Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Lachlan
A strong hand on my biceps stops me from following her.
Turning, I meet Jared’s gaze. There’s an unspoken challenge in his eyes. I’ve broken a man’s clavicle for less.
“Not a good idea, mate,” he states on a chuckle. A vein of steel ribbons through his voice. “I know Del well. You go after her now, while she’s pissed…” He snorts, dropping his hand but not his stare. “You’re big, but not that big.”
I rub at the back of my neck, watching Del stomp away, furious with me.
I should have told her last night that I think she’s amazing, that I want to spend the rest of my life with her.
That what I feel for her is significant despite only just meeting her.
Instead, I’d hidden my dread she’d think I’m an idiot behind more incredible, bone-melting sex and then fallen asleep.
“I fucked up,” I mutter. “I’ve upset her. Hurt her. I never meant to make her feel anything less than worshipped and protected and loved.”
Loved.
My breath clogs my throat at the word. But it’s true. In the space of a few hours, she’s become my purpose. I love her. And I’ve fucking hurt her.
“Nah.” Jared shrugs. “As I told Del when she said she fucked up by bolting from your room this morning, your brain just needs to catch up with your heart.”
I study him. “You’re pretty chill for a guy I threatened a few minutes ago. I was ready to break every bone in your body.”
He smiles. “Tomorrow, I marry the woman I love. We met only six weeks ago. Trust me, I know exactly what you’re going through right now.
” He jabs his thumb over his left shoulder.
“Del’s in room forty-two. Give her fifteen minutes or so to kick a pillow around her room a few times, and then go tell her everything. ”
I stare in the direction he indicated. Del is gone, and the garden’s empty. Quite.
“Trust me,” he says.
I look back at him. He sticks out his right hand, smile wide. “And good luck.”
With a wry snort, I take it. “Thanks. I think. And good luck tomorrow with the wedding.”
“Oh.” He laughs. “I fully expect to see you there. Consider this your official invite.” And with that, he claps me on the shoulder and grins. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go find my fiancée, throw her over my shoulder, and take her back to our room.”
I watch him head off, my heart a thumping tattoo of nervous hope in my ears. Shooting my watch a glance, I calculate what I can do in fifteen minutes.
Probably put on some better clothes and go find Angus and Beryl Stafford. Crumpled chinos and a baby-goat-smelling T-shirt isn’t exactly appropriate attire for buying a resort. Although, after the way they spoke about Del, I’m not overly convinced I want to do business with them anymore.
My phone vibrates in my back pocket with an incoming call, and my heart crashes up into my throat. Then I remember Del doesn’t have my number. Fuck.
Pulling it free, I cock an eyebrow at the caller’s name on the screen and hit connect. “Flynn. Everything okay? I’m not used to hearing from you two days in a row.”
The ex-commando grunts. “What? A bloke can’t check in with his mate and see how the purchase went?”
“Ah.” I drag a hand through my hair and begin walking in the direction of room forty-two. “It hasn’t yet. Couple of complications poked up their heads.”
One, the owners have turned out to be dicks; and two, I’ve unexpectedly fallen in love.
“Bugger,” Flynn says. “That sucks, mate.” There’s a pause. “Is it still going ahead, though? Or is the therapeutic wellness retreat idea out the window?”
“Unsure,” I reply. There’s a fork in the path at the edge of the garden, both ways leading into lush bush.
Is room forty-two part of the historical homestead or the convict-built servant wing?
I head left, hoping for the homestead. Surely the wedding party would be in the more luxurious rooms? “On the purchase. Not the idea.”
“So,” he replies, a guarded edge to his voice, “if I told you I have someone who wants in on the wellness retreat idea, and that same someone has the funds ready to go, and the opportunity to buy a part of Australian history in the Snowy Mountains, what would you say?”
Stopping, I frown. “I’d say I’m going to need more information, mate.”
He chuckles. “It’s me, McKenzie. I want in on the dream. I’m done with the bodyguard life. And I’ve got an inside tip that the old Regal Majestic on Snowgum Peak is about four months from going on the market.” He pauses again. “So…thoughts?”
I blink. “Fuck.”
He laughs. “I’m taking that as a yes and hanging up now before you can renege. Don’t sign a fucking thing until we can speak in person, okay?”
I claw at my hair again. “You’re serious?”
“Fucking oath,” he replies.
I know Flynn O’Reilly well. If he says he’s going to do something, he does it.
And yeah, it would be incredible doing something like this with him.
Not to mention how the extra funds would take out some of the sting.
And with a joint partner, I could focus more of my time on Del, giving her the incredible life she deserves.
“Let’s talk,” I reply. “Get your arse to Sydney by Monday.”
“Done,” he replies. “You won’t regret this, mate.”
“I know.” I chuckle. “Now, I’ve got to go find the most frustrating woman in the world and tell her I’m in love with her.”
“You what?”
“Remember the slow driver I was complaining about yesterday?” I start walking again, strides long. To hell with waiting fifteen minutes. “It’s her. I’m in love with her.”
Flynn laughs. “What the—”
Grinning, I hang up. I’m going to find Del, tell her how I feel, and convince her a life with me will be the best life she could hope to have. That I will treat her like the precious, feisty, adorable goddess she is for the rest of her life.
And then I’m going to use my finely honed cyber security superpowers to locate her stalker and bring that shit to an end.