Page 34 of Their Diamond Ring Ruse

‘Lincoln hurt Lily?’

Just like that the man’s anger disappeared, to be replaced by a concern that made Julian want to laugh. How concerned could her brother truly be if Lily was having to move into his home?

‘I could show you the marks if you’d like,’ he said. But provoking Devan further wouldn’t help, so he softened his tone. ‘Lily is safe with me, Devan. I can protect her. Always will.’

That wasn’t a lie. Even after all this was over and they were nothing to each other he would still protect her.

‘I just thought you should know.’

There was a pause on the line before Devan responded. ‘Thank you for telling me.’ It seemed like he wanted to say more, but instead he said, ‘I’ll be keeping an eye.’

‘I’d wonder what kind of brother you were if you didn’t.’

Julian ended the call and slid the phone into his pocket. Devan should have seen the marks on Lily. He knew it wasn’t serious but it did nothing to quell his rage.

Being around Lily made memories surface that he worked every single day to forget. But he would never forget.

Blood and bruises. Who could forget that?

Julian wanted to protect Lily. Except he knew his feelings didn’t stop at protection. He could barely exercise restraint around her. The night before had proved that much.

There was only one thing he could really do. Pretend to be her doting fiancé in public but keep his distance at home.

* * *

The first thing that had struck Lily about Julian’s home was how tranquil it was. It was so silent that she could barely hear the sounds of waves lapping on the shore. She could see why he would have wanted this place, but it had taken her more than a moment to get over the shock of him ruthlessly tearing down houses to get it.

And he was ruthless.

To buy a home, with all its memories, and then raze it... She couldn’t imagine it. It seemed callous. And that was a part of Julian. Yet it seemed at odds with the person she was discovering him to be.

It was something she should try to remember.

He kept his eyes fixed on his goal and she would have to as well.

She made her way downstairs and found Julian standing out on the terrace, hands in his pockets, face turned up to a sky not quite dark enough to see any stars. He was so utterly, heartbreakingly beautiful. She could see in the set of his shoulders and in the expression on his face that for once his guard was down, and it allowed her to glimpse the sadness within him.

There was more to his story. She wasn’t naïve enough to think he had confided in her about his whole life, but what he had said was already more than any child should bear. Maybe that was exactly what had sowed the seed of callousness in him. She couldn’t imagine what else he had been through. What had scarred his soul.

Yet, even so, his determination was clear in every part of him. Those suits and his perfect appearance did nothing to hide that barely leashed power, and she wondered what would set it free.

She stepped out to join him, felt goosebumps rising in the chill breeze coming off the Bay. Julian shrugged off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. His warmth was already so familiar.

‘Settled?’ he asked.

‘As well as can be expected.’ She walked up to the railing, seeing the startlingly blue infinity pool below her and the beach far below that. ‘You have a beautiful home. So light. Airy...’

‘I sense a question there.’

‘I just didn’t expect it.’ She hadn’t seen drapes or blinds on any of the windows. ‘I guess I’m wondering why. You are so private and this is so very open.’

‘Because when you’ve spent your whole life in the dark, Lily, all you do is crave light. How’s your arm?’

‘My arm? Oh, fine.’ She had almost forgotten about Lincoln altogether, even though he was the reason she was here.

‘He won’t get away with it.’ Julian joined her, resting his elbows on the railing as he gazed over the water. ‘I’ll make sure he pays for hurting you. I made you a promise.’

Lily was struck that he should want to protect her so ferociously from the one person who held what he really wanted. It made her feel she was a priority. Not something she was used to.

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