Page 74 of Neighbor from Hell
“I’m in love with her,” I admit, the words spilling out in a tortured whisper. I lean back, my hands gripping the chair’s arms, the admission stripping me bare. “Can you believe it? The cottage was in flames, and I didn’t think twice. I ran in, risked everything to save her. I’d never do that for anyone other than my own flesh and blood. Yet she thinks I burned the house down for her stupid piece of land? What the hell does she think I need land for?”
Her smile widens, and her eyes are bright with something like pride. “I never thought I’d see the day when you’d feel this way about a woman.”
I shake my head, my anger flaring again, because it’s not a gift, not when it’s this painful. “Well, it’ll never happen again,” I snap, my voice bitter. “Look at the mess I’m in, because I went and chose a stubborn, obtuse, delusional minx.”
“But isn’t it a bit too late to make that declaration. You’ve already fallen for her,” she says in a totally reasonable voice.
I don’t respond, because it’s true. I look away, my gaze on the view outside the window, the estate’s hills blurring. “I’d really like to be alone now.”
My mother stands, her coat rustling, and comes over to me, her perfumed hand cupping the side of my face. Her touch is cool.
“Try to see things from her point of view, darling. You're wealthy. You can have anything you want, and people like us, we don't really know how to accept no, do we? So of course, she'd suspect you. And she doesn’t really know you. I would have thought it more than normal for her to have doubts,” she says, her voice soft but firm.
“She probably feels the same way you do, but she hasn’t had time to know you, to trust what you’re capable of. Don’t stay angry with her—prove to her you’re not responsible. And do everything you can to help her get back on her feet. She’s been very brave, and she deserves a helping hand after such a turn of bad luck.”
I start to protest, but she raises her hand and continues.
“This is what love is—you can be furious with the person you love, but you do everything in your power to help them when they fall. That’s how you show who you are, how you make your bond stronger. Don’t give up on her, darling. These feelings you have, they’re rare. You’ve never felt this before, so you know how precious that is. Fight for it.”
Her words sink in and take root in the part of me that’s been fighting to believe I can still salvage the mess between Lauren and me. That Lauren might still look at me the way she did before the fire. Her laugh is soft and her eyes are warm. However, I don’t want to fold right now, especially not in my mother's presence.
She places a kiss on my cheek and straightens. “I’d love to meet her.”
I’m immediately alarmed. “Absolutely not.”
She scowls at me. “Are you going to tell me where she is, or do I have to find out by myself?”
“Please stay out.” I sigh. “I know you mean well, but please, don’t meddle. Just let me handle it my way.”
She gives me a long look, then she smiles. “Fine.”
This is not an assurance that she is not going to involve herself. I know that tone, and I know she is going to go in search of Lauren regardless of my disagreement.
“Mother,” I call out, but she’s already on her way.
“I hear you,” she says.
“I don’t want you to hear me. I want you to stay out of my business.”
She pauses just as she gets to the door and glances back. “What you should be doing is commissioning one of your best architects to rebuild her house. You know what she likes. Actions speak louder than words. I’d get started on that instead of moping, if I were you.”
With this, she heads out, and I’m left staring at the shut door, more annoyed than ever. Still, a piece of me, I have to admit, is somewhat relieved. I seem to have found a light at the end of the tunnel, a possible way out of this mess, even if I have to battle with my pride. After a few more minutes of wallowing, I give in, and dial Athena.
“Hello,” she responds brightly, eager and professional as always.
“I need you to get the best architect you can find to come to the manor. I need him or her here first thing in the morning. You can arrange to fly them over on the helicopter. I have a project that needs to be started immediately.”
“Yes, Sir,” she replies. “I’ll get right on it.”
I end the call, my pulse quickening, because I finally have a game plan. I’m going to rebuild her cottage. I tell myself that it is not all for her. I can’t exactly leave it as the blackened eyesore that it is next to my manor. This alone is reason enough. The rest I will leave it to fate.
This is all that my pride can take at this moment.
Chapter
Fifty-One
LAUREN
