Page 6 of Beautiful Harmony

“I mean, you get the same ‘I am so gone for this woman’ look on your face whenever you mention her,” Connor said.

“I don’t have a look,” Lucas said. “Do I want to sleep with Emma? Fuck, yes. She’s gorgeous, and that body of hers is fucking dynamite. But she doesn’t want to sleep with me and has been clear she wants to be friends only. That’s never happened to me before, and it’s messing with my head.”

Connor laughed. “It’s about time a woman could resist you. Christ, I’ve been waiting nearly my whole life for this moment.”

“Yeah, yeah, go ahead and gloat,” Lucas said. “I can take it.”

Connor’s smile faded, and he leaned forward. “I’m not going to gloat about you being in love with a woman who doesn’t feel the same way.”

“Christ, Connor,” Lucas said. “I’m not in love with Emma Richardson. We’re friends, that’s it. Is she a friend I’d really like to see naked? Yes. But even if she wanted me in her bed, it wouldn’t be more than fucking. I don’t do relationships, remember?”

“I remember,” Connor said. “But this is a relatively new decision for you, and I think you regret it. You might make a lot of jokes about sleeping around, but you’re my best friend, and I know the real you. The Lucas who likes being in a committed relationship with a woman.”

“Liking it and being good at it are two different things,” Lucas said. “I’m not meant for relationships. I’ve tried, and it always -always- goes horribly. In every relationship I’ve been in, I get bored after only a few months. Telling a woman you want to break up with them because you’re bored is not fucking good, Connor. It hurts them badly.”

“I believe it,” Connor said.

Lucas stared at the poppers. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me or why I can’t be fulfilled in a relationship, but I’m done hurting women, Connor. It’s better for everyone if I keep it casual.”

“Have you ever considered the possibility that you haven’t met the right woman yet?” Connor asked.

“Don’t give me that bullshit. I know for a fact that you don’t believe in that ‘one person for everyone’ crap, so don’t try to sell it to me.”

Connor shrugged. “Can you blame me for hating that my best friend thinks there’s something wrong with him and wanting to suggest alternate theories beyond ‘you’re broken’? Because, Lucas, you’re not broken.”

“I never said I was,” Lucas said.

“You think it,” Connor said.

“I fucking hate how well you know me,” Lucas said.

“I know, and because I love you, I’ll change the subject now.”

“Thank fucking Christ.”

“Did you hear your boss Stark is trying to buy Rayna Abrams’s place?”

“What? I knew he bought the place next to hers at the beginning of September,” Lucas said. “He just moved in the middle of this month.”

“That’s true. The property Stark’s living on has been empty for almost a year, but he also bought Sean Barr’s property to the left, and Sean was still living there.”

“Why is that name familiar?” Lucas asked.

“Owns the Walgreens on Main Street,” Connor said. “Stark gave Sean an offer in mid-September. It was way too high for the property’s actual value, and I guess Sean signed the offer right then and there and was out of the house by the end of September.”

“So, now he owns both,” Lucas said.

“Yes, and he wants Rayna’s on the right side. Kira has no idea why, though. He just asked her to approach Sean and Rayna with offers to purchase their properties.”

“I’m not surprised,” Lucas said. “Stark values his privacy. I could see him buying three properties to keep from having neighbours.”

“Fuck, to be that rich. How much money does the guy have anyway?”

“Oh, he’s a multi-millionaire for sure,” Lucas said.

Connor made a low whistle. “Hard to believe a multi-millionaire wants to live in a small town. I don’t get it.”

“He owns a highrise in New Cassel,” Lucas said. “Lives on the penthouse floor. Or he did before opening a second Stark Entertainment here in Harmony Falls. I’ve been to the penthouse a few times. It is fucking sweet.”

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