Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires, #3)(93)

I slump against the chair, and Lily releases me with a soft huff. If I was a gentleman, I’d offer her my pocket square, but I clean her chin with the pad of my thumb and smear it across her bottom lip.

Her tongue darts out, cleaning the mess I made before she leans forward and wipes my cock clean with the flat of her tongue.

I’m too blissed out right now to assist her, so she helps me by fixing my boxers and pants before redoing my belt. No one would suspect anything, and if they did, it’s only because I’m unusually calm.

She looks up at me like she didn’t make me come in three all-too-short minutes. If she didn’t look impressed with herself, I’d be embarrassed because when have I ever come that fast in my entire life?

“Feeling better?” she asks.

“Yes. Impossible not to after that.”

Her beaming smile is the only reply I get.

“Thank you,” I say, my cheeks flushing because why the hell am I thanking her?

She giggles as I help her rise from the floor, which only makes my reaction worse. Not that she seems to care since she brushes the tip of her finger down the side of my face with a smile. “Aw. You’re embarrassed.”

“Shut up.” I stand and button my blazer to give myself something to do.

“Is it because you came in less than three minutes?”

I’d walk away if I didn’t enjoy her proximity so much.

She fixes my already perfect tie before leaning in, her mouth a few inches from mine. “Don’t worry. I like knowing that you couldn’t help yourself because it felt that good.”

“Understatement of the century.”

She kisses me softly, her lips ghosting mine. I don’t want her to let go, so I deepen the kiss, tasting myself on her tongue.

I allow myself one minute to enjoy her company before I pull away, not wanting to get riled up again before I head into the debate.

Lily offers me a reassuring smile. “You’re going to do great out there.”

“People like him.” While I’ll never relate to the feeling, I can admit that about Trevor.

She still thinks I’m doing all this for the greater good of the town, which wasn’t my original reason for running, but it’s quickly become a main one—right after helping save Rose & Thorn.

“So what if they like him? That doesn’t make him the best choice for mayor.” She smooths out an invisible wrinkle on my shirt. “You are, and it’s time you show everyone out there why that is.”





CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR


Lorenzo


After one last look at the clock, I remove my hands from my pockets and plaster on an approachable smile as I walk through the gymnasium doors. I step onto the makeshift stage located in the middle of the court, where Trevor Ludlow is already seated.

It takes an incredible amount of willpower to take a seat beside him knowing that he is here because he wants to take up his father’s mantle, all while he put mine six feet underground.

Does he feel guilty when he sees me—the only child of two innocent people he accidentally killed—or does he pretend it was all a bad dream? His drunken memory of that night’s events is probably hazy at best, although the same can’t be said about his father, who was sober and all too willing to cover up the crime to protect his son.

Trevor reaches over and offers me his hand. I stare at it before putting on my well-worn mask and shaking hands with my parents’ killer. As I give him a firm squeeze, I dream of crushing all twenty-seven bones while he smiles at me like a human version of a golden retriever.

His father sits proudly near one side of the gymnasium, smiling at his murderous son like he’s the greatest gift on Earth. I suppose Trevor is a godsend when compared to Mayor Ludlow’s other son, Richard, who sits beside him and looks like he’s suffering from hemorrhoids.

Willow steps into my direct line of sight and tugs on her ear, giving me the signal to look more approachable.

I suppose staring at the Ludlow family with bloodlust doesn’t give people the warm fuzzies, so I school my features and focus on the other bleachers full of townspeople. After a quick pass over the crowd, I turn my gaze to the woman who steals my attention every time we’re in the same room.

Lily, who is sitting with her sister and mom, smiles and throws me two thumbs-up. The way she and the Lopez family are here to support me curbs any remaining negative feelings I have about sharing the same air as the man who killed my parents.

Tonight’s moderator is a woman I recognize as the principal of the elementary school, Mrs. Singer. She steps up to the microphone that the townspeople will use to ask questions and addresses everyone. “Welcome to our first ever mayoral debate!”

That statement alone is questionable because how has this town been around for over a hundred years yet never had a competitive mayoral race?

“Since this is all very new, please be patient with us while we go over the rules.” Mrs. Singer reviews the expectations, including silence from everyone unless they’re chosen to ask a question at the microphone, before turning to face Trevor and me.

“Each candidate will have two minutes to answer a question and one minute for a follow-up rebuttal. A coin toss will determine who goes first, and we will switch off from there.”

Without further ado, Mrs. Singer calls on the first person to come up to the microphone.