Page 32 of Their Diamond Ring Ruse

‘I’m not afraid of Lincoln. I refuse to be. I’ve known him my whole life. I think we should stick to the plan.’

Julian stood to his full height, settled on his decision. ‘If you don’t move in with me tonight, I will just have to take you everywhere you need to go personally, and I will be hiring a security team that will shadow your every move. Up to you, sunshine.’

He knew she would never go for that. He was forcing her to pick the only acceptable option. Even though he would have to figure out how he would keep her at arm’s length when she was under his roof.

‘This is a gross overreaction,’ she told him. ‘You do realise that, right?’

Defiance burned in those obsidian eyes.

‘One way or another, I will keep you safe. Now, you can come with me, or I can rearrange my entire life for as long as we are together.’

‘You’re impossible! Fine. I’ll move in with you.’

‘Tonight, Sunshine.’

‘You really are one to close every loophole, aren’t you? Yes, tonight. Now. Let’s go.’

* * *

Julian sat behind the steering wheel of Lily’s car while she furiously texted her brother. After having his own car sent home, he’d insisted on going with her to fetch her possessions—which surprisingly hadn’t taken long. Devan hadn’t been home, and when Lily had tried to call she’d reached his PA.

Julian had helped her load her bags into her car and she’d handed over the keys, saying she had to let her brother know what was happening.

‘He’s not happy,’ Lily said, staring down at her phone.

Of course he wouldn’t be.

He would have likely already heard about Lincoln’s visit.

‘He thinks I’m making a mistake.’

‘He’ll come around, Lily.’

Julian couldn’t explain his need to constantly reassure her. Make her happy. He needed to get a hold of himself—especially if they were to live together.

‘And even if he doesn’t, at least you will be able to live on your terms. You don’t need his permission or his blessing.’

‘No, I don’t,’ she agreed.

But he heard the note of sadness in her tone and hated it. He had grown to care for her beaming smiles, even though he knew they covered up a world of hurt. And the fact that he craved them told him that he was growing far too attached.

He lived alone for a reason.

He rounded a corner onto a road lined with lush green from its grassy, well-manicured pavements to the hedges and tall trees. The houses here were large and stood close together. Except his. It was the only property with land to spare on either side. The trees almost completely blocked the house from sight.

‘I didn’t expect this much privacy here,’ Lily said as the gate swung wide and he drove down a short driveway to an underground garage, where he parked her car next to his and killed the engine.

Thinking it was the perfect opportunity to show Lily who he was, and stop her from getting closer, Julian turned to face her. ‘I bought the houses next to mine and razed them.’

He saw shock, maybe a little horror on her face, and climbed out of the car just before she did. She did not wait for him to open her door, which annoyed him. He got her bags and Lily followed close behind, as if she was trying to process what he’d said.

‘Just to have the land?’ she finally asked, sounding scandalised.

‘To be alone,’ Julian responded simply.

To have peace.

‘Why not just buy elsewhere?’

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