Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires, #3)(101)

He tucks his hands into his pockets. “Jane said you weren’t feeling well.”

“So?”

“So, I wanted to make sure my fiancée was okay.”

My eye twitches at my least favorite F-word. “Are you concerned I’ll cancel on tomorrow’s outing?”

“Should I be?”

“Nope,” I reply.

His eyes close. “Lily, I—”

I interrupt. “Are you here to talk about the election?”

“What? No. I’m here to talk about us.”

The sheer audacity of his statement makes me laugh. “Did you change your mind on leaving town if you lose?”

He looks away. “No.”

One word has never felt more devastatingly final before.

Do not let him see you break again, I remind myself.

“Then there is no us to talk about.” I readjust my mask and head back into the garage. “Goodbye, Lorenzo. See you tomorrow for our date.”

I should be happy when he heeds my request and leaves, but I want to fall apart once he’s gone. It’s frustrating, and I feel like I’m being torn in two directions, neither of which are best for me.

And if I’m not careful, I’m afraid I’m going to break for good, and nothing can fix me once that happens.




Since I can’t talk to my sister about my not-so-fake fake relationship, I turn to the only person who is both aware of my situation and also isn’t directly tied to Lorenzo.

When I texted Rafa asking if we could meet up, he didn’t try to figure out what was wrong. He told me to show up at his house whenever, so that’s how I find him in his barn fifteen minutes later.

“Thought you’d like to see the kittens again.” He opens the gate and lets me into the stall where the six of them are.

I take a seat on the floor across from him and grab the closest one, who happens to be the smallest of the bunch.

Neither one of us speaks right away, which is another thing I appreciate about Rafa.

Once I’m ready, I look up at him and say, “I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m here.”

“I think I can guess with one try.”

I don’t know whether to laugh or wince. “Is it that obvious?”

He lifts a shoulder. “I knew it was only a matter of time before Lorenzo screwed up. We all do.”

“Great. Not that it even matters, but I wish it happened a little sooner.”

“Like when? Before you fell in love with him?”

“I’m not in love with him,” I huff.

Rafa shoots me a pointed look.

“Okay, fine. I was falling in love with him, but only because I thought he felt the same way.” I cradle a kitten to my chest, needing the emotional support.

“What makes you think he doesn’t?”

“Because he pretty much said so.”

I go on to explain the conversation I had with Lorenzo, all while Rafa listens quietly, only asking a few follow-up questions when he needs further clarification.

“So he plans on moving away if he loses?”

“Yup.”

“Damn. I didn’t think his ego was that fragile.”

“That’s the thing. He has been fine living here with Mayor Ludlow in charge, but if Trevor wins, he has to move? It doesn’t make sense.”

“Has he been fine, though? Or has he made it seem that way because he hasn’t had any other choice right now while he’s been campaigning?”

I sit with his words and process them. “I… Actually, I don’t know.”

“Maybe you should ask him.”

“Why? It’s not like it’ll make a difference.”

“Maybe, maybe not, but wouldn’t you rather have all the facts?”

“So he can remind me all over again that he plans on leaving me? At this point, I’m asking to get hurt again.” My voice cracks.

Rafa comes over and pulls me into a hug. “He could still win. There’s still two months left.”

“It already feels like he’s given up,” I admit, thinking back to the way he sounded after the debate.

Rafa releases me from his embrace, and the kittens return to our laps. “It sounds like he’s jumping to the worst conclusion without any evidence.”

“I mean, it was a bad night.”

“From the little I heard this morning while grabbing coffee, it sounded like they both had some good points.”

“Really?”

“I mean, I didn’t hear much, but I wouldn’t count Lorenzo out yet, and he shouldn’t either.”

“Truthfully, I don’t know anymore. He and Trevor both looked terrible, so I’m not sure either of them won, but regardless Trevor definitely ended on a higher note than Lorenzo.”

“How so?” he asks.

“Trevor brought up Vittori Holdings. Used the sale of shares against him.” I explain the situation with the Nevada Sun article and how it made Lorenzo look beyond petty.

“If people did some basic research, they’d understand the kind of man Lorenzo’s uncle is and why Lorenzo walked away.”

“But what if they don’t?”

“Haven’t you been talking to one of the Wisteria Weekly reporters?”