Page 127 of See You There
Luke glanced at the heavily wooded view through the window.
“It turns out she has a cousin who lives nearby. They are going to drive me back.”
“Dahlia, don’t be like this. Talk to me!”
Her green eyes turned to ice. “Don’t be like what, Luke? Should I have taken your opinion into consideration? Elizabeth is going to arrange for James to meet me at my townhouse, and he will go with me for the lineup and testimony.”
Luke gripped the phone in his hand so tightly he worried he would crack the screen. James hadn’t mentioned that part to him.
As though sensing where his thoughts were, Dahlia’s face softened a bit. “Elizabeth is going to arrange it with James. She hasn’t asked yet.”
“So that’s it? You walk out the door and we’re done?”
“I wish—"
The crunch of tires outside drew their attention. A large truck pulled to a stop. The door opened and a young woman got out.
Dahlia’s expression shuttered, and she bent to tuck her makeup bag into the top of her suitcase. She didn’t meet Luke’s eyes as she grabbed the handle and reached out for the door.
In one long stride, Luke reached the door, trapping her hand under his. Her eyes lifted, and for a split second, he saw the pain there and the sheen of unshed tears.
Luke lifted his hand. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. Pushing the issue now would only make it worse.
He wouldn’t let her shut him out.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Dahlia struggled notto cry on the trip back to Atlanta. Until the moment she left, she’d hoped Luke would at least say he was sorry. But she had a feeling those weren’t words that left Luke’s lips—ever.
Next to her in the truck, Laura, Elizabeth’s cousin, kept up a steady stream of chatter, for which Dahlia was grateful.
The girl had seemed a little star-struck at first when Dahlia emerged from the cabin. It surprised Dahlia to be recognized, but it was also flattering. This was the start of everything she had ever wanted. She needed to concentrate on that and not on Luke.
Dahlia needed to contact Scott’s mom. Find out if it was really true. And if itwastrue, to find out why the woman had lied for so long. And Victor! The one small satisfying detail was she now had leverage. She tapped out a quick text to her former agent.
Dahlia put her hand to her forehead as a dull throb started, and tears burned at the back of her eyes.
“You, okay?” Laura flashed a concerned look at Dahlia leaning against the window.
“I’m fine.” Dahlia forced herself to smile. “Allergies.”
“I know what you mean! You’d think in the middle of summer some of the pollen would take a break…” The woman continued to chatter about trees and mold, but Dahlia tuned her out.
Maybe Dahlia should still reveal her past. Finally, own the story. Victor may not release it, but there were plenty of other people who knew the truth. If she became truly famous, someone would want to cash in on it. It would be better if she controlled the narrative rather than let someone else write it.
The pounding grew more pronounced when she thought of how she’d opened it to Luke. He’d been so sweet and understanding. Was she wrong to be so upset? Tears slipped free, and she closed her eyes behind the sunglasses, turning her head to the window.
No, maybe if they’d never discussed it, but she had plainly told him she wanted to be the one to deal with Scott. Of course, that was before they had become involved… Heat flashed through her at the memory of Luke braced on his arms above her.
Damn it!
“Was that your boyfriend back there?” Laura asked as they came to a stop in traffic on the outskirts of the city.
“Beth told me not to ask, but he is super-hot.”
“He’s my lawyer.Wasmy lawyer,” Dahlia clarified. From this point on, James would be by her side, and if all went according to plan, this would be over tomorrow. After the premiere, it might be best if she left Atlanta for a while. She still needed to sign with her new agent and decide what to do next.
“Alone in the mountains...” She smirked at Dahlia. “Don’t worry. I won’t say anything. Beth would skin me if I did, and I’m more afraid of her than my own mama.” She laughed. “But I saw the way he looked at you when you came down the steps. Did y’all have a fight?”
