“Yes. No matter who he dallies with, I’m the one he’ll always come back to. I’m sure you’ve known him long enough to know our history.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t, and for you to pay me a visit to stake a claim you think you have speaks volumes. It makes me think you’re not as confident as you want to claim,” she said with more bravado than she actually felt.
“Think whatever you want. Just remember, when he’s done with you he’ll come back to me. He and I have plans to marry one day.”
Lucia’s heart dropped at the woman’s announcement. “Congratulations on your and Derringer’s future plans. Now, if you’ve said everything you’ve come here to say, I think you should leave.”
It was then that Ashira smiled, but the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. It didn’t come close. “Fine, just remember my warning. I’m trying to spare you any heartbreak.” The woman then walked out of her office.
Derringer’s gaze flickered over Lucia’s face. “You okay? You’ve been quiet most of the evening.”
They had gone skating with what he was now be ginning to think of as the regular crowd. Most of the kids and teens had gotten used to him and Lucia invading their turf. And now they were back at her place, but she hadn’t said a whole lot since he’d picked her up that evening.
She smiled over at him. “Yes, I’m fine. This has been a busy week at work and I’m just glad it’s the weekend. I need it.”
He pulled her into his arms. “And I need it as well. More horses are arriving this week and then all our relatives start arriving the week after that for the Westmoreland Charity Ball. You are going to the ball with me, aren’t you?”
He watched her features and she seemed surprised he’d asked. Her next question proved him right. “You really want to take me?”
“Of course I do.”
“Thanks.”
He stared down at her for a moment. “Why are you thanking me?”
“Um, no reason. I just wasn’t sure what your plans would be.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to say that whatever his plans were they would always include her, but he didn’t. Lately, he was encountering feelings and emotions when it came to Lucia that he didn’t quite understand and didn’t want to dwell on.
“I hear Gemma is coming home in a few days,” she said, cutting into his thoughts.
A smile touched his lips. “Yeah, and I miss her. I’d gotten used to Gemma being underfoot and wasn’t sure how I’d handle her up and moving to Australia. But Callum loves her and we know he’s taking good care of her. Besides, homecomings are good.”
“Yes, he does love her.”
There was something about her tone of voice that sounded contemplative and reflective, as if she was wondering, considering just how that would be for a man to love her that way. For a moment he didn’t know what to say, so he decided not to say anything.
Instead, he did something he always enjoyed doing to her. He touched her chin, making rotary motions with his thumb on her soft skin before tilting her head back to lower his mouth to kiss her.
The sound of her sensual purr fueled his desire, making him so aroused his erection thickened painfully against the zipper of his jeans. And when she wrapped her arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss, he went crazy with lust for her.
Not able to hold back any longer, he swept her off her feet into his arms and carried her upstairs to the bedroom.
“Why haven’t you mentioned Ashira’s visit to Derringer, Lucia?”
Lucia glanced over at Chloe. They had just finished a business meeting and she’d known something had been on her best friend’s mind all morning. “And how do you know I haven’t?”
“Trust me, had you told him, all hell would have broken loose. He’s never appreciated Ashira’s possessiveness.”
Lucia shrugged. “For all I know they could have an understanding just like she claims.”
“I can’t believe you would think that.”