Page 106 of First Chance

“Don’t bite my head off for this idea.”

My eyes find hers, and she’s watching me closely. I’d almost bet her mind is on the same wavelength as mine, but it’s dangerous to get my hopes up like that. She let me kiss her, but she owes me nothing else. I won’t take anything else from her.

Her firsts should be with someone better than me.

No matter how much the thought of that makes me want to jump off a cliff.

“I think we should sell your grandmother’s paintings. I know an art broker, I’ve been in contact with her, and she thinks there might be a real profit in the collection you have.” She sits down next to me on the porch and twiddles her thumbs, waiting for my reaction.

“What kind of profit?”

“Enough to get the cameras. Enough to stop dragging you to these parties that you hate.”

“You’re kidding?” I knew my grandmother had a talent, but I never expected the world to see it.

“I’m very serious,” she whispers, leaning her shoulder against mine hesitantly. I’ve been so caught up with the shit in my head, I hadn’t considered that she might stillwantto be near me.

“Let me talk to my sister. I’ll make sure she’s okay with it, or at least let her pick out any she wants to keep. Then they’re all yours.”

“Did you ever try to paint?”

“I did once, when I was young. My grandmother tried to teach me, but I didn’t have the eye for it. She was a natural.”

“Still, she must’ve passed down her talent. A normal personcan’t pick up a pencil and draw the way you can.”

“She told me once that all it takes to be an artist is to behold beauty and capture the way it makes you feel.” I kiss the top of her head, and she exhales in relief.

I’m such an asshole. I don’t deserve an inch of consideration from this woman on a good day, but she continues showing me grace. She thinks that I’m doing her a favor by being her fake fiancé, but she’s the one who has changed my life.

Having even a window of time with her in this lifetime is a damn honor.

“I want you to have this.” I fish the spare house key out of my pocket.

“Why? Your door is always unlocked.”

“I only leave my door unlocked because you don’t have a key.”

She looks puzzled at my response, clearly never having thought about it.

“Jo, I live on a property with a group of ex-cons. Some who I don’t know very well, who come in and out like a revolving door. Some are more like Frank and his drama, and some that aren’t cut out for the rules that I enforce.

“I used to always lock my door, but the moment you started staying here, I wanted you to always have a way in. Whether you needed to do laundry or get a snack from the cabinet, but mostly because you’re a drop-dead gorgeous woman, who is surrounded by men. Men who might not live by the same ethics that I do.”

“You wanted me to have access to you in case someone gave me trouble?”

It’s so much more than that, but I just nod my head ather. She’ll never truly fathom how much her safety means to me.

“I suspect things might get worse around here, especially after the NEWS story they ran. People who have a vendetta against this place might start coming out of the woodwork. We need to start keeping the doors locked again. I want you to be able to get into my house whenever you need to.”

“You don’t think it’s safe enough here with all the guys?”

“I don’t trust anyone with you.”

“I trustyouwith me,” she says, propping her chin on my shoulder.

“I’d put a bullet in my head before I did anything to harm you, darlin’.”

“Lochlan, I just put this lipstick on and I don’t want to mess it up, but I’m going to kiss you now.” She leans in and whispers, “Don’t move,” before pressing the most delicate kiss to my mouth.

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