She’s just dozing off and jumps when water drops from the wet washcloth in my hand falls on her back. Raising her head from the bed, she looks over her shoulder at me and I give her a sheepish smile. I really didn’t mean to do that but since she’s awake, I roll her over to her back and gently rub the cloth between her legs to clean her up. She rubs her hand along my jaw and quietly whispers, “I love you.”
“I love you, too, baby.” I take my place beside her and she rolls over to face me. I am mesmerized by the love shining in her eyes and I’m struck by how lucky I am to have her in my life.
“I’ve been thinking,” she whispers.
“Uh-oh,” I tease.
She smiles before she continues, “I don’t want you to play 007 withRhoades. He always has security around him. I can’t believe he didn’t have it in the club. But when he’s in political mode, you won’t be able to get close to him. Maybe I should just do a press conference….let them ask their questions and get it all out there.”
“Why do you want to do that?” I can’t keep the concern from my voice.
“Because the parents are trying to keep the kids away from me at the center now. They think I’m some psychotic monster.” Her voice is filled with pain and it makes me want to jerk Jackson Rhoades up by the balls even more.
“If you decide to do the press conference, I will stand by you. We need to think through all the backlash you could get though.” She suddenly has a thoughtful, concerned look on her face and I know she’s not thinking of how the backlash will hit her. She’s thinking of how it will hit everyoneexcepther.
“Maybe we should go see your parents tomorrow.” She’s looking off over my shoulder in deep thought as she makes her statement.
Well……thatcame out of the damn blue.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ANDI
Once everything I’ve gone through comes out into the open, I think Sam and Linda will feel guilty and have a really hard time with their part in it. Even though Sam betrayed me, he did it for the sake of his family. While it still hurt like hell, I can’t completely blame him for wanting to protect his family and his business. I want to be the one to explain it all to them before I talk to the press. I don’t want anyone in Luke’s family to be blindsided by this whole mess.
Luke was surprised when I said we should go to his parents’ house. I know he hasn’t spent much time with them since Sam admitted what he did to us. I don’t want to be the cause of a family fight so I want to put this behind me as much as I want Luke to put it behind him. He’s never known what being orphaned really feels like, or what having no family really does to you. I don’t wish that on anyone. So, I talked him into going for a visit today. He doesn’t look thrilled.
He’s been quiet on the short drive over but the scowl hasn’t left his face. It gets worse as we pull in the driveway and he turns off the ignition. Without looking at me he says, “We don’t have to do this, Andi. We can still leave.”
It’s taken me a week to convince him to do this and I’m not backing down now. I squeeze his hand, “Tell me why you don’t want to do this, Luke.” I can feel the sadness I see in his eyes when he finally makes eye contact with me.
"Because I can't believe what my parents did to us, and....," he exhales a long, sad breath, "I can't believe what I did to you. Here. In this house."
I know a thing or two about regrets and I know that is what Luke is feeling right now. But I also know a thing or two about loss and I can't be the reason he loses his family. I may have mixed feelings about what his father did, but I have no doubt he loves Luke. This is the right thing to do. I just have to convince this stubborn man who stole my heart.
"We've all done things we regret. What matters is how we heal the ones we've hurt. Some say it should come easy if it's real love but that's just not true. Love is never easy - love hurts sometimes. It causes insecurities and jealousies. Relationships take work -lovetakes work. And happiness requires forgiving others. I forgive you. Your parents need you to forgive them."
Luke pulled back, leaning his back on the door, and smiled at me with a slightly amused look. He shook his head and ran his hand through his hair, making it look messy and even sexier. "I'm always amazed by you, Andi."
"Why do you say that?"
"I'm supposed to be the shrink here."
"Shrink?" My confusion is obvious - I have no idea what he's talking about.
He's hesitant to answer me at first and I'm sensing I may not like his answer. He grabs both my hands in his, as if he's sure I will bounce from the car and never been seen again. He finally explains, "I have an advanced degree in psychology. I'm a counselor, Andi. Or I was."
I am speechless. How could I not know this about him after all this time? And all that has happened between us. And all that he knows about me. Before I can respond, he continues.
"I can't even guess what you're thinking right now but I didn't keep this from you intentionally. My career choice is part of the problems with my parents. They think I should be Dr. Woods but I wasn't happy in that role. Look, I know we need to talk about this more, but can we finish this later?"
Too many suspicions are taking root in my thinking right now and I'm really trying to not jump to conclusions without hearing him out first. I stare at him like it's the first time I've seen him for what seems like several minutes as different scenarios play out in my mind. I finally nod in agreement with his request to finish this later. Pulling my hands from his, he reluctantly releases me and I exit the car without another word. Confusion seems to be a permanent state of mind lately.
Once inside the house, I hear voices coming from the formal living room and I freeze when I hear one deep, masculine laugh carry through the foyer. Luke is holding me hand and at first he doesn't notice I've stopped walking. He stops walking with a jolt when I don't budge from my spot.
"No," I whisper anxiously, "It can't be," even though I know it's true.
Luke is studying my reaction when he hears the laugh then notices the goosebumps rising all over my skin. He's about to speak when my feet suddenly start moving of their own accord and carry me towards the laugh of my nightmares. I don't stop until I reach the living room doorway and see the devil incarnate sitting with Sam and Linda. I feel Luke stop behind me and his hand settles on my waist, giving me his strength.
