They’d only been married a short time, but he realized then that Paisley wasn’t that different from the young girl he’d once known.
She might own the poshest bridal boutique in the area, but she was a humble woman with big worries. He didn’t want to feel guilty for his actions and he didn’t want to get caught up in her again because all of this was so shaky. He had no clue how this was all going to end. At this point, he had to take this marriage like he did all of his cases. One day at a time.
“Maybe we could go to the movies after dinner?” she asked, her smile wide and hopeful.
Yeah, there went that punch to the gut again. Nobody ever affected him like Paisley...and he knew nobody ever would.
“I’m choosing the movie,” he replied with a flirty wink. “Just try to keep your hands to yourself if we sit in the back row.”
Paisley laughed. “My husband is the handsy one.”
“Very true,” he agreed. “So you better keep those moans to a minimum.”
* * *
Paisley set the dish on the table and stood back to survey her work. Lucas had told her he’d be working late on another case he had to wrap up and his cooking duties weren’t going to happen tonight. As soon as she’d closed up the boutique, she pulled up her cooking app and headed to the store.
She’d seriously considered re-creating the junk from the mall a few nights ago just as a joke, but opted to make a nice meal instead. He’d been working so hard on not just her case, but those of his other clients. She’d caught him sneaking out of bed in the middle of the night and poring over the rest of the boxes she’d brought from her home. The boxes were the last of her mother’s belongings and they’d just been too painful for Paisley to search through.
At first, she’d started going through them, looking for any clue that would lead her toward Sterling, but nothing had stood out and emotions had always consumed her.
Warped as it might sound, Lucas had been amazing during this process and she wanted to show him how much she appreciated his hard work.
So here she stood two hours after getting home from the store, praying she’d managed a meal that was edible. She wanted to impress him, she wanted him to see her as something other than a painful past or a way to grow his lineage.
Damn, that sounded so absurd even in her own thoughts, but it was true. Part of her wanted him to start to feel more for her...because if she was having all of these feelings emerge, she certainly didn’t want to be alone.
Yes, they’d been in love in the past, but that was where all of those emotions remained. Everything she felt now stemmed from the present. Being with him again only showed her that maybe he truly was the one for her. Life and obstacles had pulled them apart, but maybe they were meant to be together. Maybe they needed this growth, these trials to realize just how special they were.
Or maybe she was a complete and utter fool and a hopeless romantic. Lucas didn’t believe in love. He’d basically put up an invisible barrier around his heart...not that she could blame him.
The bell sounded from the elevator and the nerves in her belly quickened. So silly. She shouldn’t be worried about what he thought; she should be more concerned about him finding the truth about her father. That was the sole reason that led her to his office only a few short weeks ago.
Instead, she glanced to the living room where she’d de-Paisleyed the throw pillows and tried to incorporate more of his boringness.
Wasn’t marriage all about balance?
The elevator slid open, and Lucas stepped out. The moment the door closed behind him, he pulled off his black Stetson and hung it on the peg near the door.
Paisley waited until he glanced up and she caught his attention. His eyes scanned the table behind her before he drew his brows in and crossed the penthouse.
“No naked chef tonight?” he asked.
“That was a onetime thing,” she admitted. “I’d hate for you to think that was the norm.”
“Such a shame.” He moved right into her, utterly invading her space and wrapping his arms around her waist. “You didn’t have to cook, but I’m glad you did. I skipped lunch and my last client wanted me to head for drinks after we wrapped up, but I bowed out. I’m beat.”