Page 86 of Unbelonging
"You're the first," he said. "You and only you."
"Really?" I said, feeling the tug of a genuine smile.
"Really. Like I said, there's been no one like you. Ever."
From the look in his eyes, I could almost believe it.
I'd like to say I slept in his arms that night, but it would be a lie. Somewhere between pulling ourselves together and arriving back at the Parkers', he mentioned that Bishop was back in town and staying at his place.
"But stay with me anyway," he said. "C'mon. Bring Chucky. We'll have a sleepover."
I laughed. "No way."
Lawton still hadn't confessed that he and Bishop were brothers, and the dynamic when Bishop was around was just too strange. I didn't want to stay in any house where some guy hated me, even if the owner of the house might feel exactly the opposite.
"Alright," Lawton said. "Then I'll stay at your place."
"Sorry," I said. "No guests, remember?"
He looked at me a long time, his face falling in and out of shadows in time with the passing street lights. I met his gaze, my own jaw set in a stubborn line I was all too familiar with. Probably, we were both hoping the same thing. That the other person would give in.
We didn't.
Later, I'd wonder if we were both thinking something else too.Just what, exactly, are you hiding?
In my case, it was simple. What I was hiding had very little to do with me. I wasn't some wealthy couple's daughter, a surgeon's love child, or even somebody's mistress. I was merely the house sitter, but that changed nothing about who I was.
In Lawton's case, I wasn't quite sure.
But as the limo pulled into the Parkers' driveway, I pushed all of those thoughts aside. As promised, Lawton had given me a birthday to remember, and no matter what happened tomorrow, I'd have a memory to last a lifetime.
When he walked me to the door and kissed me goodnight, I couldn't help but regret, at least a little, that I hadn't taken him up on his offer. Sleeping in his arms was a million times better than sleeping alone.
Chapter 49
At seven o'clock Saturday night, Erika showed up with enough bags and bundles to require three trips out to her car. I offered to help, but she flatly refused, telling me it was bad luck to help with my own party, even if it was just the two of us.
A few minutes later, we were settled in the kitchen, surrounded by takeout from my favorite Chinese place, a decorated chocolate cake, and a colorful pile of presents.
"You went way overboard," I told her, looking at everything she brought. Maybe she could afford it, but I couldn't help but wonder how I'd ever pay her back.
"Don't worry," she said, knowing me all too well. "I didn't spend a lot of money." She flashed me a grin. "Some of it's homemade."
I bit my lip as I eyed the cake.
She burst out laughing. "Notthat, thank God. I want to treat you, not poison you, unless youwantto spend your birthday in the emergency room."
"You're notthatbad a cook," I laughed.
"Yeah, right." She reached near her chair and picked up a flat poster-sized package wrapped in colorful paper. "I madethisthough. And you know what? It's totally delicious."
I eyed the package with mock horror.
"Go on," she urged. "Open it. I'm dying to see what you think."
While she watched, I tore off the wrapping paper and felt my jaw drop when I saw what the wrapping paper had hidden. It was a movie poster, starring Lawton Rastor and – what the heck?
In the poster, Lawton was shirtless with beads of what I guessed were supposed to be sweat glistening on his bare chest, accenting his muscular torso and perfectly defined abs.
