Lie to Me (Pearl Island Trilogy #4)(76)

“I—” She blinked, wondering what to say. “I hope you’re right.”

He nodded. “You’re thinking about your mother’s track record. Don’t. There’s a big difference between me and, well, the others.”

She gave him a puzzled frown.

“I ain’t much to look at, and I don’t go in for fancy things, but I know how to make her happy.” He pointed toward Diane with the hand holding his cocktail. “They didn’t.”

Chloe nearly told him her mother wasn’t capable of being happy. Not really. Diane had moments of delirious joy, but an emotional crash always followed on its heels. Then she remembered the blush on her mother’s cheeks, and thought maybe Harold knew more about making Diane happy than any of them suspected.

“I want to tell you something,” Harold said, lowering his voice, “but this needs to stay between you and me. I ain’t going into any of this blind. I’m doing it because I realized the moment your mother walked into John’s office that the LeRoche Shipping Company wasn’t the only thing that needs saving.”

His statement, so simple, slammed into Chloe like a hammer blow to the chest. The revelation stunned her, and it planted a seed of hope in her heart. She wanted to tell him that, but her throat closed tightly, and she couldn’t have spoken even if she’d known what to say.

“I hope you’ll have a little faith in me to give your mother what she needs.”

Blinking furiously, all she could do was nod. Thank goodness she’d shifted her back to the crowd so no one could see her face. She barely managed to force words past the tightness. “What about you, though? If you know what you’re getting into, why are you doing this?”

“Are you kidding?” He grinned. “I’m getting Diane.”

Chloe’s eyes widened. Did he not understand what life with Diane would be like?

“I want to tell you something,” he said happily. “Beneath all the layers of drama and insecurity, your mother is an amazing woman. She just needs purpose, and I’m the man who can give it to her.”

“I hope you’re right,” Chloe said. As far as she knew, her mother’s purpose in life had never extended beyond shopping and flirting.

Harold chuckled. “You should have seen Diane the day she helped me reopen the Two Sisters’ Bakery. Hoo, boy, she may have gone into the project grumbling and complaining that no one could redesign a pastry shop on the budget I gave her, but once she took on the challenge, she knocked it out of the park. Nothing less than I expected. What got me, though, was how humbled she was when the owners heaped her in gratitude and praise.” He shook his head, as if words couldn’t describe the moment, but the pride in his smile spoke volumes. “That’s the woman I knew was in there. And that’s the woman I’m marrying. I have no doubt she’ll put me through hell while she discovers who she can be, but she’s worth the wait. Besides, this deal comes with a bonus.”

Chloe shook her head, unsure what he meant.

“You.” He nodded at her. “I know we’ve barely had time to get to know one another, but I’ve got me some keen eyes in my head. I like what I see, Chloe Davis. Your mother ain’t the only woman in this family with the potential to do great things.”

Chloe pressed a hand to her mouth as tears spilled past her lashes.

“Oh, and now I’ve made you cry.”

“It’s, it’s—” She wanted to say it was okay, but it was so much more than okay. She wanted to hug him, but feared she’d blubber all over his shoulder.

“Hang on,” he told her, his gaze going past her. “Here comes your boyfriend. I’m sure he’ll know how to take care of those tears. He looks like a real nice young man, by the way.”

“Hey, Chloe, here you go,” Luc said as he joined them, holding a plate piled with food. When he saw her face, his smile dropped. “Are you okay?”

She nodded yes, then shook her head no.

“What’s wrong?” Luc glanced from her to Harold, straightening with accusation.

“I think,” Harold said to Luc, “you two could safely slip out of here without anyone noticing. Chloe put in an appearance as she was ordered. Mission accomplished.”

She jerked in shock. He knew about that?

He smiled at her kindly. “There’s no need for you to stay any longer.”

“Th-thank you,” she managed, mouthing the words more than saying them.

Luc left the plate on a table and led her inside, past the library full of people, and into the hall where they were finally alone. “Chloe, what is it? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s just…” She looked around at the pristine, white house and felt cold inside. “I really don’t want to stay here tonight. Could I stay with you?”

“Are you kidding?” He looked at her like she was crazy. “Of course.”

“Okay.” She swallowed a teary hiccup. “Just give me a minute to grab a few things.”





Chapter 20





On the drive home, Luc tried again to find out what was wrong. Chloe shook her head every time, keeping her face turned toward the side window. As if that would hide the fact that she was crying. While she made no noise, her anguish seemed to fill the car. She held her whole body rigid, as if letting out a single word would split her apart and whatever pain she held inside her would all come spilling out.