Chapter Twenty-Four
Chiara
“I won’t move out, that’s not going to happen,” I repeat for what must be the tenth time.
Lucas doesn’t reply, he just grits his teeth and grips the steering wheel tighter.
My annoyance is reaching a new high as he pulls the car over in front of a lovely cottage surrounded by a lush garden and a stone wall all around.
The cottage lies a twenty-minute drive outside town, perched on a hill that overlooks the valley beneath.
I can’t help but feel enchanted by the surroundings and intrigued by the house itself.
As Lucas opens my car door and grabs my hand, I take in the whitewashed stone walls covered with ivy and climbing rosebushes.
The house looks like a lodge out of a fairytale.
The slate roof and the polished wood of the many balconies and the wraparound porch gleam under the sun.
My breath catches. This place feels peaceful and inviting, and despite myself I picture lazy weekend breakfasts on the porch, or reading on a sofa on rainy days, wrapped in a blanket in front of the huge windows overlooking the garden.
I forget my irritation and step closer, eager to see the inside. A man in his forties in a suit comes down the steps to greet us.
“Ah, Mrs. and Mr. Romano, it’s good to see you. I’m Ayden. Let me show you this hidden jewel.”
Mrs. Romano? I yank my hand away, ready to rectify him, but Lucas grabs my shoulder as fast as lightning and pulls me flush to his side.
“The pleasure is all ours. Call me Lucas, and this is my Cara.” I tense, but I don’t want to cause a scene either, so I take the realtor’s outstretched hand and smile weakly.
Ayden ushers us in and I look around, breath catching again, not listening to a single word he is saying.
From inside, the cottage is even more beautiful.
The high vaulted cathedral ceiling opening to the second floor is supported by exposed wooden beams and makes the room seem immense.
Sunlight is streaming in through the huge windows, casting a warm shine on the oak floors.
I gingerly step inside, enthralled. The realtor walks to the open plan kitchen and I follow, eyes darting everywhere.
Lucas let go of me when we walked in, but I can feel his gaze following me from where he is standing.
I look over my shoulder to find his gaze on me, unblinking and unreadable.
Ayden babbles on about state-of-the-art appliances, marble countertops and brass fixtures, but I don’t listen.
I am captivated by the atmosphere, my heart clenching painfully as the word home slams into my mind, nearly bringing tears to my eyes.
This is the kind of place I would’ve liked for myself, for the family I want to have someday.
I follow through the visit, subdued and silent.
There are four bedrooms, each one with an en suite bathroom and a small balcony overlooking the garden.
I chew on my lower lip and decide then and there that I’ll come back later and buy it for myself.
“We’ll take it,” Lucas tells Ayden, interrupting my musing. What? No!
I whirl around to face Lucas with my back to the realtor. “Can we have a word? In private.” I force my voice to sound disinterested even if I am overflowing with rage inside. This is my home, I’m ready to fight him for it.
“Of course, take your time to have another look around, I’ll be waiting outside,” Ayden says brightly and leaves us in the living room.
“I don’t want you to buy it,” I tell Lucas point blank.
He closes the distance and grabs my jaw to tilt my head up, giving me a calculating smile. “But you want this cottage. Don’t deny it, I saw it the moment you stepped inside.”
He’s right, I can’t deny it. “Yes, but I’ll buy it myself, for myself,” I tell him heatedly.
“Wrong answer, cara mia, we’re buying it for us.” He leans closer and brushes his lips to my ear. “And for our kids.”
I jump back so fast I almost fall on my backside and gape up at him.
“Are you insane?” I hiss.
He smirks and I am tempted to punch the smile off his face.
“I’ll buy it myself,” I snap again.
His smile hardens, his eyes narrowing. “And with what money, hmm?” he murmurs, advancing toward me until he is standing an inch away, lifting a hand to cup my jaw, eyes challenging. “Your barista wages? That won’t cover a single doorknob in this place.”
My cheeks heat. “I’ll figure it out.”
“No, you won’t.” His hand slides from my jaw to my throat, not squeezing but asserting enough to let me know who is in charge.
“Because you’ll have two choices, cara mia.
Either you come back to Boston and live like the princess you were born to be, or”— he gestures lazily at the cottage, his mouth brushing over my ear—“you let me give you—us— this, our future.”
“There is no us,” I grit out, even though I know he has a point about my capacity to buy this place.
It’s clear that it must be above what I could afford despite the remote location.
And I refuse to ask Father for help or use my trust fund.
It’s blocked until I turn thirty anyway, or until I get married, so the point is moot.
As if sensing my hesitation, Lucas wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead. Then he rests his chin on top of my head and rumbles low. “Let me give you this. Let me give you everything.”
Anger and panic war inside me, I waver for a beat. But then anger wins.
“No!” I push him back heatedly. “Buy it if you want, I don’t care. What are you even imagining? That we’d be living together as friends?” I sneer while he glares at me, chest heaving and jaw grinding. “I won’t be living here or anywhere with you.”
With that, I brush past him and all but run out of the door. Outside, Ayden is leaning against his sedan. He straightens when he sees me, and I step closer. “Hey, would you mind driving me back to town, I forgot that I have an…uh. appointment.”
He frowns and sends a confused look toward the door from where Lucas is emerging with blazing eyes.
“I’ll drive you, cara mia,” he grinds out between clenched teeth when he reaches us.
“Oh no, honey,” I reply with a fake smile, “don’t worry, Ayden will drive me back. You go on with your…day.” Or better, with your life.
Ayden looks from me to Lucas. “Um, well that won’t be a problem, I’ll just go back to check the windows and lock the door.
” He walks up the steps to go back inside, and Lucas snatches my arm to whirl me around to face him.
Then he grabs my shoulders and stares me down, fury written all over his face.
“I’ll drive you. It’s non-negotiable.”
I start to protest but he pulls me flush against him and murmurs darkly in my ear. “I have a gun in the car, I won’t hesitate to shoot him, or any other asshole you’ll ask to drive you.” He leans back to lock eyes, and I see the resolve there.
Shit, he is serious. My stomach drops and my breath catches in my throat.
Ayden comes back out and looks at us with uncertainty. Lucas grins brightly at him as if he didn’t threaten to shoot him seconds ago.
“Ayden, I’ll take my wife back to town. You go back to the office and get the paperwork ready. I’ll join you there. We’re buying.”
Ayden’s eyes positively glow with dollar signs, and he skips to his car and drives off with a jovial wave.
I stand rooted to the spot for a second, disbelief making my heart thunder. But then I pull myself together and stomp to Lucas’ SUV.
He did not just call me his wife. He’ll buy my house.
Maybe if I am quick enough, I’ll find his gun before he catches me and I’ll shoot him to become his widow.