Page 16 of Desperate Vows

A knock came from the door, and it opened. Clair looked from Aunt Helen to me. “What—” Her words faltered as her eyes landed on me.

“Claire, have you met my nephew?” She smiled as she got to her feet. I was grateful she was playing along.

I cut a glance at Aunt Helen and stood. “You know my Aunt Helen?” I didn’t want her to know I was following her. If this was another long-game type thing, I didn’t want to give away that I was suspicious.

“I…I’ve been volunteering here for a few months?—”

“Six. She’s been a doll, but how do you know each other?” Aunt Helen asked.

I smiled and held my hand out to her. “She’s the reason I stopped by today. To tell you about my engagement.”

Aunt Helen’s mouth dropped open as she looked at Claire. “What? You got engaged and said nothing?” Her gaze swung back to me, her jaw hanging open. Man, the woman was good.

Claire slowly placed her hand into mine. “I…” She played with the end of her braided hair. “I…”

“It just happened last night. We haven’t had the chance to announce it.” I smiled as I drew her closer and wrapped my hand around her waist.

Aunt Helen pulled her from my grasp and gathered Claire in a crushing hug. “Sweet girl. I’m so happy for you.” She tapped me on the cheek and then pinched it. You would have thought I was still five and didn’t have a small city’s worth of skeletons in my closet. “My Lucas is a sweet, sweet boy.” She looked at Claire. “His bark is much worse than his bite.”

I raised an eyebrow and tugged her back, snugly against me. “My bark and bite are both equally terrifying.”

Even Claire somewhat chuckled at the statement.

Just as Aunt Helen opened her mouth, a commotion out in the dining room grabbed her attention. “I bet that’s José and Bob going at it again. You better not leave without telling me goodbye.” She rushed out of the room leaving me alone with Claire.

“I should get back out there, too.” She tried to wriggle out of my grasp.

No way was she getting away that fast. I took her around the waist, and in half a step, I pressed her against the wall. I still had the memory of that kiss from last night. The feel of her lips and the taste of her skin.

I went to kiss her, and she turned her head.

Her palms were flat against my chest. “I’m not the only available candidate tonight. There are plenty of women in the dining room who would love to be kissed.”

This was the first time I’d seen any fire in her at all. It was sexy, too. I took her chin in my fingers and forced her to look at me. “Yes, but now that I’ve promised all my kisses to you, yours are the only ones I want.”

The set of her jaw, the way her lips were in a thin line. She was ticked. “As if you won’t be sneaking around once we get married. Not that it’ll matter. You’re in bed with Franklin Benoit. I doubt I’ll make it out of the church before you slit my throat and share a toast with my father, celebrating your newfound wealth.” With the amount of venom lacing her words, she was a viper being milked.

Before my head caught up with my mouth, words were already leaving the gate. “I saw him choking you last night.”

Unshed tears turned her eyes glassy. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. He would never?—”

“Don’t lie to me. Don’t ever lie to me. You want to give me a reason to cut your throat. That’ll be it.” I growled. “I won’t lie to you either.” I wouldn’t mention that I could be creative with the truth.

Her lips pinched together tighter.

“I saw him do it. I want to know why.” I brought my face closer to hers. “Tell me, Claire.”

“You’re demanding the truth from me, but you’ve done nothing to deserve it. I don’t know you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t know you either. You’re dropped off at the university and then walk eight blocks to work at a soup kitchen. It seems to me you’re the one who isn’t trustworthy.” I didn’t mean to let that slip, but my anger got the better of me.

Her mouth dropped open. “You followed me? You weren’t here by accident?”

“You bet I followed you.” I wasn’t even a little apologetic. “Why the hell are you here? Are you spying on my family? My Aunt Helen won’t take kindly to that.”

A tear leaked out. “If you must know, I lost my mom to cancer six months ago. I started volunteering to honor her memory.”

I didn’t remember reading or hearing about that. “Your mom?”

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