Descent From Grace: A Luxe Novella Book 1.5 Read Free Page B

hurt herself.” I’m not going to lie to her.
  “Ian!” she gasps and you have no idea how happy I am to see her concern. She’s been a Ferris wheel of emotions today, but this is the only one that is truly her.
      “I’m texting her sister.”
  “She’s not there?”
    I know I shouldn’t be smiling, but I’m relieved Lily’s still in there somewhere behind these muddled brown eyes I’ve been looking into all morning.
      “I guess not,” I huff and set my phone in the cup holder.
      “Should we go there? Or you, I mean?”
  “No, we’re having lunch with my dad.” I’m staring forward, hoping she doesn’t see my worry.
      “Ian, if she needs help, you need to be there.”
  “Lily, I don’t want my dad at the apartment. He’ll insist on coming up to see her.”
  “Then you go and I’ll go to lunch with your father.”
    I glare at her surprised. “You will?”
  “Yes. Apparently I’m an open book so there’s nothing I should be keeping from him. Which, by the way, thank you for opening that book without telling me.”
  “He won’t say anything.” It’s a stupid story how I accidentally came to tell my father I was marrying Lily but still dating Karen. I don’t want to think about it, but I know my father wouldn’t rat me out. “Will you please not look at my father with those eyes either?”
  “What?” She plays dumb.
      “If I weren’t there, Lily, you would have jumped on him.”
  “Oh my god, Ian!” She’s laughing because it’s true. “I would not fuck your dad.” Still with the laughter.
  “But you want to.”
  “Yes!” She laughs harder. “He’s very attractive, and damn him if he’s not a mirror image of a man I’m in love with.”
    I smile and look out the window, but it’s not really good enough. What if my dad seduces her? He’s a dog like that. I can regrettably say I wouldn’t be shocked.
    Taking my hand, she says, “I love you, Ian.”
    I press her hand to my lips and kiss her fingers then the wrist she maimed in the Luxe bathroom.
      “When can we get married?” I ask and when she looks at me, she’s no longer smiling.
    She yanks her hand away. “I don’t know, Ian. Can I just get through today? Through you going to take care of your girlfriend while I, your fiancée, has lunch with your father?”
    That shut me the hell up. Her insane mood swings are because of what I’m putting her through, and I know I can’t be upset about it. I just wish we could spend the night together and I can reassure her everything will be okay.
    She pulls up to valet and gets out, handing her keys over.
    I see my dad by the doors smoking and I turn to Lily. “I’ll be fast,” I say to her and she rolls her eyes.
      “Don’t.”
  “What?” I look at her, thinking maybe I shouldn’t go.
  “Don’t go there and rush, Ian. Fuck. If you want this to work can you please continue to act how you normally would with her? I’ll be fine with your father.”
I think I see her grin when she glances over at him, and fuck me, now I don’t want to go. She’s going to fuck my dad! She wouldn’t fuck my dad, but my dad would try and fuck her.
    I gotta get to Karen.
     
    *LUXE*
    Ian almost leaned in for a kiss, but stopped himself. “I’ll call you,” he said quietly and touched her hand.
    Expressionlessly looking up at him, she muttered, “I’ll be fine.”
      “This is a treat.” Ed grinned while escorting her inside. “We can get to know each other without the interruption of my son.” He stared at her like he wanted to get to know her well ; she sweetly smiled then nervously looked at the hostess seating them.
    After sitting, Lilith crossed her legs and looked over at him to observe how uncanny their resemblance was. 
      “You’re a very attractive woman, Lily. You’re going to be in high demand at Luxueux.”
  “Well that’ll make me some money, won’t it?” She smiled.
      “More than some.” His