“Depends on your definition of great, but it has a massive cult following, so take that as you see fit. Personally, I think it’s the city people who watch it and fall in love with the concept of a small town, like when I watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s or West Side Story and fall in love with the idea of city life.”
“Have you ever thought about moving to a city?” he asked, wondering what she would think of his place in L.A.… if she’d ever consider visiting him.
“More when I was younger and wanted to see the world.”
“And now?”
“It seems rather lonely to me. I’d be somewhere surrounded by people, but my family wouldn’t be there. My friends. The people I’m used to seeing every day. I think I’d miss them too much.”
“I hope they all realize how lucky they are to have you in their lives.”
“They do, I’m sure. But I’m lucky to have them too.” She was quiet for a moment then turned her head, catching his gaze. “What about you? Since you don’t talk to your parents anymore and Joe lives here so far away from you.”
“I still talk to my mom, even though I usually hang up with a headache. And I have my two roommates from college. Leo.”
She smiled. “The chef?”
“Yes, Leo the chef, and Brian the frat boy who never grew up, but he’s smart as hell. They’re more like family to me than my own. They’re also my business partners. Can’t seem to get rid of them.” He laughed, but the truth was, he had no idea where he would be without them. They kept him upright on days when his world felt like it was falling off kilter. Between Brian with his quick wit and ability to turn any situation into a party and Leo with his laidback, fun-loving ways and master cooking skills, they managed to get Lucas through the hardest time in his life.
They didn’t need to be blood to be family. No matter what they would be there for him just as he would always be there for them. It was a silent oath they had and he would honor it until his dying day.
“I’m happy to hear you’re not alone out there,” Ella said and her words were like a warm embrace. To think that she cared enough about him to hope he wasn’t living life alone…
“I’m not,” he said. “But it can still get lonely.”
She looked at him then, dark eyes full of understanding. “I know exactly what you mean.”
He didn’t care about the movie anymore or about Ella thinking that he only wanted one thing from her. The way she was looking at him, all he cared about was her and making her know he never wanted her to be lonely again.
He cupped her face, running his thumb across the apple of her cheek, loving the soft feel of her skin beneath him.
“I thought we were watching the movie.”
“The only thing I want to watch is you,” he said just before leaning in and kissing her.
She smiled against his mouth, but when he tilted her head and deepened the kiss, her lips moved to keep up with his demand.
Her hands moved to his face, and she kicked her legs over him, rubbing against his sex. He growled against her mouth as her hips rocked against him and her fingers tangled in his hair.
He had her on the beach, and it was amazing, but she deserved better and a couch wasn’t it. So without warning, he stood, gripping her ass with his hands and holding her tight. She let out a squeal and secured her arms around his neck.
“I want you in my bed,” he said, carrying her to the stairs and taking them as quickly as possible.
He followed the hallway to where he was staying and laid her against the mattress. He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it behind him. Ella stripped out of her top, and he watched as she unsnapped her bra, holding it out to the side with one hand while the other stretched across her body, covering her up.
The strap dangled from her finger, and her teeth slid over her lip as the bra fell to the floor. He dove on top of her, and she let out a surprised laugh that was like liquid ecstasy to his ears. It was a sound he wanted to hear again and again.
He looked down at her, brushing her long hair from her face. “I don’t know how I’m going to leave you.”
She smiled, but it didn’t quite touch her eyes. Her finger lifted, tracing the curve of his face before her hand rest against his jaw. He turned his head pressing a kiss to her palm.
“Let’s not talk about that,” she said. “Just be with me now.”
***
Lucas ran his finger up and down Ella’s arm, loving how perfectly she felt against him. He never wanted to leave this room or her. He wasn’t lying when he said he didn’t know how he was going to leave her. The thought made him almost sick to his stomach.
His whole life he’d been searching to feel something as real as this, and they had every obstacle working against them.
He looked down at her and she glanced up at him with a smile. Emotion tugged at his insides, a deep-seated realization coming to fruition. He was in love with her.
Completely and hopelessly in love.
“That was amazing,” she said. “You weren’t kidding about me needing my energy.”
“Then I think you need to refuel, because I’m nowhere finished with you yet.”
“No food, but maybe some water would be good.”
“You want water?” he asked, and her face lit up as she nodded. He laughed. “I’ll go get you some water.
He pushed up out of bed and watched as she cuddled up into the blankets. “Do you have a bigger bed in California?” she asked.
“I do.”
“Mmm… the things we’d be able to do in it,” she said on a satisfied yawn.
Desire shot through him and he hardened at her words.
“You’re killing me.”
She answered with a sleepy whimper as her eyes slid shut. He pulled on a pair of sweats and headed downstairs, the entire time envisioning Ella at home with him in California, sprawled out in his bed, dark brown hair fanned out around her.
He was about to turn toward the kitchen when he heard the sound of the front door. His eyes darted to the clock on the wall. It was the middle of the night, and his grandfather wasn’t supposed to be home until late morning.
If Joe knew he brought a Moretti into the house…
Lucas took a deep breath. He wasn’t only an adult, but he was a level-headed person who could figure this out. Joe would no doubt be tired. He’d go to bed and then Lucas could sneak Ella outside as long as Joe hadn’t already seen her bike.
He made his way to the front door and froze.
Standing in the foyer was the last person Lucas ever wanted to see again.
His father.
Chapter 16
Shock mixed with anger, and it took everything Lucas had not to grab his father by the collar and toss his ass out the door.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he demanded.
“Is that any way to greet your father?” He was as smug as he’d always been, his white linen shirt starched and perfectly pressed, tucked neatly into his tan pants. A navy blue and red striped tie secured in a Windsor knot hung from his neck.
“I could think of a few more colorful things to say if you prefer.”
His father slipped out of his sports coat and draped it over his arm. “I see you haven’t learned any manners since the last time we spoke.”
“The last time we spoke I made it perfectly clear I never wanted to see you again.”
“Yes, I remember.”
“So why the hell are you here?”
“It’s funny. I was speaking with your mother, and she mentioned your little trip.”
“And what? You thought you’d come here, and we could have a happy family reunion? Sorry to have wasted your time, but I have nothing to say to you.”
“Maybe you don’t, but I’m sure my father has plenty.”
“And after twenty-six years you suddenly care what he has to say?”
“What can I say? I’ve had a change of heart.”
Lucas’ lip curled. “You’re so full o
f shit it’s practically coming out of your ears.” Lucas ran a hand across his neck, trying to work out the growing tension. No matter how much or how hard he rubbed it didn’t help. “Why don’t you tell me why you’re really here?” He met his father’s eyes, years of anger and resentment building inside him. “Better yet. I don’t give a shit. Why don’t you just leave? You’re not welcome here anyway.”
Hot fury burned Lucas’ blood, he could practically feel it boiling beneath the surface. The last thing he wanted was to subject Ella to him. He needed to get his father out of this house before she awoke and before Joe came home.
There was no way his father had a change of heart. The man didn’t have a heart. He was a calculated man who only did things that benefited himself. He had an angle, and Lucas needed to figure it out before he got caught in the crosshairs.
He was about to demand he leave again when he heard soft footsteps on the stairs. He wanted to run, scoop Ella up in his arms, and bring her back to the room, lock the door and make sure she stayed there until he figured this out.
But she was at the landing before he could get his feet to move. She came to the bottom, dressed in only his t-shirt, hair ruffled from his hands. “Lucas?” she said and came around the bend, stopping short as she took in his father.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. Shock filled her eyes and slashed across her features. “I didn’t know you were expecting company.”
“I wasn’t,” he growled.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to the young lady?” his father said, and it took more self-control than Lucas knew he possessed not to jump in front of her and hide her from him.
He turned to Ella, gaze filled with curiosity.
“Ella, this is my father.”
***
Those were the last words Ella ever expected to hear come out of Lucas’ mouth, and by the angry set of his jaw, this visit wasn’t planned. She wanted to reach out and take Lucas’ hand, squeeze it for reassurance, but he was a wall of stone.
“Mr. Prescott,” she said, walking toward him and holding out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
The older gentleman that Lucas clearly got his looks from stared down at her hand and smirked. “Maybe you should go put some pants on.”
Ella looked down at her bare legs, embarrassment spreading through her. She yanked at her hem and backed away. “Good idea.”
“No,” Lucas said, turning to his father. “You’re not staying.”
“It’s all right,” Ella said. “I should get going anyway.”
“No!”
Ella met his blue gaze, dark with too many emotions. “You should talk to your dad,” she said. If she could get her brothers in the same room with their dad it would be a damn miracle. Mr. Prescott did the hard work by coming here, now Lucas just needed to take that tiny step. Maybe at the end, things would be better, or maybe they would be worse, but they would never know if they didn’t try.
“I have nothing to say to him,” Lucas growled.
Ella cupped his cheeks, looking deep into his eyes. “I think you do.”
“Ella?” Mr. Prescott said, and Ella dropped her hands back to her sides, turning to look at him. His eyebrows furrowed as he studied her face. “Ella as in Vinny Jr. and Maria’s daughter?”
“Yes,” she said.
Mr. Prescott let out a loud sadistic laugh. “You’re screwing a Moretti?” he said, turning to Lucas. “That’s low even for you.”
Lucas went at him, fists coming up, and Ella jumped in front of him, grabbing his hand and forcing it down. His jaw tightened, teeth grinding together. “Look at me,” Ella said and with an angry whip of his head, he did. “Stop.”
“He insulted you.”
“It doesn’t matter what he thinks. He doesn’t know me.”
She heard Mr. Prescott scoff behind her, but she ignored him. She didn’t care about what he thought of her, but she did care about Lucas finding the closure she didn’t think he ever really had.
“Talk to him,” she said.
“Why?”
“Because there might not be hope for my family, but there may be some for yours.”
“I doubt that.”
“Please.” She met his intense gaze, a battle of wills playing out when finally, he dropped his head.
“Fine, but if he says one more thing about you.”
Lucas’ eyes shot to his father, and Mr. Prescott held up his hands in understanding.
She lifted on her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I’ll see you later,” she said before walking away.
“Mr. Prescott,” she said as she got to the first step. “I hope you can look beyond your prejudices and realize your son is a great man, and you’d be an idiot to take that for granted.” She went to leave it at that, walk up the stairs, and hope to never see the man again, but that’s not what she wanted at all. She stopped and turned back, catching his gaze. “Maybe one day we’ll meet again and you won’t judge me because of my last name. I look forward to it.”
With her head held high, she hurried up the stairs, making sure to keep her hands firmly on the hem of her shirt to prevent it from rising higher on her legs than it already was.
Her last name already put a picture in Mr. Prescott’s head, and she didn’t want to live up to that dreadful image.
Chapter 17
Lucas hated that Ella left, and he hated more that the man he could barely stand to look at was standing right in front of him.
“I’m going to ask you one more time. What the hell are you doing here?” Lucas demanded ready to cut through the bullshit and get right to the damn point. He didn’t want to drag this out any longer than they had to.
“When I heard you were in Willow Cove I couldn’t stay away,” he said, moving through the house like it hadn’t been twenty-six years since the last time he stepped foot in it.
“Why not? Haven’t you done enough damage?”
He shrugged. “I had my reasons.”
“And none of them are good enough. Just because you didn’t have a great relationship with Joe doesn’t mean that you could keep him from me. Make me go through life thinking he was dead.” Lucas tried to keep the emotion from his voice, but he was too far past control.
“I don’t know what he’s told you.”
“He’s told me the truth. Something you know nothing about,” Lucas spat.
“Fair enough, but now I want my turn to tell my truth.”
“What if I don’t want to hear it?”
“That’s your right, but I’d appreciate it if you did.”
“Why should I?” Lucas asked. His father lied to him for years, took a part of his life away without him ever knowing. He crossed a line, and Lucas didn’t know if that line could ever be erased or if it would always be there as a constant reminder of what he’d done.
Lucas didn’t know what he expected his father to say, but he was searching for answers that his father didn’t have, and was hoping he could find something to make sense of the mess.
“Because I’m human,” his father said. “And I make mistakes just like everyone else.”
It was the most honest thing his father ever said to him. He looked at him, same blue eyes as his own staring back.
“Please.”
Lucas should say no. Make him suffer and continue to deal with the consequences of his actions, but Lucas was tired of holding onto resentment and anger. He wanted to be free of the demons of his past, and more than anything, he wanted to make Ella happy. And she wanted him to talk with his father.
“Fine,” Lucas said. “You can tell your side.”
His dad opened the far-right cabinet and pulled out a bottle of bourbon. “The old bastard hasn’t changed his hiding spot in forty years,” he said, a sad reminiscent look flashed in his eyes.
He took down two rock glasses and poured a bit in each glass before pushing one across the counter to Lucas.
He accepted it only because he had a feeling he was going to need
it.
His dad took a healthy swig and smiled. “He always did have the good stuff.”
“You want to talk so talk.”
“I’ve had some health issues lately. Don’t worry I’m not dying. You’re not that lucky.” He took another sip from his glass before pouring a little more. “I wasn’t sure at first. I had a bunch of tests ran and a million doctor appointments. Turned out it was stress. So I had to take a step back from work, took a vacation—something I haven’t done in decades. I spent more time with your mother and realized that my work schedule had put a wedge between us that I didn’t even realize until I had to step back.”
“I could’ve told you she was miserable and desperate for your attention,” Lucas said. He’d always felt bad for his mom, but as the years went on and nothing changed, he blamed her for allowing it to continue.
“I know that now. I also realized that I let my family fall apart because I was so focused on my own vision. I became my father.”
Lucas watched as his dad’s head fell, his hand fidgeting with the glass.
“I resented my dad for years because I was angry with him for not wanting me to live my own life and for wanting me to stay stuck in this town.”
Lucas scoffed. “Sounds familiar.” His dad wanted him to join the ranks at his company, and Lucas didn’t want to. It caused so much tension between them, and when Lucas found the cards in his desk, it was the push he needed to break free.
“I know and I’m sorry.”
Lucas’ head snapped up, total disbelief rushing through him.
“I mean it. I swore to myself twenty-six years ago when you were born that I would never become my father. I failed, but worst of all, I failed myself. I let anger control me but now with my head a little clearer I can see my mistakes. I can even see where my own father was coming from. You want the best for your kids but you also think you know what’s best. It gets complicated, messy, and now there’s just so much time that’s been wasted.”
“Joe misses you,” Lucas said. “He’s never come out and said it exactly, but he doesn’t have to. He lives with regrets just like you do.”
Her Forbidden Love Match (A Willow Cove Novel, #1) Page 11
