My Dad's Rival

“What is it?” he asks again.

I suck in a breath of air and spit it all out. “I’ve been lying to you. I’m not just some random woman applying for an internship…my dad sent me to interview.”

Wyatt’s face creases in confusion. “What? Why would he do that?”

“Because…because he’s your biggest rival. He sent me in as a spy. He wanted me to find out…your company secrets,” I say, tears springing to my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Wyatt. I’m not who you think I am.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Wyatt

I stare at Lucy, trying to figure out if I heard her right. She’s a spy for her dad’s company? The only reason she’s here is to dig for secrets to take me down?

Lucy puts her head in her hands and I can see the turmoil inside her. Now, everything makes so much sense. I knew she was holding something back, but I never would’ve guessed that it was this. How could I? Why would I ever imagine that the woman I’ve fallen for is a corporate spy?

I sit back in my chair, trying to process her confession.

This should change things.

I should be angry.

But somehow, it’s like the revelation isn’t quite hitting me. It’s almost as though even though she’s done something that should be unforgivable, it doesn’t matter in the slightest.

Because I still want her. It’s not enough to make me want to leave her. Maybe I am crazy, but I don’t care who she is or where she comes from. She’s mine, flaws and all. Yeah, she did something she shouldn’t have, but in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter to me. We all make mistakes, and she’s only twenty-one. How many mistakes did I make when I was her age?

“Lucy, look at me.”

She keeps her head bowed like she can’t bear to look me in the eye, see the pain she thinks she’s inflicted on me. But even though it should hurt, even though I should be angrier than I’ve ever been before…I feel completely calm. It feels like everything finally makes sense. I know now why she’s been so cagey around me, why she’s been running from this thing between us. And yes, this complicates things. But the way I feel for her isn’t something I’m willing to give up. Not for anything.

“Lucy, don’t ignore me, please. I want to talk to you about this.”

Lucy finally raises her gaze to meet mine. There are tears in her eyes, but she’s brave enough to meet my eyes.

I stare at her.

I can’t believe she had the guts to admit what she’d done. Not many people have that kind of strength, to be honest when they’re wrong. And somehow, even though she’s done a bad thing, it makes me care for her even more.

“I’m not angry with you. I’m sure you had your reasons,” I tell her honestly. She opens her mouth to speak, but I cut her off, wanting to finish before she gets upset again. “I know that the world of business can be cutthroat…your father has shown me that many times over the years. If he is who I think he is but that doesn’t mean that you are. You’re a good person. You’ve shown me that with your honesty. And now that I know, we can move on from this. None of it matters now.”

Lucy sniffles, shaking her head in disbelief. “No, it’s not fair. You shouldn’t forgive me so easily. I did a bad thing. I don’t want you to let it go so easily.”

“That’s not your choice to make. I see you, Lucy. I see the kind of woman you are. You might be angry at yourself right now for the decisions you’ve made, but you’ve done everything you can to fix those problems. And I admire you for that. I’ve always wanted a woman who knows her own mind, who knows her own conscience…you are that woman.”

“But how can you ever trust me after I lied to you?” Lucy asks, her voice wobbly. “I let you down…I betrayed everyone involved…”

“You did what you had to do. But it’s over now. I don’t want you to worry anymore, baby.”

I stand and step around my desk, kneeling beside her to cup her cheek. She leans into my touch involuntarily, gazing up at me with a variety of emotions in her eyes, hope, desire, lust…love. In that respect, nothing has changed. I know she truly wants me. That’s something she could never have lied about. Not when her body responded so sweetly to mine. Not when I had her crying out in pleasure while she was in my arms. There was no way she could have faked what we shared together. And that’s how I know that she truly is sorry.

I put my hand beneath her chin and tilt her head up so she can look at me properly. She sniffs but holds my gaze.