Page 170 of Penalty to the Heart

“Actually, I think it’s the perfect time,” he says, lifting my hand up to his lips and pressing a kiss on it.

My heart feels like it’s about to leap to my throat at how he’s flaunting our relationship in front of the one person who could ruin my career with a snap of his fingers.

“Very well. I’m all ears,” Lawrence retorts in a light British accent, crossing his arms over his chest, getting ready for whatever Caleb is about to sling his way.

“I never got a chance to thank you.”

“To thank me?”

“To thank him?”

Lawrence and I blurt out in unison, in complete surprise.

“Yes, thank you. That shit I pulled with Bellamy… well, let’s just say it wasn’t my best moment, and you were right in suspending me for it. I don’t think any other club owner would have kicked my ass out of the team, considering everything I was going through at the time. But by doing so, you set an example that every teammate, no matter how long or brief their time on the team, was given the proper respect they deserved. So yeah, thanks for that.”

Pride mixed with disbelief washes over me as Caleb lets go of my hand to extend it to Lawrence to shake.

“I must say, I didn’t expect this,” Lawrence says, honestly bewildered as he shakes Caleb’s hand.

“What can I say? I love to keep people guessing.” Caleb smirks.

“So I’m gathering. I’m usually not one to be easily surprised, and here you’ve managed to do it, not once, but twice,” Lawrence explains with a curious expression stitched to his face. “Trent has told me that you would like the Guardians to host a fundraiser to raise funds for the restructure and modification of some sort of center you’ve been recently volunteering at up at Dorchester. Is that true?”

“It is.” Caleb suddenly stands up to attention.

“Hmm. I’d like to see this center for myself. If it’s as impressive as Trent swears it to be, then I’d finance the project myself.”

“You would do that?” Caleb counters in amazement.

“I would. What good is having money if you can’t do some good with it?”

“I don’t know what to say. I’m a little—”

“Surprised?” Lawrence finishes for him, a ghost of a smile tracing his lips.

“Kind of, yeah.”

“Pleased to hear it then. I do hate when people think me predictable. As I’m sure you do, too.”

“Nothing predictable about me. Isn’t that right, Roxie?” Caleb winks at me.

What the hell is he doing?

Does he want me to lose my job?

I’m about to say something—anything, really—to get out of this bizarre encounter when Becca steps out of the bathroom, Lawrence’s stiff demeanor seeming to relax with her now standing beside him.

“Well, look here, kitten. Seems like we weren’t the only couple in need of some alone time. It seems to me these four beat us to the punch,” we hear Trent joke as he makes his way towards us with Piper on his arm.

“Great minds think alike,” Piper teases, eyeing me and Caleb with a knowing smirk.

“Actually, Rebekah and I were just looking for the guest of honor, so we can pay our farewells before leaving,” Lawrence says, placing a protective arm around his wife’s waist.

“Leaving so soon?” Piper asks, her worried gaze now falling on Becca’s.

“I’m not feeling well. I think I might be coming down with a bug,” Becca replies, still looking a bit out of sorts.

“You’re still unwell?” Lawrence asks, tipping his wife’s chin up to him. The soft expression on his face as he looks at her is a total contradiction to the stoic man we all know him to be.

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