Page 298 of Sweet Nightmare
My smile grows.
“A man trying to make one incredibly stubborn woman smile.”
Andrea laughs softly.
Lucan doesn’t.
He keeps studying me.
“You understand who my daughter is?”
“I do.”
“Then tell me.”
I don’t even have to think about it.
“She spent so long protecting herself that I don’t think she remembers what it feels like to be loved without having to earn it first.”
Andrea’s eyes glisten and Lucan’s jaw tightens.
“I don’t want to save her,” I continue. “She doesn’t need saving. I don’t want to fix her, change her, or make her softer for me. I just want to stand beside her exactly as she is.”
I take a breath.
“And if one day she lets me, I’d like to spend the rest of my life loving her.”
Lucan stands.
Slowly.
He walks around the coffee table until he’s standing directly in front of me.
I stand, too.
He grabs the front of my jacket and pulls me closer.
His voice drops low enough that Andrea probably couldn’t hear him even if she wanted to.
“If you break my daughter’s heart—”
“That will never happen.”
“If you lie to her—”
“I won’t.”
“If you make her cry, I’ll hang your guts as a trophy in my studio.”
Andrea smiles lovingly at her husband.
Murder threats make her smile. Lovely.
His eyes search mine.
I don’t look away.
Finally, he releases my jacket and smooths the fabric back into place.
