Page 51 of Lost in the Moonlight

“Willow, wait!” Lincoln called from behind me.

But I didn’t. I couldn’t. If I did, who knew what might happen.

Mom was finally happy again. I was happy again. I couldn’t ruin that.

I’d thought it had been Poco who’d ruined the joy of our morning, but I could ruin it even more.

I was already near the corner of our street before the memory of the look Poco had given me made my feet slow to a more reasonable pace. I made myself take a deep breath in and out and look around. I couldn’t be running headfirst anywhere right now. I had to keep my wits about me, especially with Poco’s half-assed threats hanging over me.

I’d made it to our street when the sound of a meaty engine made my pulse leap, and with a hand jumping to my cat-eared key chain, I turned to see Lincoln’s Range Rover whip toward me. My feet stalled as he pulled up to the curb. He swung the door open, stepped out, and thundered, “You’re by yourself. You said you wouldn’t be alone today!”

The accusation wound through the air, but it was full of a concern that had my insides fluttering for all those same wrong reasons. “I told you Mom was driving me to the café, and she did.”

“She’s not here now,” he growled.

I blew out a frustrated breath—at myself and at him. “It’s the middle of the day. I’m walking a couple of blocks. I’m fine. Go back to the gallery and whatever you were doing there.”

He stared at me for a moment, brows burrowing together. “Whatever I was doing there. Wait. Were you jealous?”

I had been. For a brief moment. But it wasn’t why I’d left. “No.”

He closed the distance between us, hand going to my chin and forcing me to meet his gaze.

“Little liar.” The tone was soft, sensual, daring me to deny it again. The simple touch of his fingers had those flames licking through me again. Heat pooling deep in my belly.

I wanted to kiss him. Yearned for it with every nerve ending in my body in a way I’d never yearned to kiss anyone. Not like this. Not with an overpowering need that had me forgetting everything else. Had me forgetting Mom, and her safety, and the promises I’d made in the dead of night that she’d only be happy from now on.

“Try again.” His voice was all sexy command, the syllables sliding over me like a soft caress.

I couldn’t talk. Not when his touch was lighting me up like sparklers that had sat on a shelf too long and were now in danger of exploding.

When I didn’t say anything, he filled the void, a tiredness entering his voice that instantly made me want to fix it. “I’m used to the media making assumptions about me, Sweetness.But my friends, the people I care about…they know to ask before they assume.”

My hand went to his wrist, intending to push him away, but the smooth caress of his thumb along my jaw had me stilling. Aching. Wanting him and all the beauty that could come with it.

I closed my eyes as pain ratcheted through me.

I couldn’t have it.

None of it.

The banging of my heart was so strong, so loud, I wondered if he could hear it…feel it. His gentle caress continued for several long swipes, and then he was cupping my face with both hands. Tender strokes of skin against skin. I’d never known it could feel like this when two people touched. Like they were slowly blending together, fusing like a flambé melting sugar into something new. Something smoky and rich and vibrant.

That thought brought reality crashing in.

I really was ridiculous if I was equating his touch to flambé.

I stepped back, and I thought I saw disappointment course over his face before it disappeared. Or maybe it was me who was disappointed. In myself. In him for letting me go.

I spun around, heading for our gate, full of conflicting emotions as Lincoln followed me.

Every single one of those tantalizing and confusing feelings disappeared when I reached our front step. Shock and fear took its place as I stared at the piece of butcher paper taped to our door. Dark-red paint dripped down from the words scrawled over it.

You don’t deserve a fairy-tale ending.

Just as my knees buckled, warm arms surrounded me, stopping me from hitting the ground. Every emotion from the last few days collided together, the roller coaster of desire andregret and panic and terror finally allowing the tears I’d refused for so long to surface.

Was this Poco? His little threat from this morning delivered with more force?

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