“Well, if you still love her, then this isn’t the end,” Lark said as we fell into step together, heading back toward my place.
“Yeah. This definitely isn’t the fucking end,” I swore into the night. “I might have lost the battle, but I’m not going to lose the war.”
Natalie
19
We were silent on the ride back to Lewis’s apartment.
I didn’t have words for what had just happened. The night was a blur of bad decisions, and once again, I felt out of my depth with this world. Exhausted from trying to keep up with the nightmare unfolding before my eyes.
Thankfully, it was a short ride, and we were back in the comfort of his home once more. I was seriously regretting having ever left this house. I should have told him to deal with work tomorrow and stayed in. That bubble bath was sounding awfully appealing.
Lewis went to the record player and switched out the vinyl to something soft and romantic. A balm to the hectic night we’d had.
“Wine?” he asked with a smile that said he wasn’t the least bit affected by the evening’s events.
“Sure,” I agreed easily. I slid out of my heels and sank into a seat on the sofa. It was more comfortable than it looked. I could fall asleep right then and there as the adrenaline fled my body.
Lewis returned with two glasses of red wine and took the seat next to me. I was shocked that he wasn’t angrier. I’d been alone in a room with Penn Kensington. I’d admitted that he’d kissed me. And he didn’t seem upset. I’d thought that he’d be murderous after that.
“Can I ask you something?” I took a careful sip of my wine and then turned to face him.
“Anything.”
“Why aren’t you mad at me?”
He arched an eyebrow. “Do I have something to be mad at you for?”
“Penn and I kissed. You found us alone. I mean…most guys would be mad.”
“I am mad,” he conceded. My stomach flipped as I waited for his wrath to finally be unveiled. “But not with you.”
“Oh,” I said. Just a breath escaping my lips.
“What happened tonight wasn’t your fault. Not any of it. Not even dealing with Camden.”
My face flushed. “How did you hear about that?”
“Jane mentioned it when I went looking for you. Camden Percy is a right bastard who was high as fuck. I’m sorry that I left you alone to deal with him. With all of it.”
“Camden was…I don’t know,” I said, shuddering to think of what might have happened if Court hadn’t stepped in. “Why is he marrying Katherine if he hates her?”
Lewis snorted. “You’ve got me there.”
“I mean, she deserves it. But it seems like not a wise choice. He knows that she’s marrying him for the money. He said tonight that her dad ate her trust fund. Whatever that means. And he still doesn’t care?”
“Ah. That is a little known secret,” Lewis confided. “Most people don’t know how broke Katherine is. Her trust fund should have been safe from the IRS. But, before her father transferred it to her, he made a huge withdrawal—in the hundreds of millions—to try to cover his ass. Then, everything went under before he could replace the money.”
My mouth hung open. “Shit. How does she still live the life she’s living?”
“She already had the apartment, and there’s been enough money in there to manage, but it’s almost gone.”
“Hence, Camden,” I muttered.
It all made sense now. I had known that Katherine was in a tight spot with money, but I hadn’t known the specifics other than her father’s securities fraud. No wonder she was desperate to tie the knot. Though it still didn’t explain Camden. I had no idea what he was getting out of it.
“Yep.” Lewis drained the last of his wine and then set it down on the glass coffee table. Then, he moved closer to me, reaching for my hand and lacing our fingers together. “But all that really matters to me is that you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” I told him. “Just…tired. Drained.”
And while I was utterly exhausted, Lewis seemed different. Almost keyed up from the ordeal. I didn’t know if it was the adrenaline still racing through him or what.
“You don’t seem tired,” I said on a laugh.
He grinned wider and brought my hand to his lips. He set lazy kisses across my hand and around my wrist before drawing the tip of my thumb into his mouth and nipping it. “I’m not.”
“I’m surprised that you’re so happy after everything that happened.” It was one thing not to blame me. Another thing entirely to be practically giddy after all that.
He ran his tongue along the pad of my thumb. All the while, his eyes were locked on mine. Offering everything without words and making me squirm in my seat.
“You came home with me,” he said.