“But I wasn’t agreeing with him,” I added. “I was mocking him. That’s how I deal with things. Humor first, even if it’s not funny.”
She said nothing, but I could tell I was getting through to her.
I shook my head. “Brad laughed, like the absolute jackass he was. And right when I started to say, ‘Jesus, Brad, how could you do this to Lilah?’ we could hear you screaming in the chapel where you announced to all the guests that you wouldnotbe marrying him.”
I remembered running into the chapel, stopping at the sight of how visibly crushed she was, with drooping shoulders, tears down her cheeks, fingers yanking out all the bobby pins holding her hair in place. She’d run out of a side door and through the old abbey in Lucerne, flinging her veil behind her.
I’d turned back to Brad, who sat down on a chair along the aisle, produced a flask from his jacket pocket, and took a prolonged swallow. He’d said, ‘Well, that’s finally over. It got harder and harder to cover my tracks.’
Then he laughed with evil intention, as if the fact he’d carried on a serious relationship—even co-owning and opening a restaurant together in Lucerne with Lilah—didn’t matter. Like it was all disposable and he could finally wash his hands of it, and return to the irresponsible playboy he always was. Hisguests and family turned on him, flailing their questions and accusations.
Disgusted, I ran, calling Lilah’s name and searching for her. By the time I found her, she had rushed into a taxi at the curb and taken off. I yelled for her and ran after the car for a block, all the while she glared at me from the back seat, as if I was the reason for the demise of their relationship.
“If it matters, I haven’t seen or talked to Brad since that day,” I finished.
She swallowed hard. “Still, you’re probably just like him.”
My chest squeezed, irritated by her incorrect assumption of me. “Never. Don’t lump me in with that asshole. Not for a single second. If you’ve forgotten, I was the only man running after you and the taxi.”
Her voice shook. “From what I heard, it seemed like you were his accomplice in his cheating.”
“Lilah, no. I was angryforyou. Believe me, when I returned to the chapel after chasing your taxi, I gave Brad a piece of my mind. We almost came to blows over it. I left Switzerland, and that was the last I saw of him.”
She shifted focus down to her hands. “But the rumors I’d heard about you seemed true. A playboy like him, both grown men playing games with women.”
“Playboy maybe, but never a cheater,” I assured softly. “I wasn’t then, and I’m sure as hell not now.”
The candlelight flickered between us. For the first time… she peered up at me and let me see the damage there, the old wound, the pain on her pale face, deep worry in her crystal blue eyes.
“The humiliation of investing that much time into someone only to see it wind up in ruins was too much to bear. I had to run. I couldn’t marry him.”
“No one could blame you. I hated myself for years, thinking if only I hadn’t brought Chantal with me… Even wondering if, once Brad got the ring on his finger and took vows with you, that he would have changed for you.”
Her eyes watered. “I doubt it would have made a difference to him. But it changed me. I have been carrying a grudge all this time. And then seeing you here—you were convenient to lash out at.”
I gave a small nod. “I can take the heat. But at least now you understand the truth.”
The silence between us wasn’t heavy this time. It was honest. I hoped that might lay to rest whatever bad feelings she held toward me.
Finally, she lifted her chin and swiped a tear away. She stood and stacked the plates and bowls. “I should clean up.”
“I’ll help.”
She didn’t protest, surprisingly. I took the cue to dry things when she handed a towel my way. We worked in silence, in tandem, our elbows rubbing. I became hyper-aware of her breathing, of her chest rising and falling, of that chef’s coat and whatever magic might be underneath. Soon, the heat became all-consuming.
At one point, our fingers tangled while passing a wet dish between us. We both held onto it, so it didn’t fall and break. Our eyes met, breaths mingled, and she whimpered like I had some kind of effect on her.
If only she knew what every second of being around her did to me.Calm down cock.This wasnotthe time or place for my stiff member to show up, too soon after having laid the past to rest. If he were to appear right now, it could ruin all the progress I just made with her.
Her lips were so inviting though. “Lilah…” I whispered, my desire for her taking the lead. I bent down, heading for her lips.Once there, I brushed over them with the lightest touch, a test, making sure she didn’t throw me out. “Lilah,” I repeated against her lips, because I loved the way her name sounded there—but an alarm on my phone played loud and clear, breaking us apart. The moment ruined. She let go of the plate and let me have it, turning away.
“Another weather warning,” I sighed. After drying the dish, I scrolled through my texts, understanding what we were in for. “Tonight should be the worst of it.”
She quieted as she removed the drain cover to let the water out. When I had the last dish put away, I chuckled, closing the cabinet door. “Would you look at that? I managed to help you do something and didn’t break a single thing.”
“The night’s still young,” she teased and shook her head.
“I’m not always this destructive, you know; just grew up with a father who hired professionals for help around the house. I’m not even sure he owned a hammer,” I snickered. “But I really love this lodge. I’ve put my heart and soul into it for the past couple of years. Couldn’t be prouder of it.”
