“I know, and that’s fine. I just think that now—”
“I won’t marry you. Now yet.”
Well, this is unexpected. I cast about for the right argument. “But that means your father’s going to win.”
He shrugs.
“Don’t you want to win?”
“Yes.”
I narrow my eyes. “You aren’t marrying anyone else, Lucas Reed!”
“Absolutely not. I told you already, you’re the only one for me. But I’m not marrying you either, not until the six months is up, because I’m not giving you any cause to doubt my love for you again.”
Now it becomes clear. “Lucas…I won’t.”
But he isn’t listening. “My brothers and sister will just have to get over it. I’ll find a way to make it up to them.”
“But you were going to marry Faye…”
“I didn’t love her, Ava. It’s not the same thing.”
“You’re right, it’s not. This way, you get both the painting and the woman you really do love. So what’s the problem?”
“If anything happens between us because of the damned deal…” He inhales roughly. “I can’t go through…everything…again.”
“Have you imagined how I’d feel if I cost you something so important to you and your siblings?”
“You aren’t costing me anything. Even if you were, you’re worth a hundred such portraits. My decision is final.”
“But—”
“Next week’s Thanksgiving. Are you flying to Charlottesville or are you staying in the city?” From the hard set of his jaw, he’s not doing to budge.
I sigh. “Staying in L.A.”
“Great. Ryder’s hosting dinner. Friends and family only. I’m invited, and so are you.”
My jaw slackens. “Me? At Ryder Reed’s?” Ryder isn’t just Lucas’s brother but a Hollywood megastar. If I weren’t in love with Lucas, I might be in love with Ryder…like millions of other women.
“You’re my plus-one.”
Shock, excitement and nerves war inside me, each side evenly matched. Then reality intrudes. “Lucas, I’d love to. But I already have plans. Darcy and Ray are flying out to celebrate together, and I can’t leave them alone.”
“Then they’re invited too.”
“Lucas! You can’t just—”
“Ryder said to bring as many people as I want. And believe me, there’s space.”
I narrow my eyes. “Did he maybe say that because he was pretty certain you wouldn’t bring anyone except Faye?”
He shrugs. “Maybe.”
I seize the opening. “When he finds out he’s going to lose the painting he married his assistant for, he’s going to be furious with me.”
“No, he won’t. And I’m not talking about this again with you, Ava.”