Page 113 of Love Arranged
The only reason I let his comment slide is because, damn, that was a great answer.
Neither of us says a word as I drag him into the next store. I expect him to let go of my hand once we get inside, but he keeps our fingers laced together until I escape into a dressing room with a few outfits in hand.
“So, about this future husband…” he says aloud, acting like there isn’t a curtain blocking us.
“Yes?” I ask, my breath catching.
Was Rafa right? Is it reallythatsimple?
“You’re not thinking of jumping into a relationship right after we call off the engagement, right?”
I pause in the middle of taking my shirt off. “Why are you asking?”
“I didn’t think much about it before.”
There’s no way it’s this easy to make Lorenzo see reason, right? There has to be some kind of catch, or maybe Rafa is an outlier in this situation.
“Why wouldn’t I move on? It’s not like this isreal.”
He doesn’t speak for a few beats. “Shouldn’t you wait at least a year for optics purposes?”
Make him realize what life would be like without you in it.
“And waste more time? No. People will understand after you broke my heart and called off the engagement.” Thank goodness he can’t see my face right now or else he’d know something was up when he saw my smile.
“I think you should reconsider.”
“Why?”
He pauses, the brief moment feeling like a minute. “It doesn’t seem like a good idea.”
I’m sure it doesn’t.
Ialmostfeel bad for Lorenzo, because he won’t know what hit him until it’s too late.
Like Eros, I’ve set sight on my target, and I won’t stop taking shots at Lorenzo’s heart until he has no choice but to face the truth about his feelings.
26
LILY
Dahlia, Julian, Lorenzo, and I head to a restaurant near our hotel and spend most of our meal chatting about Lopez Luxury clients, Dahlia’s TV show, and Lorenzo’s campaign. Thankfully everyone steers clear of talking about Rose & Thorn, but my luck runs out when Dahlia faces Lorenzo with a suspicious smile on her face.
“So, Lorenzo…when did you realize you loved my sister?”
I groan. “Dahlia.”
“What? I have a year of your love life to catch up on!”
“You couldn’t ask an easier question?”
“Okay. Fine.” My sister rolls her eyes. “What’s stopping you from buying Lily a property so she can finally get started on the Pressed Petal?”
“The same reason I gave you,” I reply, my throat workinghard to dislodge the ball of emotion stuck in it becauseoh, shit. I’ve avoided talking to Lorenzo about my dream, instead diverting every conversation back to Lavender Lane, and this is my penance.
Lorenzo wraps his arm around my chair, as if to sayI’ve got this. “I’ve offered to help Lily in whatever way she needs,” he replies, coolly. “But if she would rather do things her way, then I respect that. If she ever wants my help, I’m there to offer it.”
That is…wildly accurate, and I’m genuinely surprised.
