Page 30 of Their Diamond Ring Ruse

‘I think that was it.’ He kissed her neck. ‘It’s late.’

Lily nodded. They both needed a bit of space after what had happened. She got off his lap and saw his jaw tick as she left her office. She didn’t know what he was thinking. Didn’t know if he already regretted what had happened.

She cleared the table before he could emerge from the office, and once he did she locked up and allowed him to walk her to her car. When he kissed her cheek she hated it that she didn’t know if it was part of their ruse or something more. The lines were blurred now.

She drove away thinking that even if this was a mistake, she couldn’t bring herself to regret it.

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE LAST CUSTOMER had left Crème, and even though it was still bright outside Lily was happy to close up for the day. She had already sent everyone else home and the place was spotless—though one table in particular kept calling her attention. All day it had distracted her with flashes of the night before. Snippets of conversation playing over in her mind.

The world thought it knew about Julian, but hearing him speak of his mother and father had been something she wasn’t prepared for. The matter-of-fact way he’d discussed them might have fooled most people, but not her. She was beginning to understand him, and she recognised that using his detached tone was the only way he could work around his sorrow.

She tried to imagine his loneliness. Tried to picture what it would have been like if her father had died when she was young, if she had lost her mother... But she couldn’t because back then she’d still have had Devan.

She was starting to understand, though. Her mother’s phone call was a wound that still throbbed, and yet she still had Julian—regardless of what they might be to each other.

It was surprising how much he cared. Which was made even more clear by the reasons he’d got into his business.

Lily walked into her office to switch off her laptop. She glanced at the wall, feeling her cheeks heat immediately. She really needed to guard her heart with Julian. It was becoming far too easy to forget her reasons for doing this.

With her laptop bag slung over her shoulder, she locked up the office before returning to the front of the store.

‘Lily.’

She jumped, dropping her bag. Her heart nearly beat out of her chest.

‘Lincoln, you gave me a fright,’ she said, trying to get her pulse under control. ‘What are you doing here?’

It was a fair question. He hadn’t ever visited her store, always claiming he was too busy, which had pleased Lily as Crème was the place she was happiest. Where she didn’t have to be reminded of promises made and broken. There was no reason he would come here at all.

‘I didn’t mean to scare you,’ he said, taking a step towards her. ‘I just came here to talk.’

‘Okay...’ Lily said uncertainly.

‘You know what this is about.’

He fished his phone out of his pocket and handed it to her. On the screen was a picture from the night before, of her and Julian having dinner, and another of their kiss. It felt wrong to have that embrace splashed about. Especially after all they had shared.

Lily handed the phone back, her engagement ring twinkling in the light, and Lincoln snatched her wrist to get a better look at it.

‘What are you doing, Lily?’

She could hear how angry he was.

‘I’m doing exactly what I want to. Marrying Julian. I love him, Linc.’ She pulled her hand away from his and took a step back.

His blue eyes grew frigid. ‘You love him?’ he sneered. ‘You can’t be that naïve. He’s using you to get to me—and, in case you’ve forgotten, you will be marrying me.’

Lily tried to remain calm. She wasn’t afraid of Lincoln and she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of getting angry. ‘I won’t be. I have chosen the man I want.’

‘We had an agreement,’ he spat.

‘No, we didn’t. You had an agreement with my father, but he’s dead now and your arrangement should be too. I’m not anyone’s property.’

In a flash, Lincoln’s hand was wrapped around her arm, his grip nearly bruising. ‘You’re mine! Do you understand?’

‘You’re hurting me.’

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