Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 41 - Chapitre 50

CAL“What are you smiling at?” I ask Lucy, walking into the kitchen to find her sitting at the counter, looking at her phone. The smell of garlic and herbs fills the entire room.Lucy looks up at me, almost taking my breath away with how stunning she is. It’s been a week since we had sex, and I can’t get enough of her. Every night, when she gets ready to leave, I want to ask her to stay the night. There’s nothing I want more than to hold her all night and wake up to her in the morning, but I haven’t told her that yet because she reminds me any chance she can that things are casual between us.So, no matter how badly I want her to sleep next to me, I’m scared she’ll say no.I’ve never really felt scared to do anything, so all of this is new territory to me.“I was going through our videos I’ve been posting, checking for comments and responding to them, when I realized there’s this account that’s liking and commenting on everything I’ve posted. Even my old photos.” I close the distance

CAL“I still can’t believe you planned all of this for me,” Lucy whispers, a beaming expression on her face.“Why is it hard to believe someone would want to plan a special surprise for you?” I counter, my attention solely focused on her. I lost track of the time when she and Enzo were cooking. I was in a trance, watching her in her element, learning from one of the best chefs in the world. It took a lot of convincing—and money—for Enzo to fly out here just for the evening with Lucy, but I would’ve paid anything to see her as happy as she’s been tonight.Lucy takes a sip of her wine as she gathers her thoughts. I give her all the time she needs, curious to know the answer to my question. She and Enzo finished cooking over two hours ago. He sat and ate with us for a bit, answering any questions Lucy had for him before he eventually excused himself and left Lucy and me to enjoy the food they’d prepared.She lets out a long sigh, her eyes focused on me. A candle flickers between us, the

CALI taste Lucy’s moans as I gently lay her on my bed. I give the kiss everything I have, funneling every single one of the feelings running through me into it.My feelings for her. Intense and only growing stronger with each day I spend with her.My frustration. I can tell there’s something she’s hiding from me, and it’s eating away at me. She doesn’t trust me enough to tell me why she’s giving up her passion for cooking to run a family business she never even talks about.My fear. Deep in my gut, I know I’m going to lose her. Just by the look in her eyes and the defeated way she answered my questions, I know no matter how she feels, she’s going to go back to Virginia, and she has no intention of including me in her life there.For the first time in my life, I feel helpless. I’ve always been able to get my way—sometimes easier than others. I’ve always been able to bulldoze my way to an outcome I wanted.But with Lucy, I can’t.And that fucking kills me.All I can do now is try to us

CALI don’t know what a broken heart feels like. I’ve never cared about someone enough to give them the power to break my heart.But the dull throb beginning in my chest right now has got to be close. It’s all because of the look on Lucy’s face. She doesn’t have to say a word for me to know that this conversation isn’t going to go how I want it to.I so desperately want to be the person Lucy leans on when she needs help. I want to be there for her like I want my next breath. My entire body aches at the thought of her going back home to deal with things by herself.I want to be there for the woman I fell for, but it’s becoming more and more clear that as desperately as I want to be the one for Lucy to lean on, that isn’t what she wants.“For once, just let someone be there for you, baby,” I croak, not caring how vulnerable I sound. This woman owns my heart, and I need her to know and hear in my voice how badly I want to be there for her.Her lips tremble, and I hate that tears still st

CALI’m never falling in love again.I always thought people were dramatic when they complained about a broken heart. I’m a grown adult; I didn’t think anything had the capacity to make me not want to leave my bed or even eat a meal.But then I fell in love with Lucy Rae Owens.It’s been thirteen days since I watched her step onto that plane, taking my heart right along with her.Thirteen mornings I’ve woken up and not wanted to get out of bed.Thirteen nights I’ve lain awake talking myself out of calling her and reminding myself that if she wanted to talk to me, she would.I fell in love with a woman who wasn’t ready to be loved, and I’m paying the price for it.It doesn’t help that everything reminds me of her. I used to love the Hamptons and Pembroke. Being here for the summer was my escape. Now, being here without her is torture.I barely want to step foot in Pembroke Grill, thinking of all the times we sat around a table with our friends.Speaking of friends, I’ve rejected every