I glared at him. “Anyway, I had been working with Eric on expanding his late father’s business when a beautiful young woman came into his office one spring day. It was Lola. I swear, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. But even with how I felt, I knew she was off-limits.”
I wasn’t about to let Hamish know I had met Lola once, years before that time. No one needed to know about that moment.
“You got that right.” Hamish chuckled, and when he noticed my frown, he mumbled, “Sorry.”
“Despite being wealthy and gorgeous, she was lonely. Then Eric explained how his dad treated both of them. I had met his dad right at the beginning of my career as a lawyer, and thankfully, I never had to work with him directly. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t immune to his father’s assholery. I know first-hand that Eric wasn’t lying about his father.”
Hamish shook his head. “That guy was a tyrant.”
“I had planned to keep my distance from Lola, but we both got stuck in one of the rooms on Hudson Estates. It was summer, and, apparently, the old doors expanded in the humidity. Well, it wouldn’t open. I called out, but no one answered. Then I phoned Eric, but he didn’t pick up. I was too embarrassed to call the police. So, we both sat there for a time, waiting for someone to let us out. That’s when I got to know Lola.” Warmth bloomed in my chest at the memory.
“Hamish, she was the most kindhearted, amazing woman. I knew she didn’t have friends, so I vowed to be her friend.”
“And?”
I sighed. Even Hamish knew there was more than friendship between Lola and me.
“Stupidly, I kissed her. Spending so much time with her, it was inevitable something would happen. I kept telling myself she wasn’t interested, but then one day, we were back in the room we had originally been stuck in, and she reminded me not to close the door. All the memories of being with her that day, of getting to know her, came flooding back. I kissed her, and after that, there was no going back.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at how naïve I was, thinking something wouldn’t happen between us. “We kept it a secret from Eric, but it was difficult. He knew something was different about his sister and worried a guy was taking advantage of her—and that guy was me. Knowing she had money, Eric thought any man interested in Lola only wanted her wealth. But I had no interest in Lola’s money. By that point, I had enough money. I may not be a billionaire like her and her brother, but I was more than comfortable.”
“I know you’re a good guy and would never use someone like that.” Hamish tapped my shoulder before putting his hand back on the steering wheel.
“But Eric didn’t even consider that I might want his sister. He trusted me; so much so, he told me to monitor her.”
“Oh man, that’s rough. But I think Eric would be happy knowing you would be with his sister, not some gold-digger.”
I shook my head. “Eric told me something one day. He was acting strangely, so I asked what was wrong. He explained how he wanted to pick out his sister’s husband. He knew it sounded old-fashioned, but he knew what was best for her. I tried to explain that she was a woman and could make her own decisions, especially with something as big as marriage. Eric just shrugged it off and told me he wanted to believe that, but she was so inexperienced in life, and he worried she would marry someone terrible. It was a month later that he came up with the arranged marriage, and then she disappeared.”
“It seemed Eric had been thinking about that for a while. It wasn’t just a whim that he arranged her marriage. He’s such an impulsive guy. I thought for sure it was one of his bad ideas.” Hamish shook his head.
“On one hand, I am breaking my friend’s trust. But on the other hand, I had never been so happy with anyone in my life. We kept it a secret, hoping to tell Eric one day, but that day never came. Because she left.”
“But she had to leave. Eric wanted to force her to marry. I’d think you’d at least be happy about that. She wouldn’t be marrying that creep.”
“But I would’ve protected her. I’d never have let the marriage happen. She didn’t trust me, and she never even said goodbye. It was a wake-up call in a way. It wasn’t just the marriage she was running from... it was me, too. I thought she loved me, but I guess she was just having some fun.”
“Jenner, you can’t believe that.”
“It’s been two years. She never tried to reach out to me, not even a text.”
It had been a long drive to the Hudson Estate, but Hamish finally turned into the driveway, which was also a drive itself.
Hamish was silent for a moment as he stopped the car. We both sat in the heated beige leather seats, lost in our own thoughts.
“Is that who you saw at The Blue Spot? The one you’ve been dreaming about?”
I closed my eyes and let my head fall back until it hit the headrest. “Yes. Even though I didn’t think it was possible, she’s more beautiful than I remembered.”
“You have to find her, Jenner. Find out why she didn’t reach out to you.”
I wanted to. My heart screamed for answers. I longed to pull her into my arms and not let go until she confessed everything. Why did she leave? Did she even think of me once during the past two years? Did I ever matter to her?
“No. She never wanted to be found.” I shrugged. “And I care for her enough to give her what she wants.”
Chapter 6
Lola