Page 55 of Love Arranged
“Can we have a quick chat in private?”
Lorenzo slides off the barstool before making a show of pulling mine out. “Lead the way.”
* Did I say something wrong?
* Can you try to behave?
* He started it.
* You’re 31 years old, for the love of God. Act like it.
* 31 years old and still bothered with me about Santa Claus.
10
LORENZO
The crowd on the dance floor parts to give Lily and me enough room to walk across it without issue. I get an array of looks in return, ranging from a couple of winks and a slap on the back to a scowl or two from men and women alike.
Lily doesn’t stop to check if I’m following her down the hall until she opens the emergency exit, which leads to an empty alley behind the bar. We both have been here before, although the last time she was wearing a pink bedazzled outfit and I was hiding behind a mask.
“Well, isn’t this a trip down memory lane?” I ask with a dry tone.
She slams the door shut and whirls around, her hair whipping me in the face in the process.
“What the hell was that back there?” She pokes me in the chest. “You spent the last several months ignoring me, only to have a complete personality transplant?”
“There’s a good reason.”
“I’m waiting to hear it.”
I stroke my chin. “I have a theory, but you’d need to sign an NDA first.”
She scowls. “I’m not signing an NDA, so either you trust me to keep whatever private information you share tonight between us or I head inside and go back to ignoring your existence like you’ve done for nearly a year.”
“You can’t.” I rush to get the words out.
“Why not?”
“Because I need you.”
She laughs, but it’s hollow. “Let me guess—this has something to do with the campaign.”
“Yes.”
“You seriously think I’m going to let you use me for political gain when you don’t evenlikeme?”
I blink twice. “I never said I disliked you.”
“Your actions say otherwise.” She looks away with a dismissive scoff.
I’m driven by some unknown force when I reach for her chin and direct her head back to me.
“If my actions said anything, it was that I liked you too damn much, Lily.Thatwas my problem. Neveryou.”
I don’t know what I expected, but her shoving my hand away isn’t it. Neither is her jabbing me in the chest with an impressive amount of strength.
“Is that supposed to make me feel better? Orspecial?” Her upper lip curls. “Because the way you ghosted me isn’t how you treat someone youlike too much.”
