Page 43 of The Quiet Witness

“We met during work for the shelter. Kate here is a social worker.” Warmth burned against her sides as Lucien pulled her flush against him. “In this case, it was her heart that pulled me in for the ride.” He gave her a soft smile.

Did he just rescue me or himself?

Her eyes narrowed. Shelter? Well, lies it is. “We sure did.” She smacked an enthusiastic pat right over his injured rib. He stiffened against her and she smiled. “Though this one,” Another pat. “has had to work his ass off for me to agree to a first date.”

She could practically hear Clara’s eyes roll around in her skull and Denise snickered, asking “What is it with men and women who play hard to get?”

Even though her pulse skittered away from his touch, repulsed by the man in front of her. The warmth spreading from him was… welcome. It was the only reason she didn’t pull away. Tell yourself that.

Sending the voice within her a mental middle finger. She refocused, in time to see a devilish smirk take over his face. “True that.” Lucien leaned in, not giving her a chance to back away before nuzzling her neck with his nose. “She wouldn’t want to leave now though.” Her neck curled in, skin jittery under his touch. Fuck pretending.

Lucien pulled away in the nick of time. Knowing the wrath boiling in her veins could set their little charade on fire. Her mouth opened, ready to spurt a stream of words a sailor would be proud of when he sent her a warning look. You’ve brought this on yourself.

She clamped her mouth shut, but the fake smile she’d been wearing had slipped. And it hadn’t gone by unnoticed.

Denise coughed loudly. “Anyway… tell us the goods.” Lucien and Kate stared at her, a question in their eyes. “Come on, little lovebirds.” The older woman rubbed her hands in glee, oblivious to Kate’s wince. “When do I get to babysit?”

“Oh, about that.” Kate waved a hand. “False news.”

The older woman’s face fell. “Oh no. Here I was hoping to see a little Lucien bounce around soon.” She crooned.

Kate didn’t miss the flash of hope lighting up in Clara’s eyes. Pathetic.

If Lucien killed a man in front of her, Clara would still be looking at him as if he were the only man to ever walk the Earth.

“Yeah well…” Kate trailed off.

He deserves it, though.

The way he’d so shamelessly put his hands on her.

“We won’t be having kids and not due to my shortcomings.” She grasped Lucien’s hand a bit firmer, swinging it between them. “Lucien is the problem here.”

Clara’s hand shot up to her face while Denise gasped, face paling.

Shit. That came out even more harshly than she’d anticipated.

Lucien’s eyes merely narrowed, fixing her with a stare. “Thank you, sweetheart. For throwing it out there like that.”

He is going along with it?

“Nothing more you wanna throw out there?”

Denise coughed again. “You both obviously… have some things to figure out.” She turned, pulling Clara along with her. “We’ll see ourselves home.”

Lucien stopped her. “You sure? It’ll be dark soon.” She waved his concern away. “I’m often in the woods. Besides, it’s not that far.” She glanced between Kate and him. “You guys… support each other through this, yes? Such news, it’s hard to take.”

Kate resisted the urge to roll her eyes, instead she flashed an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Denise, for real. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

The woman patted her on the arm. “It’s okay, we’ll catch up soon! Until then, take care!”

The two made haste, disappearing between the trees. Nothing but upturned snow to indicate they’d ever even been there.

Kate turned away from Lucien, alone with him once more. Only this time, she had herself to thank for it. She didn’t linger, trudging along the path while he stayed in place.

“You’re going the wrong way.’”

Those weren’t the first words she’d expected to hear.