Page 41 of Lucas & Melissa Falling in Love
Chapter 14
“I-I need to see him tonight, Will.” She clears her throat and speaks more strongly now, more sure of herself. “I want to find out what we have. I can’t help it.” She sounds like the less vulnerable version of Melissa who I know and adore.
“Where does that leave us?” Will has the courage to ask. Damn the man. It’s useless to be angry with him, difficult not to admire him.
“I don’t know.”
Her words cut me. I spin around and close my eyes. Maybe I should leave. I don’t say the words, but I might be mistaken about coming here tonight. I don’t want to be. Maybe I should have given her more time.
Maybe I shouldn’t have given heranytime.
I feel her hand on my arm.
“Lucas, I owe him—”
I turn and look at her, see the glisten in her eyes, the veneer of confidence hiding her uncertainty. I nod.
“I’ll have a drink. And then I’ll leave.”
“Don’t—”
“Heshouldleave, Melissa. Let him go,” Will says. Now it’s easy to find my anger, but I tighten the reins. I intruded on his date tonight. He has a right to ask me to go.
Not that I’m going to comply.
“I’ll wait until midnight,” I say. Then I walk out into the abyss of party noise and the complicated scents of spicy food, champagne, and expensive perfume.
If possible, the bar is stocked thicker and deeper than it had been for the Christmas party—the party I’d been invited to—with the highest-end labels. I recognize some of the brands, but when my eyes graze over the endless stack of scotches, I’m out of my league and wishing for a good bottle of Chianti.
“Can I suggest a scotch?” George appears on my left and I look to see that Margo isn’t with him. Exhaling my relief because I don’t want to guard my words trying to avoid answering the questions I know she’d ask. Margo seems fearless about prying and I should find her tedious or annoying, but I don’t because she’s as innocent as a peach. And I know she’s looking out for her friend. I can see why George is in love with his wife. Now I give him a look, considering his offer. I shrug.
“Why the hell not. My party crashing isn’t going the way I planned.”
George smiles, but it’s a tight smile and then I remember Will is his cousin.
“In that case, I highly recommend Glenfarclas 21. It’s guaranteed to take the edge off.” He turns to the bartender and says, “Make it two.”
I nod and watch the attentive bartender comply with George’s understated command.
“I don’t want to impose on your hospitality. I’ll have my drink and leave.”
George raises his brows. “And leave me holding the bag with two women? Trying to console one and trying to make up with the other for letting her best friend’sheartthrobleave the party?”
I manufacture a slight smile. He’s trying hard, but I know he’s not happy I’m here. It shows in the tightness around his mouth. All I need to do is look around the party tonight—same as at the Christmas party—to see that the Regal family and friends are a tight-knit group and that George is at its center. The notion stabs at me, hitting my weakest point. I have a family like that—but I’m not there with them. I’m the furthest from the center of the family that a once-favored son can get.
“I’m not taking anything for granted. I may not be theheartthrobafter all.” I look at him and see nothing but quiet understanding in his eyes, no judgment, no recriminations.
“Playing this game of romance is not for the weak or uncommitted,” he says. “And there’s no joy in playing if you don’t win. It’s a damn difficult process that never seems to end.” George’s smile is real now, if less mirthful and more serious. He sounds like a wise old man, but I’d bet he isn’t much older than I am.
I decide to go out on a limb.
“I’ve already been labeled an interloper. A stranger. Now I’m not sure I’ll get a chance to be anything more.”
George takes a generous sip of his scotch and I figure it’s a good idea, so I take a sip too. It’s smooth and far more delicate than any scotch I’ve ever tasted. Not that I’m a connoisseur.
“Hell of a good scotch,” I say. That earns me a full-out grin.
“Tell you what, Lucas. I love my cousin Will like a brother. I want nothing but happiness for him, want him to have his dreams all come true. But the thing is . . .” He lowers his voice and dips his chin, looking away from me, as if he’s committing an unpardonable confession. “I don’t think Melissa will make him happy. As much as he wants her, I know there’s a hesitation on her part.” He looks at me now. I hope I’m responsible for her hesitation. The acknowledgment gives me a zip of satisfaction.
