Lie to Me (Pearl Island Trilogy #4)(80)

“No! I swear, I won’t give in to John. I don’t care how angry he gets over this, but I need my mother to forgive me for not helping her. She’s sure that getting that necklace will save her from having to marry Harold.”

“And if it could, would you help them get it?”

“No.” When her brow wrinkled, he wondered at the strength of her conviction. “I don’t think getting her out of this marriage would be helping her. I think Harold may be the best thing that ever happened to her. I need to convince her, though, that the necklace won’t miraculously turn John’s finances around so she’ll let it go. Is there anything you can tell me that will help?”

“Well, you saw how my family lives.” He sat up, the covers pooling at his hips. “Did that look like we were ever rolling in money?”

“You’re right.” She nodded. “I can try telling her that.”

“The only power the necklace has, other than letting some people see things, is the power to strengthen love. When it’s given as a token of love, the way my grandfather gave it to my grandmother, that love lasts for as long as those people live.”

Her face softened with awe. “That is more powerful than money.”

“I think so,” he agreed.

“I hope you get it back for your grandmother.” She squeezed his hand. “Especially now that I know it was a gift from her husband. That had to make losing it even more painful.”

“It did.” Her sincerity helped tamp down his doubt. He understood why Chloe couldn’t help him, but she wouldn’t betray him. She was too much of a fighter for that. “So, what do you think about moving in?”

“I still wonder what I would do here.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know.” She massaged a temple. “I already told you I don’t need a job. And I refuse, absolutely refuse to take the path of chairing committees for fundraisers. I’m all for charity, but I do not want my grandmother’s life.”

“What about your photography?”

“That’s just a hobby.”

“So, make it more than a hobby,” he suggested. “Because I agree with Harold; everyone needs a purpose. People think happiness is lying on a beach somewhere with nothing to do. It’s not. Happiness is kicking ass, slaying dragons, and stealing pirate treasure. That’s happiness.”

Laughter transformed her face.

“I love you,” she said with admiration filling her eyes.

The air left his lungs in a rush just as her eyes widened with horror.

“Oh God!” She slapped both hands over her mouth. “I didn’t say that.”

Oh, yes you did, he thought. Grabbing her wrists, he pulled her hands from her mouth. “Did you mean it?”

His heart pounded painfully as he waited for her to answer. All he saw was panic staring back at him.

No glory for the gutless, he told himself, and took his own fear in hand. “Because I love you. And I would really, really like it if you loved me back.”

She caught her breath in surprise and wonder. He definitely saw wonder shining in her eyes, thank God.

“I love you, too,” she said past a tight throat.

Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to hers, pouring out all the love and relief swelling inside him. His heart soared as she responded with equal fervor.

Ending the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers. A bright future opened up before him. He wanted to spend his life with this woman. Get married, have babies, go to pig roasts, and kill each other in laser tag.

Pulling air into his lungs, he raised his head and looked into her eyes. “Chloe, will you—”

Panic flashed across her face. Shit! She wasn’t ready for this.

“—move in with me?” he finished.

She sagged visibly in relief, confirming he needed to take this a step at a time. He didn’t want to wait, though. He wanted all of it, all of her, now. His heart pounded as he waited for her answer.

“Tempting,” she finally said, a hesitant smile tugging at her lips.

“Tempting enough for you to say yes?” He traced a fingertip down her cheek to her chin.

Her smile turned impish. “Tempting enough for me to say maybe.”

“Okay.” He kissed her lips. “I can work with maybe.”

“You aren’t one to give up easily, are you?” Her arms went around his neck.

“Never,” he confirmed, and lowered her onto the bed.





Chapter 21





Chloe refused to let go of her good mood even as Luc pulled his Porsche to a stop before the LeRoche mansion. They’d had a lazy morning in his apartment, eating breakfast, playing Vortal, and making love. Beneath her surface happiness, though, ran a current of ill ease each time she remembered John ordering her to help him get the necklace.

“You sure you don’t want to grab your things while I wait?” Luc asked. Concern lined his face as he looked past her to the imposing mansion. “We can go back to Vortal until your flight.”

“No, I need to do this.” She turned to face him. “For us.”

“Why for us?”

“I’ve thought about this, and if we’re going to have any chance of being together, I have to convince John and Diane that the necklace won’t solve John’s financial problems. Otherwise, if I move in with you and you do manage to get the necklace, they’ll think I helped you.”