie had been released from the hospital on the same day. They had gone to Paris the day after. Not only was it the city she’d spent the most time in as an adult, McKenna had never had the chance to truly explore like she’d always wanted. And since Jamie had never been to France, it thrilled her to be able to explore the city with her sister at her side.

  They had played tourist together. Going to restaurants and muse
ums McKenna had always wanted to go to but couldn’t. Every public, well-known place she’d avoided before, she visited and savored the fact that she could do so without fear.

  Shadows of remembered pain still darkened Jamie’s eyes, but McKenna was amazed at her sister’s strength. She was so determined to overcome what had happened to her. She still couldn’t talk about what Damon had done to her or her experience in Spain, and as much as McKenna wanted her to share with her, she refused to push her.

  Until Lucas came along, McKenna hadn’t been able to talk fully about her own experiences with anyone. Jamie would come to that place in her own time. She just wanted to make sure her sister knew she would help her any way she could.

  Not only had she and Jamie gorged themselves on Paris, they spent hours upon hours getting to know each other again. When they were kids, McKenna had never fully appreciated her little sister. Having lost her and now found her again, she was determined to never take their relationship for granted.

  And she had done what Lucas wanted her to do. Think about her choices. She had given a lot of thought about what she wanted out of life. The answers were numerous and varied, but there had been only one concrete absolute: she wanted to be with Lucas.

  He had said she knew where home was, but that had been a month ago. Was that still true?

  Jamie had returned to the States with the promise to come to London for a visit soon. She still had issues related to her ex-husband that she needed to sort out. McKenna had encouraged her to seek counseling and Jamie promised that she would consider it.

  Saying goodbye to her sister at the airport had been difficult. The only thing that made it bearable was the fact that Dylan had suddenly shown up at the airport right before Jamie was to leave. He explained that he had business back in the States and had heard from Noah that Jamie was returning home today and thought he would accompany her. The interesting glint in Jamie’s eyes assured McKenna that her sister didn’t mind the company at all.

  Having Dylan escort Jamie back home was enormously comforting, but the minute her sister disappeared from view, McKenna began to miss her. She’d only just found her again, and letting her go was extraordinarily hard. The knowledge that she would see her soon helped tremendously. She vowed to never lose her sister again.

  But now it was time to face Lucas. To see if he had meant what she thought he meant. He had said he loved her and she didn’t doubt his word, but that didn’t still the anxiousness inside. That could only be done when she was back in his arms.

  Her heart continuing its thundering boom, she raised her hand and knocked.

  Conrad opened the door, his usual impassive expression in place until he recognized her. Then his face lit up as if delighted. “Miss McKenna, please come in.”

  She breathed slightly easier as she stepped into the foyer. At least someone was happy to see her. “Hello, Conrad. Is Lucas here?”

  “No, he’s at the Millington Awards. He’s their man of the year, you know.”

  McKenna swallowed a small sob of disappointment. Of course she knew. The Millington recipient had been announced at the beginning of the year. The award was given to one individual each year for outstanding charitable works and contributions. She had noted it with no small amount of pride, pleased that Lucas was being recognized and honored for all the good things he had done. She just hadn’t remembered that the ceremony was tonight. Reading papers had been something she refused to allow herself to do. Lucas had been in her heart and mind; reading about him would have only added to the aching loneliness.

  Knowing Conrad was awaiting her reply, she shook her head. “I didn’t realize it was tonight.”

  He beamed with pride. “Mr. Lucas is the youngest recipient to ever have been given the award.”

  McKenna smiled at the obvious pride in Conrad’s words. “Do you think it would be all right if I came in and waited for him?”

  “Perfectly fine. However, there’s something else that would be finer…and that would be if you joined him.”

  Swallowing a laugh, she looked down at her worn duffel bag. She’d brought a few clothes with her, but nothing that nice. “I don’t believe I have anything that would be appropriate.”

  “If I may…Mr. Lucas had hoped you might come before tonight. He ordered several dresses for you to choose from.”

  Tears sprang to her eyes before she could stop them. “He did?”

  Conrad nodded and glanced at the grandfather clock against the wall. “The ceremony is probably over, but the ball will go until dawn. You could be there within the hour…if you like.”

  Could she do this? The ceremony and subsequent ball was one of the biggest events of the year. The most influential and wealthiest people in England would be there. Even the queen was known to attend. Reporters and cameras would be everywhere. After living in the shadows for so long, could she come out in such a blatant way?

  Apparently seeing her hesitation, Conrad added, “I believe it would mean the world to Mr. Lucas if you joined him there.”

  Those words tipped the scale. Lucas had gone to the trouble of buying a dress for her to wear; he wanted her to be there. How could she not go? Standing on her toes, she kissed the kindly butler’s weathered face. “I would like very much.”

  Blushing slightly, he turned to lead her up the stairway. “I’ll show you the dresses. Hammond, the chauffeur, took Mr. Lucas in the limousine, but I’d be happy to drive you into the city.”

  Resisting the urge to kiss him again, McKenna settled for a grateful smile. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”

  Conrad led her to the room she had used when she stayed before. He opened the closet and waved his hand at a half dozen glittering gowns. McKenna’s heart leaped as she took in the beautiful array of elegant eveningwear. Then her heart almost stopped as her eyes focused on one in particular: a glittering red silk sheath with an overlay of silver sparkles. It was a gown of elegance, sophistication, and pure femininity. And one that people would most definitely notice. No blending into the background, hoping no one paid attention to her. The gown was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

  The older man nodded his approval at her more than obvious admiration. “I believe that one was his favorite. There are shoes and…” He blushed again. “Um, other apparel for you to wear, too.”

  Feeling a bit like a princess with a fairy godfather, McKenna said, “Give me half an hour and I’ll be ready.”

  Conrad turned to leave. “I’ll bring the car around.” Before he closed the door, he said, “And ma’am, welcome home.”

  Lucas took a long swallow of his bourbon. Why the hell had he stayed? Coming to the ceremony had been necessary. Staying for a ball when he had no desire to be here was foolish.

  Stupid, really, but he had thought to attend the ball with McKenna. Her life had been full of hiding and running; he had envisioned bringing her to the event as a celebration of no longer needing that secrecy. Though inviting publicity wasn’t something he liked to do, he had despised not being able to go out in public with her. Not because he wanted people speculating on their relationship or seeing photographs in the gossip columns. No, he’d wanted it because not going out in public made their liaison seem secretive, not real. Or, even worse, made it appear as if there was something to be ashamed of. Everything about them was real, and he was so damn proud of her, he wanted the world to see it, too.

  But he’d left the decision in McKenna’s hands. She deserved the opportunity to choose her life. So far, her choice had not included him.

  Leaving her had been one of the hardest things he’d ever done. But if he had stayed, he knew he would pressure her, whether he meant to or not. Reconnecting with the sister she thought she’d lost was important. As was learning who she was without the shadow of fear she’d lived with for so long.

  “Lucas, could we talk a moment?”

  He turned at the familiar voice of his former employee. “Hello, Humphries. How are you?”

  The older man
gave him a small, grim smile. “Better than I deserve to be. I wanted to thank you. I never did before.”

  Before Lucas could answer, Eleanor Humphries, Stanley’s wife, came to stand beside her husband. Tears glistened in her eyes. “He told me everything, Mr. Kane. We just wanted you to know how much we appreciate what you did.” Her expression was one of love and understanding as she glanced at her husband of forty years. “Stanley’s getting the help he needs to fight his addiction.” Her eyes went back to Lucas. “But what you did was so generous.”

  “My father—”

  Stanley shook his head. “Your father would have kicked me out on my ass, as you should have. I’m just grateful you didn’t. I hope to repay you someday.”

  Lucas could have said no, that repayment wasn’t necessary. However, he knew more than his share about pride and holding himself responsible for his mistakes. Being able to pay Kane Industries back would go a long way toward easing Stanley’s conscience and help him regain the dignity he’d lost. “If you’re interested, I believe we could arrange part-time work. Your skills and experience have been missed. Part of your salary could go toward repayment.”

  Humphries’s slumped shoulders straightened; relief replaced the shame on his face. “I would like that. Thank you.”

  Accepting a grateful kiss from Eleanor and a handshake from Stanley, Lucas said, “Call me on Monday.” Then with a nod he moved away. Having this kind of conversation in the midst of a large crowd wasn’t a good idea. Only a few knew about Humphries’s problems; Lucas wanted to keep it that way.

  Several more people tried to get him involved in a conversation. Lucas eased his way across the ballroom. Nodding, smiling, and murmuring appropriate responses, he kept one eye out for the closest exit. Getting away from the mass of people had become a priority.

  Nodding politely at the matronly woman who was in the midst of extolling her daughter’s attributes, Lucas moved his head slightly, his eyes targeting an exit only a dozen yards away. Murmuring, “Excuse me, won’t you?” he headed toward freedom.