Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Lucas County stood at the endow of his office, staring at the and garden but seeing nothing. His mind was twenty five years in the past. Awed on a memory held never been able to shake
Ameka, eighteen and radiant in her graduation dress, laughing as the pun under the other backyard. Her chestnut hair catching sunlight, joy radiating from her every movement
it was the day he had finally gathered courage other how helt How had always fet, since they were years old and shed punched By Sanders for making fun of Lucesco and clothes,
But Richard Parker had beaten him to. Handsome, confident Richard with his sports car and easy charm. Richard had shown up at mas graduation party with roses and a silver bracelet, sweeping her off her let with practiced lines and a dazzling smile
Lucas had watched from across the yard ambushed under Richards after He had on the moment shell precodeinstant when her heart turned toward Richard and away from any possibility of what might have been between them
He never told her. He couldn’t bear to make choose, couldn’t stand the thought of seeing pity in those warmeyes he loved so much. So hid wallowed his coin congratulated them both and for California with his heart in pieces
How Lumed to his desk and opened the bottom drawer removing a thin file marked with a single letter. A
Inside were photos, news dippings, reports, the documentation of life observed from afar. Amelia at wedding radiant in white lace
thebom daughter Amela at chartyson Richard’s her smile never quite reaching her eyes in later years.
What had started way to the chef, just checking in only to make sure she was happy had evolved into something more through over the years. Every samo, dacre update from a private instigator Nothing intrusive, nothing that crossed lines, just keeping tabs.
Making sure she was safe. Happy Taken care
Head known for years that
truly happy. Hadakimas Richard’s career took printys shown
United days ago, when his security had had called with an urgent report Richard Parker had been seen entering
har family. But she had chosen that life and Lucas had respected her choice, watching from the shadows as she built the family she had always wanted
Lucas had known immediately what had happened Richard, who had never deserved her had fully showhiture
caurant with his secretary, Charlotte Mills An hour later Amelia Carter had left, clearly distraught.
He had ordered his carreaded intending to go to her home to finally break him long so. But before he could conclamethrough
Martha gone home. The der followed her to take Bridge Shading there for over an hour the look stable si
I never moved so fast in his He Had never such pure, primal feat Horded his driver to break every speed limit, hi ha pounding a hard he thought it
Lucas had never moved
it might burst from hist
When the reached the bridge and saw her slight gute all the railing plating the body, here blank with despair, something in him had shared. Twenty years of careful distance of respecting her choices of watching from afar gone instant
Chapter 5
He had reached her just as she sipped his hand catching her wrist in a grip so tight it might have left bruses. In that moment, as she dangle between life and death, he had made as to him he would never let her poi tocard. Not to despair. Not to anyone or anything
if fate had given him this second chance he would not waste
And now she was here, in his home,
he was here, in his home, sleeping under his roof. Brck, Devastated by betrayal. But alive. Here within reach at last
Lucas closed the file and returned it to the drawer. He had told her the truth, that he’d known exactly where she was that night, that his chance encounter on the bridge was anything but chance. He couldn’t tell her that had be watching over her for decades search she had
She would think him obsessed. Disturbed, even
Perhaps he was.
He moved back to the window, pressing his palm against the cool glass, The rain had stopped, leaving the garden gistering in the afternoon sunlight. Somewhere in the east wing was settling in porary sanctuary unaware of the truth that burned in his chest like a flame
He had loved her since childhood. Had never stopped loving her, not through college, not through his manage to Eva’s mother, a good woman who had know she was his second choice and hodieved him anyway not through the decades of building his amp while Amelia built her family with another man Now by some twist of fate cruel to her but impossibly precious to him, the was here. Vnerable in need of protection and care, things he could finally, at long last, provide
“One week,” he murmured to the empty room,
recalling her words from breakfast. She thought she would stay just one week, than i
ngo out into the world and
But Lucas had wanted twenty years for this chance. He would not let its away so easily
He would not force he would not manipulate or pressure her. But he would show her day by day what he could be ke by side would dominate through actions, not words, how deeply
And perhaps, given time, she might com
come to sue
see him as more than the boy next door more than an old friend offering
gshelter in a storm.
The intercom on his desk buzzed, pulling him from he thoughts
“S? Your next meeting is wating”
der how completely he understood her
Lucas straightened his shoulders. The world’s third largest corporation would not run the
Yet as he prepared to docubilion dollar investments and strategic acquisition, his mind remained feed on Amela On the fragile second chance had given him
He opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out an old photograph, plowed with age. Two teenagers silling under antre, her head resting on his shoulder, both of them laughing at some forgotten. He had led this photo everywhere for twenty per
Lucas traced her young face with his finger. She had chosen Richard back then, had but a life without him qut Richard had proven unworthy of her trust her love her t
Chapter 5
would not
not make the same mistake. He would be patient. Would he trust again, slowly carefully would help her heal from Richard’s betrayal
And this time, when she was ready to chocce again, he would make sure she know actly how he feh. How hehad always felt
This time, Lucas County would fight for the woman he loved.
Whatever it book, however long it took, hewould keep her by his side
He had failed to protect her once. He would not fault.
The firecrackedin
i plone hearth a grain tapped againg the lorry windows. Lucas sat in his leather chair with a glass of whiskey, while Eva curled up on the sofa opposite him.
“So” she said breaking the silence Wre you going to tell me about you and Ame? The realstory this time?
