Escorting the Groom (The Escort Collection 4)

"I was going to call you," she said. "I got sick last night, so I came here. I didn't want you to catch it."

That was a lie, and I knew it. The way her chin jutted toward me, her eyes glittering in defiance, didn't match her apologetic tone.

"Why didn't you call me?"

"I was too sick. I just went to bed."

"Were you crying because you were sick?"

Blake frowned and wiped her eyes. "I wasn't crying."

I sighed and dropped back down on the couch.

"You should go.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I'll meet you at the apartment in a little while. You shouldn't be here."

"Why not?"

"Because our apartment's gross, and I'm ashamed to have you here." Tears shone in her eyes, but she stubbornly held them back.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of." I wanted to reach out and pull her to me, but I could tell by her stance that she wouldn't allow it.

"What about you, Lucas?" She wiped her eyes again. "Do you have anything to be ashamed of?"

"Are you talking about your sister?"

She gave an almost imperceptible nod. "I saw her last night, coming out of your office."

"Last night, right before you got sick?" I asked.

She nodded miserably.

"That's because she came to my office to try to extort money from me. And I gave it to her." I raked my hands through my hair. "But I also made her sign a contract that she'd stay out of our lives forever, and an airtight confidentiality agreement."

"I told you not to do that—she won't ever leave you alone."

I looked at her, silently pleading for her to forgive me. "I'm sorry that I gave her money, because I know that's not what you wanted. But I had to make a quick decision, and I chose to protect you, because I will always choose to protect you. Even if I've done a crappy job of showing you that thus far. I wanted her to leave us alone."

Now a tear slipped free, and she wiped it away roughly. "You said 'us.'"

I melted toward her. "Of course I did. Just because I'm an asshole doesn't mean I'm a total asshole."

"I told you, go home." She sniffed. "We don't even have to talk about this. It doesn't matter. We signed a contract, and I'm going to keep up my end—that is, if you want me to."

I yearned to pull her into my arms, but I had to tell her the truth. "The thing is you don't have to. The terms of the trust are being annulled. So I'm going to inherit my share of the money, probably in the next few weeks."

Blake looked as though she might pass out. "O-oh." She leaned against the wall to steady herself. "So you don't need me anymore."

I couldn't take it. I closed the distance and brought her into my arms. "That's not true. I realized it last night when you were gone. You're a

total market disruptor, Blake."

She was stiff in my arms. "I'm sorry?"

I kissed the top of her hair. "You solved my must-have need."

She shook her head. "I don't understand what you're saying."

"Then let me explain it to you. Let me take you on a date before we go and get divorced."