Page 82 of Bittersweet & Strange

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

“How fortunate.”

I ignore his tone. “Tell me what you spent. I’ll repay all of it.”

Lucien laughs quietly. “I don’t want your money, Boone.”

“Then what do you want?”

He looks at me long enough that I know the answer without hearing it.

“You.”

My shoulders tense. “No.”

His mouth curves. “Still?”

“Yes. Still.”

“I thought several months away might have made you more sensible.”

“And I thought being rejected repeatedly might have made you less persistent.”

His smile disappears, and I put another step between us.

“I’m not marrying you, Lucien.”

He glances toward the house. “You might reconsider.”

“I won’t.”

“Your father is an old man, don’t forget.”

Every muscle in my body goes rigid. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Quite a lot, actually.” Lucien picks a leaf from one of the plants beside him and rolls it absently between his fingers. “He was barely managing before you disappeared. Then you vanished for months without explanation and left a sick elderly man here alone.”

“I didn’t leave him willingly.”

“Can you prove that?”

My mouth closes.

Lucien watches me.

“He told everyone you were working a day away,” he continues. “Obviously that wasn’t true. People have started asking questions now that you’ve suddenly reappeared.”

“That’s none of their business.”

“It becomes their business when your father’s welfare is concerned.”

I stare at him, trying to understand exactly what he’s threatening without giving him the satisfaction of asking.

Lucien drops the crushed leaf.

“I’m saying your father is increasingly frail. He requires assistance with food, firewood, repairs, and money. You disappeared once already.” His eyes settle on mine. “Who is to say you won’t disappear again?”