Divided Interests (Southern Bride 3)

“Well, what exactly are you asking me about? Your relationship with Lucas, which I might add happened rather quickly, even if no one was surprised. Everyone always thought the two of you belonged together.”

“I always knew I was crazy in love with him. He makes me stop thinking straight. That’s a whole other ‘night out with drinks’ conversation. What I mean is, am I crazy for opening a flower shop?”

She stopped walking and faced me. “You’re asking me if I think it’s crazy that you’re following a dream? No, I think it’s amazing. I envy you, Paige. And no matter what, you know I’ll always support you.”

“Why are you such a good friend?”

With a half shrug, she replied, “I have to be. You know some of my darkest secrets from when we were younger. If I don’t keep you happy, you could let them out.”

Laughing, I held her closer to me. “I would never.”

“Ha! That’s the difference between you and me. If you don’t give me free flowers and let me help run this little shop, I’m going to tell Lucas how you described his cock to all of us that one night you got drunk at my sixteenth slumber party.”

Gasping, I jerked away. “I never did any such thing!”

She raised a brow.

My cheeks heated, and I covered my mouth to hide my giggle.

“It was rather descriptive, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, and I had nightmares about cocks for weeks. I’m pretty sure your detailed description of it and how it worked made Annie Mason ask her mother about it, and that was why she was never allowed to hang out with us again.”

We both fell into a fit of laughter, and it felt amazing to laugh like only best friends could.

The moment I pulled down the driveway and saw the BMW, my heart raced. Lucas’s truck was parked in front of it. My hands shook. Weird. He said he was going to his parents’ ranch.

Pulling up next to the BMW, I turned off my car. I slipped out and walked toward the front porch.

He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t hurt me again. I knew it with every ounce of my being.

I turned the handle of the front door and walked in.

Male voices could be heard coming from the kitchen. I walked in and found Lou Howard sitting at the kitchen table with Lucas. They were both looking at papers.

“What’s going on? Lucas, I thought you were going to your folks’ place?”

Lucas looked up and gave me a smile. “Lou needed to meet with me, so we met here.”

I looked from Lucas to Lou and back again. “What’s going on?”

Lou cleared his throat. “Lucas asked me to draw up some papers for him a few days ago. I’m getting him to sign them.”

My stomach clenched. “What kind of papers?”

Lucas smiled as he made his way over to me. “I’ve asked Lou to bequest my half of the house back to you.”

“What?” I asked in a shocked voice. “Why would you do that? When did you do that?”

“The other morning, before we found the chest.”

I was stunned into silence. “I don’t want you to. Why would you do that?”

He smiled, and my knees felt weak. “Because I wanted you to know none of it mattered anymore.”

“But you never said—”

“I honestly never thought we’d find anything.”

“This house belongs to you as much as me. It’s ours. Both of ours. We’re going to get married here, raise a family, pour a crazy amount of money into making it amazing. All together. Not because we each own a share of it, but because it’s ours.”

I shook my head, almost violently.

Lucas placed his hand on the side of my face and whispered, “Shhh, don’t get upset.”

“I am upset.”

I stepped around him and walked to Lou. Glancing down, I saw the papers Lucas was about to sign. I picked them up and ripped them in half.

“Christ, Paige!” Lucas shouted as he rushed over to me.

“This is insane!”

Lou sat back in the chair, smiling. “Lord, the two of you remind me so much of William and May. It’s unbelievable. It really is.”

Lucas and I faced Lou. “What?” I asked in a disbelieving voice.

“Holy shit, you know the truth, too?” Lucas asked.

Lou let out a roar of laughter as he gathered up his things. “Of course I know. I was his best friend. William told me everything. My father was the one who drew up the adoption papers for both boys.”

I stared at Lou, my shock growing.

“I was wondering when you came in and asked me to refuse your bequest, if you had both found your answers yet. I see that you have.”

“Why didn’t you just tell us, Lou?” I asked.

He picked up his briefcase, looked at me, then Lucas, and then roared with laughter again. “Now, what would be the fun in that?”