Divided Interests

by Kelly Elliott

  I shook my head, and a rush of sadness swept over me that I couldn’t stop, even if I had wanted to. Lucas and I had been living in a bubble the last four days, so much so that we still hadn’t talked. About anything. It had been easier to push it all aside and be in the moment.

  “Was it in Paris? With Bianca?”

  He looked away and over to Jen. I followed his gaze and saw my friend give him an expression that might have been a warning to tread lightly. She lifted her brows and took a few steps back. “I’m going to step outside, take a look at the exterior and see what your dad is thinking, Lucas.”

  Lucas nodded, then met my hard stare.

  “Yes, I think we saw the same flower shop,” he finally said.

  I turned away and walked into the middle of the store. I knew I was feeling childish, but I couldn’t help it. No matter how happy we were in this moment, it still hurt knowing he had traveled to so many places with Bianca. Places he should have gone with me. I had wanted to experience those places with him. I couldn’t help but think of May. She had to have felt the same way when William never came after her.

  “If I could go back in time, Paige, I’d be there with you. I wasn’t even with Bianca that day. She was at a photoshoot, and I was walking around Paris. I saw the shop and walked into it.”

  I gasped and turned around. “Were you in a blue coat?”

  With a befuddled expression, he asked, “What? When?”

  “Were you in a blue coat? The day you walked around Paris? I saw the flower shop and stopped to admire the flowers. When I glanced into the shop, I thought I saw you. Dressed in a blue coat. I berated myself for thinking it could be you, but I knew you had gone to France before with Bianca. I went to step into the shop but was too nervous about how you would react if you saw me. Then I realized how stupid I was and went back the next day. I vowed I wasn’t going to do it, but I asked the shop owner if she remembered a man from the day before. She said yes, he was American, but that was all she could remember. It was you! Wasn’t it?”

  “Honestly, Bianca always had me dressing in the stupidest of clothes, but it could have very well been me.”

  I nodded, then looked away. I didn’t want the excitement of only a few moments ago to slip away, but it did.

  Lucas wrapped his arms around me, holding my back tightly against his chest.

  “We can’t change the past, but I promise I’ll do whatever I can to make your future—our future—beautiful.”

  My eyes closed as I dropped my head against his sturdy body.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m sorry for reacting that way. It was childish, and I don’t know what came over me.”

  He leaned his chin on the top of my head and let out a long breath of air.

  “We need to talk, Paige. We’re playing pretend, and we need to talk about it. All of it.”

  I let out my own exasperated sigh. “I know. Let’s go home.”

  I turned in his arms, and Lucas lifted my chin until our eyes met. There was so much emotion in his look. Love, regret, anger, sadness. Both of us had a whirlwind inside and pretending like the past had never happened was only causing the whirlwind to turn into a hurricane.

  He leaned down and kissed me gently. My arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, and he held me tighter, lifting me off the ground as he sucked on my tongue, then nipped at my bottom lip.

  “I love you,” we said together.

  We laughed and quickly stepped apart when Lucas’s dad cleared his throat.

  “When did this happen?” he asked.

  Lucas and I exchanged a look and then focused back on his father.

  “A few days back,” Lucas answered.

  Carl nodded. “Your granddad always said it was fate that the two of you would end up together. When he told me about leaving the house to both of you, I wasn’t so sure it would work. I would have rather he told you the truth.”

  I swallowed hard and looked at him.

  “What do you mean by that, Dad?”

  With a laugh, Carl walked into the room. He glanced over his shoulder, making sure we were alone before he spoke.

  “I know the truth. That William wasn’t my father by blood.”

  My hand came up to my mouth as I tried to hide the quick intake of breath. “How do you know? Did he tell you?”

  Carl glanced sadly down at the floor before looking back over to Lucas to give him a slight smile.

  “No, he didn’t tell me. About six years ago a gentleman from England came to see me. He claimed he was my brother and that I had been named in the will of his father. Apparently, my biological father had a guilty conscience about abandoning your grams.”

  Lucas ran his hand over his face and let out a mumbled curse. “Dad, I just found out only a few days ago. Granddad said you didn’t know and asked us not to tell you.”

  “I know. I never told him about the visit. I had been willed some land in Scotland. Apparently dear ol’ Dad was a lord or a duke or some bullshit. I informed them that I didn’t want anything and that it belonged to their family. We went about having it legally turned over to my half-brother. He’s a nice guy. We’ve kept in touch over the years, as friends. I didn’t tell your granddad. I figured he and Grams had their reasons. But it was never lost on me how much you looked like William, Paige. The connection the two of you shared. It’s a small town, rumors still got around. No one will say it, but everyone knows Dad gave up his son that his first wife had the night she passed way.”

  A tear ran down my cheek. “Does my father know?” I asked.

  Carl rubbed the back of his neck. “He’s heard the rumors. We grew up together and people talked, but we both ignored it. I think deep down your granddad knew we both knew. Phillip adored William, and William adored him. Just like he adored you, Paige.”

  Lucas paced across the room. “This is so fucked up. Why didn’t Paige and I hear any of these rumors? Y’all didn’t think to say anything to us? If you and Phillip knew why William left the house to us like he did, why the hell didn’t you say anything? Why make us find out like that?”

  He shrugged and gave us a half-smirk. “I think your granddad wanted you both to go on that adventure together, the one you never got to go on with each other. He’s probably laughing as we speak.”

  I could see that Lucas didn’t find any of this funny. He shook his head and walked out of the store.

  Carl looked at me, and I pulled in a deep breath before letting it go. “It’s been an emotional rollercoaster the last few days.”

  He chuckled. “I can only imagine. May I give you a piece of advice, Paige?”

  I nodded. “Yes, please.”

  “Let the past go. None of what happened two years ago, or even ten, is going to change your future. You decide the path you’re going to take. I see the way the two of you look at each other. Everyone has seen it from the first time you walked hand in hand up the pathway to that house. Be there for each other. Stop and listen to your concerns, fears, dreams. And most important of all, follow your heart. It will always lead you home.”

  My chin trembled as I attempted not to release my sobs. The words of two different Foster men felt like they had pierced into my soul and instantly grounded me.

  Nothing else in this world mattered but being home. And home wasn’t a house. Or a job. It was him.

  Lucas was and would forever be…home.

  Paige

  I LOCKED THE store and turned to face Carl and Jen. “He left?” I asked Jen. She gave me a sympathetic smile and nodded.

  “He said he was heading to the ranch to fix a fence for you, Carl.”

  With a hearty laugh, Carl pulled me in for a hug, then kissed me on the forehead. “The boy always did take to hard labor to work out his anger.”

  I echoed his smile with one of my own. “I remember.”

  “Stop by. I’ll have Lynn make us some dinner.”

  “I will after I run home and change. Can you get me your estimate for the front of t
he shop if I draw up some ideas?”

  He nodded. “The building is in great shape. I think if you purchase it, you’d be making a wise investment.”

  “I agree,” Jen said.

  There was no way I could contain my smile. “I’m going to put in an offer, but I know the bank will want to see a business plan. I can have one written up quickly once I get the bids in.”

  “We can chat at dinner, maybe then you can give me your vision.”

  Reaching up on my toes, I kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

  He winked, then turned to Jen. “I’ll see you girls around. I need to run a few other errands.”

  We watched as Carl made his way to his truck. Once he was in and pulled out, I faced Jen. “Am I crazy?”

  “Do you really want me to answer that?”

  “Yes,” I said, wrapping my arm around hers as we made our way to the car.

  “Well, what exactly are you asking me about? Your relationship with Lucas, which I might add happened rather quickly, even if no one was surprised. Everyone always thought the two of you belonged together.”

  “I always knew I was crazy in love with him. He makes me stop thinking straight. That’s a whole other ‘night out with drinks’ conversation. What I mean is, am I crazy for opening a flower shop?”

  She stopped walking and faced me. “You’re asking me if I think it’s crazy that you’re following a dream? No, I think it’s amazing. I envy you, Paige. And no matter what, you know I’ll always support you.”

  “Why are you such a good friend?”

  With a half shrug, she replied, “I have to be. You know some of my darkest secrets from when we were younger. If I don’t keep you happy, you could let them out.”

  Laughing, I held her closer to me. “I would never.”

  “Ha! That’s the difference between you and me. If you don’t give me free flowers and let me help run this little shop, I’m going to tell Lucas how you described his cock to all of us that one night you got drunk at my sixteenth slumber party.”

  Gasping, I jerked away. “I never did any such thing!”

  She raised a brow.

  My cheeks heated, and I covered my mouth to hide my giggle.

  “It was rather descriptive, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, and I had nightmares about cocks for weeks. I’m pretty sure your detailed description of it and how it worked made Annie Mason ask her mother about it, and that was why she was never allowed to hang out with us again.”

  We both fell into a fit of laughter, and it felt amazing to laugh like only best friends could.

  The moment I pulled down the driveway and saw the BMW, my heart raced. Lucas’s truck was parked in front of it. My hands shook. Weird. He said he was going to his parents’ ranch.

  Pulling up next to the BMW, I turned off my car. I slipped out and walked toward the front porch.

  He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t hurt me again. I knew it with every ounce of my being.

  I turned the handle of the front door and walked in.

  Male voices could be heard coming from the kitchen. I walked in and found Lou Howard sitting at the kitchen table with Lucas. They were both looking at papers.

  “What’s going on? Lucas, I thought you were going to your folks’ place?”

  Lucas looked up and gave me a smile. “Lou needed to meet with me, so we met here.”

  I looked from Lucas to Lou and back again. “What’s going on?”

  Lou cleared his throat. “Lucas asked me to draw up some papers for him a few days ago. I’m getting him to sign them.”

  My stomach clenched. “What kind of papers?”

  Lucas smiled as he made his way over to me. “I’ve asked Lou to bequest my half of the house back to you.”

  “What?” I asked in a shocked voice. “Why would you do that? When did you do that?”

  “The other morning, before we found the chest.”

  I was stunned into silence. “I don’t want you to. Why would you do that?”

  He smiled, and my knees felt weak. “Because I wanted you to know none of it mattered anymore.”

  “But you never said—”

  “I honestly never thought we’d find anything.”

  “This house belongs to you as much as me. It’s ours. Both of ours. We’re going to get married here, raise a family, pour a crazy amount of money into making it amazing. All together. Not because we each own a share of it, but because it’s ours.”

  I shook my head, almost violently.

  Lucas placed his hand on the side of my face and whispered, “Shhh, don’t get upset.”

  “I am upset.”

  I stepped around him and walked to Lou. Glancing down, I saw the papers Lucas was about to sign. I picked them up and ripped them in half.

  “Christ, Paige!” Lucas shouted as he rushed over to me.

  “This is insane!”

  Lou sat back in the chair, smiling. “Lord, the two of you remind me so much of William and May. It’s unbelievable. It really is.”

  Lucas and I faced Lou. “What?” I asked in a disbelieving voice.

  “Holy shit, you know the truth, too?” Lucas asked.

  Lou let out a roar of laughter as he gathered up his things. “Of course I know. I was his best friend. William told me everything. My father was the one who drew up the adoption papers for both boys.”

  I stared at Lou, my shock growing.

  “I was wondering when you came in and asked me to refuse your bequest, if you had both found your answers yet. I see that you have.”

  “Why didn’t you just tell us, Lou?” I asked.

  He picked up his briefcase, looked at me, then Lucas, and then roared with laughter again. “Now, what would be the fun in that?”

  Lucas and I stood in the kitchen and watched Lou walk away.

  “Enjoy your evening,” he called out as Oreo came bounding into the kitchen.

  Once we heard the front door shut, I faced Lucas and smacked him on the chest. “You ass!”

  “What?”

  “Why did you think I would want to take this house from you?”

  He smirked. “To be fair, only weeks ago you were trying to take the house from me.”

  I rolled my eyes and tossed my hands up. “I need a drink.”

  Drawing me into his arms, Lucas pressed his mouth to mine. “First, we’re talking.”

  He grabbed two beers from the refrigerator and walked us out onto the back porch. We sat down, and I took a long drink before looking out over the landscape.

  “First, we need to tell our parents we’re engaged,” he said.

  “You know they’re going to lecture us. Tell us we’re moving too fast.”

  “Let them,” he said. “Second, nothing about what we found out changes anything in my eyes.”

  With a smile, I reached for his hand. “It doesn’t change anything for me either.”

  “Good. Next thing, and probably the most important, I hate the color of paint you picked for the office.”

  My mouth dropped open. “What is wrong with the color?”

  “It’s pink.”

  “It is not pink! It’s a very light peach and it was the color of that room when it was first built. I found a strip of the original paint in the closet and took a picture of it. They matched the color.”

  “The office is mine, you even said so. I don’t want that color. Maybe a blue.”

  “Ugh, blue?”

  “What’s wrong with blue?”

  I shrugged and took another pull from the beer. “I guess I can find a blue shade that was used during that timeframe.”

  “Next, I want to go somewhere neither of us has been before for our honeymoon.”

  “Honeymoon? We’re restoring a house, I’m opening a new business, you’re going to be driving back and forth to Austin. Life is crazy. I think we need to push the idea of a wedding back some. At least until things settle.”

  He shook his head. “Nope.”

  With narrowed eyes, I a
sked, “No…to what?”

  “The house only needs paint and some furniture changed around. The kitchen is the biggest renovation, and we can handle that. Milo is taking care of the outside reno. Between the two of us, we can take care of the interior painting.”

  “Yes, but eventually you’ll be returning back to work full time.”

  Lucas looked at me with a serious expression. “About that. I’ve decided to take a job offer I received earlier today.”

  “From who?” I asked.

  “My father. We always wanted to work together, so I’m going to take it.”

  A warmth spread through my entire body. “Lucas, this is amazing news!”

  He smiled, then let it fade some. “I won’t make as much money as I was making, but it’ll still be a decent amount. Plus, I’ll be helping on the ranch more. Dad really needs it. Your father could also use an extra hand to give Tom some time off every now and then.”

  I sat down in his lap. The way he held me, his hand on my waist, sent a bolt of excitement and lust racing straight to my core.

  “I know Daddy would love that, and Tom will appreciate it.”

  He set his beer down, then pushed a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “As far as marrying you, Paige, I feel like I have wasted so much time, and I know it’s only a piece of paper, but I’ve wanted to marry you for as long as I could remember. I don’t want to wait. Can we go slow on the wedding, too?”

  Smiling, I wrapped my arms around his neck, then kissed him gently. “Six months. Let’s let everything settle for that long, which will give us time to get the greenhouse in order for our wedding.”

  The way he smiled made my breath catch in my throat. “You still want to get married in there?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  He frowned and let out a breath. “I’m going to have to think of a wedding present to match Granddad’s present to Millie.”

  I turned and straddled him in the chair. “The only thing I want is you.”

  “That I can give you as freely and as frequently as you want.”

  I pressed against his hard-on. “How about now?”

  Lucas groaned. “Here? Right now?”

  “Yes.” I lifted my shirt over my head and tossed it to the side. Lucas let out a guttural growl from the back of his throat as he ran his thumb over the peak of my nipple. I gasped when he sucked it through the lace fabric.