Chapter 204 Chapter 204
Chapter 204 Chapter 204
“You had to have known what you were doing when you chose that tempting, bright-red color of lipstick.”
Quickly she shook her head.
“It’s the tube that happened to be in my purse.”
“You’re a terrible liar. You blush when you fib. Was that a detriment in court?”
“Since I always tell the truth, it couldn’t have been.”
At the preposterous declaration, he laughed.
Earlier when she’d overheard him speaking to his sister, he revealed a whole new side of him. And now, relaxed, he chipped away at her resolve, making him more dangerous than ever.
Wynter’s breath froze in her lungs as he leaned toward her to sweep back a loose strand of her hair.
Suddenly remembering their kiss, she yearned for more.
“Shall we?”
Relieved he hadn’t done anything more than brush his knuckles down her jawline, she nodded.
His car was a couple of years old, and a brand recognized for reliability over luxury.
“It’s better than the one Priscilla and I shared.”
“Your name always appears on the top one hundred lists of the world’s most wealthy people.”
“And I aim to keep it that way.”
She waited until they were clear of downtown before pulling out her phone and opening the Prestige app. It was tempting to just forget business, but she had a goal of finding him a bride.
“On your profile, you hadn’t expressed an age range, yet in your office you said your first match was too old. Did you mean that?”
“No.”
If she’d ever met a more confounding man…
“Then?”
“She’s not you.”
“Mr.—”
She broke off.
“Lucas. We need to be serious.”
He looked in her direction.
“I am.”
Frustrated, she took in a deep breath.
“I was very clear. I’m interested in pursuing you.”
“Let’s talk about that.”
“Go ahead.”
“For a million reasons, a relationship between us wouldn’t work.”
“And you know that how? Did Hope add your profile to her fancy AI database?”
Wynter shook her head.
“Of course not.”
“So enlighten me.”
“We want vastly different things.”
“Do we?”
The sun came out from behind some clouds, heating the SUV’s interior. Or at least that’s the excuse she gave herself to adjust the temperature on her side of the vehicle.
“Children?”
She shifted. How had this become about her?
“Yes.”
Eventually.
“One? Two?”
After seeing how happy her mother and stepfather were with their extended family, she might consider more.
“At least.”
“Okay. I’m open to negotiation on that.”
How were they discussing having hypothetical children together? This couldn’t be happening.
“Marriage, I assume, would be part of that?”
When she didn’t respond, he went on.
“How about a spouse who would support you and encourage you to chase your dreams?”
“That’s only the beginning. You’d scoff at what I want.”
“Try me.”
“The fantasy. A white picket fence and a dog.”
“Labrador?”
“That was an easy guess since they’re one of the most popular breeds.”
“I’ll even take turns walking it.”
She shook her head.
“I want love, Lucas.”
“Isn’t that an untrustworthy emotion?”
This time, he slid her a penetrating glance.
“It takes more than that to survive decades. Shared interests? Goals? Similar values. All that can be counted on. But love is fickle. Fall into and back out of it.”
“To me, that’s the foundation of everything else.”
His grip tightened on the steering wheel.
“Hope tells me that around the world arranged marriages are the most successful.”
“They are.”
“Which is what Prestige does, right? Take the emotion out of the decision so people can be rational.”
He’d thought this through.
“But chemistry matters. It’s one of the Three C’s.”
“Let me be clear about this. I desire you, Wynter, and not in some sweet, romantic way, but with hot-blooded lust.”
Scandalized into silence, she stared out the window.
“Tell me you don’t feel the same way.”
His words had left her reeling.
“That night near the pool, you responded to my kiss.”
When she didn’t answer, he went on, feeding the tension.
“You’re attracted to me, and you don’t want to be. And I scare the fuck out of you.”
Straightening her shoulders in a fake show of confidence, she turned a little to study his profile. His jaw was set in a strong, firm line. His guess was right, and he knew it.
“You’re my client, Lucas. Nothing more.”
“If that’s true, why didn’t you join me for breakfast? I’ve never left a client guessing whether or not I’d show up for a meeting.”
The years spent practicing law had taught her to think quickly, but she didn’t have an answer to his question. And now she was embarrassed that she hadn’t responded.
“As I thought.”
A few minutes later, the traffic thinned out, and when they were south of Texas City, the terrain eventually became marshy.
When they passed the first, colorful Galveston sign indicating they were heading over the water, she exhaled.
“My sister tells me this is called the causeway effect.”
Grateful for the change of conversation, she looked at him again.
“When you leave the mainland and head onto the island, stress vanishes.”
“I think there’s something to it.”
The waves captivated her, mesmerizing her.
“Did you decide what you wanted to do while I look at the property?”
“All of it. I’m happy to tour the building with you. But I also want to shop, enjoy an ice cream cone, and have a glass of wine at the harbor.”
“Your wish is my command.”
He was willing to do all those things?
Answering her unspoken question, he explained.
“We’ve got all day.”
He found parking, and they walked the couple of blocks necessary to meet with the real estate agent.
“Is your sister joining us?”
“No. She looked at the building before she called me, and she’s setting up a show this afternoon.”
“What does she do?”
“She’s a painter who runs an artist’s retreat down here. An opportunity to expand her offerings has come up, and this seems like the ideal location. Not just bigger, but room for growth, and she thinks the lighting is better. She wants her big brother’s opinion on whether it’s an investment or money pit.”
“So this would be…what? Studios? Residences?”
“Potentially both. And a retail space, which is something she doesn’t have right now.”
They turned the corner onto Market Street.
A tall, no-nonsense woman with short blond hair and holding an electronic pad met them inside the door.
“Suzanne. Thanks for doing this.”
She nodded.
“Not that you gave me a choice.”
Lucas introduced Wynter to the real estate agent.
“She’s been representing our family for twenty years and is an expert in the Galveston market.”