I shake my head, also trying to calm down the blush coating my cheeks. “No. I don’t like those words, but I like the feeling associated with them. Are there other words that could create the same feeling?”
Finley strokes the back of my hand with his thumb, and I realized I’ve been holding his hand for longer than normal.
So much so that I forgot I was holding it.
And now that I remember, my hand is set aflame, and I remove it from his.
His smile doesn’t falter. “Oh, there are so many words I can use to recreate thattingly feeling for you. We will experiment as we go.”
My heart warms. “Thank you. I’m sorry I don’t know what I like when it comes to romance.”
“Don’t apologize, pretty woman,” he says, a gleam in his eyes. “I vow to help you explore all the romantic things. In fact, I’m going to have a lot of fun doing it.”
“Pretty woman. I like those words.”
“Noted.” He laughs, but then it dies out as he folds his hands together in his lap.
Noticing the shift in his mood, I ask, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m going to be face to face with my mother soon.”
I sit quietly, waiting for him to elaborate, but he doesn’t. “Have you spoken with her since you found out she hired Selene?”
He shakes his head, a contemplative expression on his face. “I don’t—” He pauses, sighs, and closes his eyes. “I don’t know how to approach this. She’s my mother, Lorelei. Karin was easy to approach. But this… I can’t believe she has taken this action against us. Against me.”
His words sting. I can’t imagine how I would feel if I found out my mom had betrayed me in such a way. In fact, I probably wouldn’t be able to feel at all—I’d shut down until the situation no longer bothered my brain. But knowing Finley, he is going to continue to feel this betrayal. Down to his bones. Deeply and painfully.
“I’m here for you.” I place my hand on his bouncing leg, which instantly settles him. “I’m sorry I can't enter into your feelings with you, but I can be of assistance in the advice department. I can listen and help you formulate how to approach her when you’re ready.”
He smiles sadly at me, tears in his eyes. “You truly don’t understand how much of a blessing you are to me, Lorelei Raine. I love you.”
Love.
He’s told me before that he was falling in love with me, but this is the first time he’s said those three words so plainly.
And I—
No.
I can’t love him just yet.
But as I look at his vulnerable, despondent frame, my heart sings a different tune. He’s been more than I could ever hope for in a man. He understands me, has stuck around and continues to pursue me even when I’m not the easiest to deal with, and has trusted me with his heart.
Is this love? Is this feeling of immense gratitude and hope and some unknown stirring deep in my gut actually love?
Love is a choice, right?
So I can’t love him until I make the choice to stay by his side and become his queen. I can’t love him if the thought of still walking away from him is prevalent.
We spend the rest of the flight talking about the best way to approach his mother, whom I desperately do not like at this point, which is unfortunate because when I don’t like a person, I have a difficult time not letting them know.
The plane lands, we awaken Lucy who passed out after a glass of champagne and indulgence of fruits, and Gabriel and Anders prepare to escort us through the backside of the palace for good measure. We all agreed it was best to keep my presence here hidden until I’ve had a chance to meet the family.
I need to make a good impression for Finley’s sake, even if I don’t end up by his side. I don’t want his family thinking hewent off his rocker in choosing a woman like me. But everything his mother has said and done to him is souring my view of her. “Finley,” I grab his arm before we step off the private jet. “I’m sorry if I’m rude to your mother. I am going to try my best, but she hurt you, and I feel righteous revenge bubbling at the surface.”
To my surprise, he laughs. “Righteous revenge? Maybe I should send you in to chat with her.”
“Finley, it’s not funny. I have a hard time controlling my tongue when someone I love has been hurt.”
