Page 84 of First Chance

Seiver pops through the doorway out of nowhere, “Me too.”

Jordy comes around the corner. “I’d go back to.”

My nose is burning as my vision starts to blur from tears forming in the corners of my eyes. I don’t want any of them to get in trouble for me, but it humbles me that they’d be willing.

“You can’t stay here and marry some man who has been to prison. It will ruin your brother’s campaign.”

In all honesty, I’m still not sure that Lochlan is going to go along with my scheme. He hasn’t confirmed that he’d pretend to be my fiancé, but it’s safer to let Austin assume things between Lochlan and me are real. So I keep my lips shut and let him fume.

“This is ridiculous.” Austin’s pale face is growing red and peaked at my silence. “You can’t stay here with him.”

“And, who’s going to take her from me?” Lochlan’s deep voice rumbles out of nowhere, making me gasp.

He approached without being seen in that elusive way he’s perfected, stepping up and looming behind Austin, forcing the grown man to shrink in terror.

“This is private property. You don’t belong here.”

“I just– I was– I–” Austin stutters, scrambling away from the dangerous man he thinks is my fiancé.

“Get the fuck out and don’t come back. Or, I’ll make sure youneverleave again,” he threatens twistedly.

Austin jumps into his car and reverses before he gets his door shut, throwing mud with his tires as he flees.

Silence descends as my body trembles.

Lochlan approaches me, and I can’t tear my eyes off of him, waiting to hear what he has to say about being dragged into more of my mess.

He tugs the crowbar from my grip, tossing it back to Hayes behind me. He jerks his head slightly, and I know that means everyone around us will disappear, leaving me alone with him.

“Are you okay?”

I nod shakily, unable to tear my eyes from his.

“That’s not acceptable. People can’t come here and threaten to make you leave.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know he’d have the nerve to come here,” I rasp between breaths.

“No, Jo, you don’t understand. No one gets to come here and threaten you. With anything.No onegets to touch you, I’ll never let that happen.” His dark eyes bore into mine, forcing me to understand.

“You’re not madat me?”

“I’m furious,” he mutters, holding my face in his big hands to soften my chattering teeth. “But, as long as you’re here, I’ll dowhateveryou need me to if it means keeping you from their grasp.”

“You mean you’ll be my fake fiancé?”

“You know that I can’t say no to you.”

My cheeks grin against his rough palms, soothing me with his touch. “You’ve told me no plenty of times.”

“Yet, somehow you keep getting away with shit.” He sighs. “We’ll keep up the charade until you get your trust. That’s the deal.”

“Okay, deal.”

He inhales roughly as if he already regrets it and mutters, “Here we go.”

* * *

“My favorite color is lavender. My favorite flowers are peonies.”

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