Page 36 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

"I can't say."

I looked at him in surprise. "Really? Why not?"

"Security."

"You still don't trust me," I said with a sigh.

"I don't trust anyone, which is why I'm good at my job. I never take anything at face value."

"Some people don't have secrets."

"Everyone has a secret," he contradicted.

"I don't."

"Then you'd be the first person I've ever met who doesn't."

"Then I'm the first person," I said defiantly. Pausing, I added, "You must have investigated me. Did you find any dirt?"

"No. I found very little of interest on you, Lauren. But sometimes that's a red flag. Can someone's life really be that normal, that boring…"

I bristled at his words. "My life has not been boring." Despite my quick defense, I couldn't really argue that it had been that exciting, either, at least not before Andrew had shown up. "My mom was sick for almost three years. The last six months I had to quit my job to look after her. I was happy to do that. I don't regret it for a second. But it was a dark period in my life, and that darkness disappeared when I met Andrew."

"Exactly. Everything changed when you met Andrew."

I frowned at the implication in his words. "Because he's a wonderful guy, and he treats me better than anyone I've ever gone out with." I could see the cynicism in his eyes. "I don't know why I keep talking to you."

For the first time, he smiled. "Sometimes, I don't know why you do, either." He paused as Andrew walked over to us.

"What are you two discussing?" he asked.

"I was asking Mr. Stark what's going in this display case," I replied. "But he said he can't tell me."

"I'm sure it will be something amazing, like the rest of Victor's collection," Andrew said.

"Excuse me," Ethan said, tipping his head to me before he left.

"Was that really all you were talking about?" Andrew asked, giving me a speculative look.

"Mostly. I asked him if he'd been investigating me, and he said that he had, but my life was very boring."

Andrew smiled. "I don't find you at all boring, Lauren."

"Because everything changed when we met. I was a shadow of myself the year after my mom died. But that fire woke me up. Coming that close to death, then meeting you, finding a love I never expected, it was like my life turned upside down, but in a really good way."

"My life changed that night, too."

"Did it?" I questioned. "I mean, I know we fell in love, but you couldn't possibly have been as boring as I was."

"You were a workaholic back then, and I was, too. It was always about business for me. No real time or interest in love relationships. But then I met you, and, well, let's just say you knocked me off my feet."

It wasn't the first time he'd said that or the first time I'd felt dazzled by his complimentary words and his brilliant smile. A tiny voice inside wondered if maybe Andrew did sometimes lay it on a bit too thick. But I had no reason to believe he was being anything but sincere.

"I love you, Lauren," he said as if he knew I needed to hear that. "I feel like it's been too long since I said that."

"It's probably only been a couple of hours," I said with a laugh. "But it's our honeymoon, so I'm going to keep saying it, too." I paused at the sound of someone clearing their throat and realized Victor was right next to me.

He gave us a somewhat awkward smile. "I don't mean to interrupt, but we're going downstairs now. And I need everyone to leave at the same time. I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my collections."

---