Page 53 of Love, Lacey Donovan
“What about Pressly? Does she know?”
“No.”
“Are you sure? I wouldn’t think a kid Summer’s age would keep such a secret from her mother.”
Beckett’s jaw clenched. “You’d be surprised. Summer keeps a lot from her mother. She hardly talks to anyone these days.”
I frowned up at him. “What’s the big deal?” I asked. “Why don’t you want anyone to know?”
Beckett reached up and cupped my cheek in his hand. His thumb scraped over my bottom lip. “Your mouth is distracting me.” He placed a soft kiss on my top lip, then shifted to kiss the spot where his thumb had been. “Such a pretty mouth.”
I leaned in for his kiss. His tongue met mine and began a slow dance of seduction. My insides melted as fire streaked from my lips through my entire body. When we broke apart, I was dizzy with lust but still curious.
“You didn’t answer me.” My mouth brushed against his as I spoke.
“Hmm? What was the question?” His lips nibbled mine.
“Why don’t you tell anyone you’re a writer? Why the secret?”
Beckett pulled back with a heavy sigh. “My family wouldn’t understand.”
I bristled at the familiar feeling. My choices had led to a bitter rift in my family. “Fuck your family,” I said.
Beckett shook his head. “It’s not like that. I enjoy my job with the family business. I thrive on it. Writing is a hobby. My job is my life. From the time I was ten years old, my father started grooming me for a role in the company. It’s my legacy.”
“It’s not as if you aren’t doing your job. Can’t you have a hobby too?”
“I’d be the selfish, ungrateful son who brought attention to the family.”
My eyebrows rose. “That’s pretty heavy.”
Beckett laughed, easing the tension in the air. “The Vinroots are the oldest, heaviest family in Mossy Oak.”
“Secrets aren’t good, Beckett,” I said. “They have a way of getting out. You told a nine-year-old kid. You told me.”
“My nieceisn’t going to tell anyone.Youaren’t going to tell anyone.”
I felt dizzy with the weight of that burden. I clutched the blanket in my lap. “You hardly know me. How can you trust me already?”
Beckett pried the blanket from my fingers. “You put yourself out there for the entire world to see. I see you.” His hand curved around my shoulder and squeezed. “I know you won’t betray me.”
My mouth fell open as realization dawned. “You didn’t have the door locked for a reason,” I said. “You wanted me to find out.”
Beckett’s eyebrows drew together as he considered my accusation. He looked out at the rolling hills for a moment before his eyes came back to mine. They burned behind his glasses. “You may be right. I wanted the woman responsible for inspiring me to see the results.”
My heart squeezed. I cupped Beckett’s smooth jaw and brought him close for another kiss. Our lips clung together, tongues intertwining as our bodies swayed together.
Beckett’s arms tightened around me. “You don’t know how hard it was to leave you so soon after what happened.”
“I was fine.”
“The thought of what could have happened to you at my bar keeps me up at night. If I ever see that prick with the man bun again—”
“I saw him,” I said, interrupting.
Beckett’s body went rigid. “Where?”
“At the park.”
