by Liz Lovelock
Heat presses against my back. “I’m going to go and find Wyatt. I’ll be back in a moment, then we can leave.” The desire to rest back into his body hits me. Stop, Scarlett. Do not fall for him so fast.
I nod, and then he’s gone.
“Scarlett, you have to go with him. The chemistry between you two is electric. I’m burning up over here simply watching how much you two hover toward each other,” Vivian says as she returns from the bar and steps into the conversation.
“So, are you going to leave with him? This is your second chance, Scarlett. Don’t ruin it over guilt. It’s officially over with you and Craig. You’re no longer married and can be with whomever you want,” Dylan jumps in.
“It’s hard . . . I know it’s been over with Craig and me for a while, but wouldn’t it look bad for me to be dating?” An uneasy feeling settles in the pit of my stomach.
“Don’t. Remember, he cheated on you. It’s been a year, and it’s time to move on,” Vivian points out.
I hang my head. “I will look bad. I’ll be made out to be the villain.”
“Scarlett, you’ve done nothing wrong. This is just your father and Craig in your head right now. What do you want? That’s more important.”
Dylan has a point. It still doesn’t help this overwhelming bucketload of unease that’s taking up residence on my chest. I shouldn’t care what other people think. It’s not like I’m going to marry the man again. This could simply be a way to get Lachlan out of my system. For all I know, he could be a real jerk. I didn’t get the chance to get to know him as a person back then. Now’s my chance to find out what he’s really like.
“Scarlett?” Lachlan’s honey-coated deep voice interrupts the girls’ persuasion. “You remember Wyatt?”
When I face him, he’s with the other delicious man. I nod. How could I forget? Both are equally as good-looking as each other, except Wyatt has dark hair.
“How are you?” I respond.
Wyatt straightens. “Good, you’re both not drunk. At least I know I won’t be getting an I got hitched in Vegas call tonight. Please don’t make me go through that again.”
The girls giggle behind me. I turn and give them a pointed look.
“Rein it in, you two,” I say under my breath. Then, I give my attention back to Wyatt who doesn’t seem to take any notice of Vivian and Dylan’s outburst. Is he a robot? What man wouldn’t love that attention? “Believe me when I say there’s going to be no marriage phone call this time.”
Wyatt glances between Lachlan and me. “Fine, but I’m warning you, if I get another phone call like that, there will be trouble.”
“Is he your older brother? Because he’s sure acting like one,” I say.
Lachlan chuckles, and I smile.
“Is he single?” Dylan pipes up behind me.
Wyatt clears his throat and rubs the back of his neck. “Don’t do anything stupid, Lachlan. That’s all I’m asking. I’m not sure we could keep it a secret the second time around.”
He’s right. We got lucky last time.
“We’ve got our heads on straight. Hardly any alcohol in our systems.” Lachlan walks a straight line as though he’s getting interrogated by a police officer.
Wyatt rolls his eyes.
“You’re a little tightly wound, aren’t you?” Dylan slinks up beside him and hooks her arm through his. “I can fix that for you if you want.” She traces her finger over his chest, a wicked grin spread across her face.
He glances down at her and then back up to us
Vivian leans close and says, “He’s quite good in bed.”
Lachlan roars with laughter. Heads turn in our direction, eyebrows raised. My gaze falls on Craig whose mouth is a thin line.
“Dylan, if you can unwind him, I’d greatly appreciate it.” Lachlan’s soft eyes meet mine. “Let’s get out of here.”
“No phone calls,” Wyatt says.
“Yes, boss.” Lachlan’s hand rests on my lower back as he ushers me out of the ballroom.
“Don’t worry, I have no doubt Dylan will sort him out—unless he runs away. She’s only messing with him. I hope he realizes.”
“He’ll probably run away. He’s a commitment-phobe.”
“Good to know. I’m sure once he finds out what Dylan does, he’ll take off in the opposite direction, as they all do.”
We share a moment of silence and slip out of the main doors into the street. A freeing feeling washes over me. Why is it that, with Lachlan, I feel more myself than I did when I was with Craig?
Lachlan threads his fingers through mine, and I want to hold him for as long as he’ll let me.
“So, what do you want to do?” I ask.
Scarlett’s focus is on our intertwined hands.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.” My grip loosens, but she tightens hers.
“No, it’s fine. As for what to do, I have no idea.”
“Well, first, I think we should grab some food. Are you good with burgers, or are you a healthy eater?” I want to get a vibe on the kind of person she is. Last time, it was drinks, sheets, and shower. Oh, and a wedding.
“Burgers are good. Where are you thinking?”
I take the lead, and we start walking. “I know a place.”
“Okay, sounds good.”
“Do you want me to get the car, or are you okay to walk? It’s just at the end of this street.”
“I’m happy to walk. What if someone recognizes you? Will you get mauled by your fans?”
I hadn’t thought of that. For a moment, I wasn’t the captain of one of the best teams in the league. I was a guy taking a girl on a first date.
“I think we’ll be fine. If you’re okay, then I am as well. The most they’ll want is a photo and signature, but once we get to this place, we’ll be fine. The owner is a friend and will set us up somewhere private to eat in peace.”
“Sounds good.” We become silent. It’s not uncomfortable; it kind of feels like we’re feeling each other out for the first time. “Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself, Lachlan.”
“How about we play question tag? I ask you one, and then you me.” I squeeze her hand gently.
A beautiful grin pulls across her face. “I’d like that. But I’m going first.”
“Go for it.”
“Tell me three things you hate the most.”
I rub my chin. “I hate pickles. I hate chocolate—”
“Oh, I don’t think we can be friends if you don’t like chocolate.”
I chuckle. “It’s too sweet for me. Is it a deal breaker?”
“It depends on what your third thing is.”
I don’t miss the playfulness in her words.
“The third thing is I hate myself for letting you walk away.”
She stops, and our hands break apart. I turn and stare at her in her beautiful shimmering gown that shines in the streetlights.
“You can’t say that. We hardly know each other.”
“I can say it if I mean it.”
Scarlett shakes her head. “No. You hardly know me. I could be your worst nightmare.”
“I bet you’re the girl of my dreams.” I wink.
“No, I don’t accept that as your third thing. Pick something else.” She crosses her arms over her chest.
I swallow. “Sorry, I meant what I said, but if I can’t use it, then the third thing would be lazy people. I can’t stand people who expect things handed to them on a silver platter. It pisses me off.”
She starts walking again, and I step in beside her, collecting her hand in mine once more. I need to feel close to her. Thankfully, she doesn’t pull away. “I agree with you there. Lazy people annoy me, too. I’ve had to fire people because of that exact reason.”
I shoot her a puzzled look. What did she do again? “You’re an editor, right?”
“Yep, I own a publishing company now. When we first met, I worked for someone.”
I nod in approval. Smart, sexy, and self-motivated. Sca
rlett is the complete package. “That’s cool. What’s yours called?”
“Albright Publishing,” she says as though I should know.
“You’re an Albright. Of course, I should have put that together after meeting your dad.”
“Yeah. He’s unforgettable.”
“For some reason, I thought you had a different last name.” Stupid Lachlan.
“Nope, I kept my birth name after I was married. Okay, my turn.”
“Shoot.”
We become silent as she thinks. The streets buzz with activity. Horns blare. Other walkers stroll on the sidewalks, some giving us a curious onceover before carrying on with their night. New York is a city that doesn’t sleep. There’s always something going on.
“What’s your reasoning for supporting the charity tonight?”
I rub a hand over my jaw. “Well . . . there’s this kid, Levi. I’m his big brother through the program. He’s a foster kid.”
“Oh, that’s really nice of you. So, how do you help him?”
“I spend time with him. If he’s in trouble, he’ll ring me—or Wyatt, if he can’t get a hold of me—instead of calling his foster parents. He doesn’t want to be kicked out of the place he’s in right now.”
Her brows furrow. “Shouldn’t he be contacting them and not you?”
I sigh. “Yes, but I really care for him, like he’s my younger brother. I don’t want him to lose out on a good home because of something silly. He’s a teenager, so of course, he’s going to have stupid friends and do silly things to get himself in trouble. I’m here for him more so than his foster parents are.”
“That’s really sweet of you. You’ve got a big heart, Lachlan.”
“I’m just doing the best I can. I have all this money, and I enjoy helping those around me.”
“What’s Levi like?”
I laugh. “A regular moody teenager. He’s apparently always right. Full of attitude and hates the world—only some days, though. Mostly, he’s a good kid.”
“Fair enough.”
“So, why do you go?”
“To support my dad and to contribute to those who need help in the world. Especially kids. Nothing super special like what you do.” We fall into a comfortable silence until she says, “Okay, next question. Have you ever been with anyone serious?”
“Yes, a couple of years ago, after our little encounter.”
“Who is she?”
“Just a friend of a friend. We were together for about six months. She was perfect—or so I thought.”
“What happened?” Scarlett squeezes my hand. It’s like a reassurance she’s not judging me.
“She became more interested in the money and party life. And she shared things about me with the media that Wyatt didn’t appreciate, and neither did I. They were a bucketload of lies. One was that I’d cheated on her and was sleeping around. It wasn’t true. I’m not that person. I’d never hurt someone like that. And after her, I never really got close to anyone again. People lie for their own benefit.”
The clicking of her heels hitting the pavement settles me, and I swallow the ball of anger that’s welled up in my throat.
“I get that. I come from money, and that’s all people see when they know who I am. I think Craig was like that. He leeched off me for some time before I’d had enough and told him we were getting a divorce.”
She shivers. Releasing her hand, I pull her against me. She tucks in beside me perfectly, as though the spot was made just for her.
“Did you love him?” I blurt out.
She sighs. “At the start I did, and then as time went on, I realized it was a marriage of convenience. Our fathers put us together—pushed us together. Craig, of course, played his part well, and I fell in love with him, quite easily actually. When my mother died, she told me something I will never forget. It made me really think about my life and where it was heading with Craig.”
Her voice trembles, and I tighten my grip around her and glide my thumb over the bare skin of her arm.
“I didn’t want a family with Craig. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I really turned against him. The love I thought I had for him vanished.”
“I’m sorry about your mom and Craig.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about.” Her voice is soft, barely a whisper.
“What was it that your mom said to you? If you don’t mind me asking.”
She laughs a little. “I told her about you and what happened between us. Mom said that when I told her our story, my eyes were alive again, that my smile was genuine, and when I mentioned you, my face blushed pink. She said that was what love was. Someone who made you look all those things when you spoke about them.”
My heart hammers as she speaks, and I stop and turn her toward me. A tear slips down her cheek, and I reach up and swipe it away.
Without thinking, I wrap my arms around her and hold tight. Her body is perfection against mine. Her fruity scent wraps around me and holds me captive against her. I don’t want to let her go. Leaning forward, I press my lips to her neck. Her breath hitches, and she sighs.
“I think your mom might have been onto something there,” I say against her neck.
Scarlett steps back, ending our embrace. “I’m glad I told her about you. She did scold me for not telling her sooner. Knowing Mom, she would have hunted you down and brought you to me. I can see it now. She was a smart woman and so beautiful. I wish she was still here.”
It’s as though I can hear her heart breaking all over again.
“I wish she had hunted me down. I would’ve happily obliged.” I gift her a cocky grin.
She slaps my arm and starts walking again. “It feels like we’ve been walking forever. Where is this place?”
I take in our surroundings and spot Burger Bar up the road and across the street. “Just up there.” I point.
“Finally. My stomach feels as though it’s eating itself. It serves me right for not eating a bigger lunch.” Her arms wrap around her midsection.
I want my arms to be around her; it feels right in so many ways. I can’t believe I finally found her again. This time, I intend to hold on to her—if she’ll let me.
“Thanks, Reggie,” Lachlan says as his friend seats us in a private booth in Burger Bar.
I’ve heard good things about this place; I just never managed to get over this way. It’s as though I’ve stepped back in time, entering the restaurant. There’s a glowing jukebox in the corner. A warm red covers the walls along with various photo frames.
“Anything for a friend. I expect some game tickets, Lachlan.” Reggie holds out his fist, and Lachlan bumps it. He smiles, his skin wrinkle free and flawless against his short black hair. The white shirt he’s wearing is covered with stains, which I’m guessing are sauce splatter stains.
Lachlan chuckles. “You know me, Reggie, always looking out for my number one fan and the best burger chef I know.”
Reggie cackles, and it brings a smile to my face.
“I’d be out of business if my burgers weren’t the best. I’ll get you a couple and some drinks. What beverage would you like?”
“Just a water for me, please,” I say.
“Same here.”
Reggie runs off, and as my eyes follow him, I sense eyes on us, catching a glimpse of a group of teenagers.
“You have an audience,” I say.
Lachlan glances up and looks where I just did. He smiles and waves to them. All the boys grin.
I laugh. “You’ve made their night.”
“It’s nothing.” He shrugs. “So, Scarlett, I need to ask you something.”
I straighten in my seat and turn my focus back on him. “What’s that? And no, I won’t marry you again,” I quickly add.
He shakes his head. “No, I wasn’t going to ask you that. I was hoping you’d give me your actual number now. I think I’ve earned it.” He cocks an eyebrow and gives me a half grin.
I raise an eyebrow. “Do you think you’re worthy
of getting it?”
“If you don’t give it to me, I’ll get it from one of your friends, or I’ll show up at your place of business.”
“Uh, I’ll give you my number before we leave. Having you show up at work could be disastrous. I work with people who read stories for a living, and you’re like a walking book boyfriend. All their dreams rolled into one. I doubt you’d actually make it to my office on the top floor,” I state.
“I’ll hold you to that.” He slips off his coat and lays it on the chair beside him. His shirt is tight on his bulging biceps. Hot damn! Definitely book boyfriend material. “So, are we still playing twenty questions?”
“Sure,” I say.
“Okay, my turn. Will you come to one of my games?”
My eyes go wide. “Uh, do you think that’s a good idea? I mean, isn’t that where you’d get the most media attention? I’m not sure how I feel about the spotlight.”
“What if I got you and your friends tickets, in a good spot, and you just enjoyed the game without the spotlight?”
“It’s going to be hard to watch a game when I don’t understand it.” I shrug.
His mouth drops open. “Excuse me? We need to rectify this. I’m going to come to your place, and we’re going to watch some games, and I’ll explain them to you.”
Now, that sounds like fun, even if I find sports uninteresting. Spending time with him would be a bonus, but I need to make sure he doesn’t get the wrong idea. I like spending time with him, but I’m not ready to date yet.
“It’s going to take lots of explaining, because my knowledge is limited.” Some of my hair falls into my eyes, so I swipe it away. Lachlan watches me, and he swallows and sucks in his bottom lip, biting it. I wonder what thoughts are running through his head. If they’re anything like mine, we’re in trouble.
“That’s good. It means more time I get to spend with you and get to know you better.” He winks, which causes my stomach to tingle.
“Well, then, it’s settled. You’ll teach me a few things about football.”
“Awesome. It’s a date.”
“No, it’s not. We’re friends getting together. I’m not ready for dating. We’re just friends.”
His shoulders slump slightly, and he looks as though I’ve punched him.
