Chapter 18
“What?” Britt asked, confused. “What do you mean?”
Lachlan looked away, fidgeting with a loose thread on his jeans. “With everything you’ve been through, I’m not surprised you’re exhausted since it’s after midnight. Probably been too long since you had a good night’s rest.”
She narrowed her eyes as she stared at that damn sexy smirk playing on his lips. He wasn’t meeting her eyes. She felt there was more to what he said, although his explanation made sense. “Too long, she admitted.”
“Why don’t you get changed for bed while I clean up this mess,” Lachlan said, lifting the napkin from her plate and shaking his head.
“Do not show that to any of the other guys. It’s so embarrassing.”
“There’s no one here but us,” Lachlan said, then added, “Your secret is safe with me.”
And she felt safe with him. Being alone with him. Having him all to herself. Oh, these traitorous thoughts were going to kill her long before the men hunting her down could.
She left him to change into the only pajamas she’d purchased when she arrived on the island.
The rough cotton and childish flower designs left much to be desired, but it was all she had.
Staring at herself in the mirror, she studied the face she didn’t recognize as she brushed her thick tresses into a low ponytail at the nape of her neck.
Her hands traced the faint scars behind her ears and on her scalp.
Even if Lachlan found her attractive, it didn’t matter.
The face staring back at her wasn’t hers.
She suspected The Visitor had changed her face to look like Brittany Freeman’s.
It would explain her scars. She wondered what she looked like before that.
Would it have been a face that made Lachlan’s eyes light up as much as Brittany’s?
Pushing the thoughts away, she tossed the brush into her bag and returned to the bedroom suite.
The living room area had been tidied up. Lachlan was giving the bed turn-down service, complete with a palm full of expensive foil-wrapped chocolates.
He turned and stared at her. The heat blazing in his gaze sent wetness pooling between her thighs.
His mouth parted, and she wanted nothing more than to run to him and crash her lips against his.
Kiss him like the craziness of her life didn’t exist, and they were just two people who could enjoy each other.
He patted the bed, beckoning her to get inside.
“Where will you be?” she asked, not budging from her spot.
“Wherever you want me to be,” Lachlan responded, his voice low and husky.
“What a dangerous response,” she said, shaking her finger at him.
His laugh was infectious. “I didn’t mean it to be.”
“That’s disappointing,” she teased.
There was that devastatingly sexy smile again. “I’ll not do anything to cross any lines, Britt.” He made the sign of a cross over his heart.
“It’s not you I’m worried about,” she admitted, taking a tentative step toward him.
“Aye. You think you’d cross lines with me?”
“Hop over them. Turn around, scrub them away like they never existed.” She loved how pleased he looked with her response.
Her thumb pressed against her palm until the pressure shifted from firm to painful.
“I don’t know, Lachlan. Being around you makes me aware that it’s been a very, very, very long time since a man has touched me.
I miss it.” She cleared her throat. “But I suppose the psychologist will tell me this is some kind of hero-worship attraction to you.”
“I’ve not been your hero, Britt,” Lachlan whispered, a haunting pain in his voice.
“Haven’t you?” she challenged.
He exhaled a heavy sigh as his shoulders slumped. “Rocco was the one who stepped in and shot the man chasing you. Not me.” He almost seemed disappointed by that fact.
“Right,” she said, realizing the truth in his words.
Dr. Rocco Forrester was the only person who’d gone on a limb to risk his life to save her.
The same Rocco who, while very handsome, didn’t push her womanly buttons like Lachlan.
Rocco didn’t trigger the wanton horniness raging through her like she felt with Lachlan.
A question played in her head, and she said it without filtering herself. “But you’re attracted to me, aren’t you?”
The edge of a memory flirted in her mind, coming into focus.
His laugh was low and pained. Fuck Britt, why are you asking me this?
“Fuck, Britt,” Lachlan muttered, raking a hand through his hair. “Why are ye asking me this?”
The sound was clearer in her head.
Because I need to know before I embarrass myself.
Trust me, you have nothing to be embarrassed about.
Prove it.
No, she couldn’t.
But she did.
Licking her lips slowly, she said, “Because I need to know before I embarrass myself.”
His brow quirked as his eyes locked onto hers. They stood still, tethered by an attraction that couldn’t be denied.
When he responded, she felt dizzy. “Trust me, you have nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Britt covered her face with her hands. What the hell was she doing?
“I am so sorry. That was completely inappropriate. You have been so kind to me. I shouldn’t be trying to come on to you. What I’ve been through is no excuse. It’s completely not like me.”
When she uncovered her face, Lachlan was mere centimeters away. The warmth of his breath caressed her face. His fingers skated across her cheek, gentle as a feather, before cupping her face.
“How do you know?” He challenged.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat but couldn’t find the words to respond because he was right.
“You don’t remember who you are, so you can’t really say that it’s not like you. Maybe now that you’re away from that horrible place, you’re starting to remember bits and pieces of yourself.”
“It doesn’t matter because even if I remember who I am, the people who love me won’t recognize me. I don’t look like me anymore. They made me look like her, which sucks because, honestly, I’m so turned on by how you look at me. But you’re seeing Brittany Freeman … not me.”
“There are ways to see someone that has nothing to do with their outward appearance, Britt,” Lachlan said, stroking her face. “I’ve no doubt that you could have the face of a rat, and I’d still look at you like … this.”
“Well, I dare say that was quite romantic.” She inhaled a deep breath. “But it’s time for me to stop playing with fire. I can’t handle this heat between us. Not with everything else I’m dealing with.”
“Understood.” The words were choked through his gritted teeth. “I’ll keep my distance but still protect you.”
“I still want you close. I’m not ready to be completely alone yet,” she said, panic gripping her at the idea of him leaving so soon. “I’ve spent too many days by myself. It’s comforting to have a friendly face with me.”
“I can be a friendly face.” He smiled and almost knocked her out with how gorgeous he was. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
She’d love for him to get her to bed in more ways than one. But the memories he triggered within her were concerning.
Was it a coincidence that the conversation was similar?
She couldn’t fight this feeling that she and Lachlan had already met. Or was that her libido’s wishful thinking? She wanted this man in a way that didn’t make sense.
Lachlan walked to the edge of the bed. She didn’t look back as she slipped under the sheets, rearranging the pillows until she was comfortable. He didn’t budge, just stood there watching over her.
“You’re staying, right?”
“I’ll be right over there.” He pointed to the couch that faced the bed. “Good night, Britt.”
“Good night, Lachlan.”