“We’re just having some fun. She made it perfectly clear from the beginning that nothing could ever come of this. Now that I know who she is, I am in complete agreement.”
“And if it could?”
“It won’t.”
He laughed under his breath. “So you’re going to spend the week together and then… What? Walk away in the hopes of never seeing each other again? Hate to break it to you, but with all this shit going on, I don’t exactly see how that’s even remotely realistic.
“If this theory pans out, and it looks like that’s a damn good probability, you’re both involved, like it or not. Her ex-husband inspired the person who attacked Piper. Who took Claire from you. Hell, her ex could still be somehow involved.”
“I know that, all right? That’s been in the forefront of my mind all night. I can’t not think about it. But, like I said, it doesn’t matter. We agreed. One week. Nothing more. No matter what. Nothing more,” I repeated for emphasis, unsure if it were for his benefit or mine.
Nikko studied me for a beat, his analytical gaze seeming to comb through every inch of me, as if looking for a clue. Some piece of evidence that would crack the case wide open. But I wasn’t a case to be solved.
At least I didn’t think I was.
A smug expression slowly formed on his face. “Are you sure about that? Are you sure that’s really what you want?”
“I—”
“I know you.” He leaned toward me. “Knew who you were before Piper died. Know who you’ve been since then. Since you turned into this closed-off ass who’s done everything in his power to put up walls. To keep people out. Including your own family. Your own ohana.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but Nikko held up a hand. He knew I didn’t have a leg to stand on in my defense. Worse, I did, too.
“But tonight, I saw a glimpse of the Lachlan I used to know before anger consumed him. Before guilt controlled him. And I get the feeling it’s because of that woman in there.” He pointed to the house. “I’m happy to see the man I used to know. The Lachlan who smiled more. Laughed more. And, dare I say it, loved more.”
I whipped my gaze to his, eyes wide and panicked. “What are you suggesting?”
“I’m not suggesting anything. But I know what I saw. This isn’t a passing fling. There are feelings involved. Hers and yours.”
“That doesn’t matter,” I insisted yet again, although my words became increasingly unconvincing with each breath. “That’s not our deal.”
“Maybe not right now. But what if she changes her mind about your arrangement? What if she tells you she doesn’t want to walk away?”
I vehemently shook my head, heart squeezing. I wasn’t sure if it were over the idea of her changing her mind and me hurting her, or her not changing her mind and her hurting me.
“You were in there. You know who she is. Who her ex-husband is. That fucker still petrifies her. Has her watching her every move. Has her held captive. Even from behind prison walls, he’s still controlling her.”
With every word I spoke, my anger and frustration increased. The only thing preventing me from doing everything in my power to make that bastard suffer was the miles separating us. But I doubted even that would always prove to be a sufficient barrier. Not when it came to Julia. I’d never felt so damn protective. So out of sorts. And it drove me crazy.
“Well then…” Nikko smirked. “I think you just proved my point.”
“What point is that?”
“You care about her. A lot. Probably more than you wish you did.”
“I don’t—”
“That’s a good thing, Lachlan.” He squeezed my shoulder, his gesture reassuring. “You deserve this. Especially after everything you went through. After everything you lost. The same goes for her. Maybe you can help her realize that.”
I opened my mouth, struggling to come up with a valid response. I would have been lying if I said I hadn’t considered what it would be like to have something real with Julia, especially when I made dinner tonight. Or when we baked that cake last night. In those moments, I’d allowed myself to consider the possibility.
But that was all it was… A possibility. A dream. A fantasy.
Not real.
“It will never happen.” I pushed away from him, storming back toward the house. “It can’t.”
I wasn’t sure who I was more upset with. Nikko for suggesting the possibility of something real with Julia. Or myself for considering it.