In love.
I was so in love with Luka Stol.
He cleared his throat.My gaze flashed up to his, my heart kickboxing my ribs.
I was in love with him.
Irrevocably.
I’d have to see him, often, while we raised our daughter…
“You need to explain that scene to me, Millie.”
I did.I knew I did.The shaking got worse.So much worse.
He deserved to know about my past, about those videos that made me sick to my stomach, but—but I couldn’t stop thinking about my future.After I told him, Luka would find a woman he wanted to be with, and I’d be alone.
Again.
More alone than I’d been after I left Trent.Because my heart would have lost something vital.
There was no way Luka would stay mine once he learned the truth, but I had to tell him to protect Bree.I pressed my fingertips to my pounding temple, staving off the worst of the pain.
No, not the worst.That was my heart breaking.
“Millie?”Luka’s tone shifted from frustration to concern.
I blinked back the grief and panic, forcing myself to meet his concerned gaze.He didn’t know about the bomb blowing up in my head, my chest.And I wouldn’t tell him.
“He’s going to cause problems,” I whispered.
“I assumed that.”Luka’s expression was neutral, but his eyes burned with questions, still hyped from the interaction.“Want to tell me why?”
No.
“Yeah, I can see you don’t want to.”He ran his fingers through his hair, his expression worried.“I’m going to insist on this, Millie.I need to know what’s going on.”
He did.He deserved to know.I steadied myself.Much as I wanted his touch—craved it, needed it—there was no way Luka would want me once I told him this story.I needed to prepare for that.Somehow.
“That was Trenton Cox,” I began with a shudder.“My former fiancé.”
My throat closed as Luka’s expression changed to one first of hurt, then anger.
“And?”he snapped.
Perceptive.Luka had great social intelligence.I might spend time in my head working through a complex chemical problem, but Luka could suss out an interaction in mere seconds.The problem was he was too aggressive, too quick to throw a punch rather than study the situation or retreat.
“My father chose him for me,” I whispered.“I… Trent never asked me…”
Luka’s brows tugged lower, and his eyes seemed to harden.“What aren’t you telling me, Millie?”
I wrapped my arms around my middle, below my breasts and above Bree.I was cold, so cold, even in the muggy summer heat of the Houston airport parking garage.Cars drove past, their tires squealing against the hot concrete.Fumes tickled my nose.
“He…”
Luka’s palms slid up my arms.His touch was warm and centering.I opened my eyes and forced them to meet his.
This was it.This was the last moment I had with Luka.I studied his face, inhaled his scent, and let go of all my dreams.
