Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
The pang expanded, encompassing my whole heart, squeezing until every beat ached under the pressure. My smile turned into a wince, and I swallowed down the lump rising in my throat. “She passed away when I was sixteen. So, I’d love your help.”
Grace’s hand flew to her mouth, and her eyes watered. “I am so sorry, Aspen. I had no idea. Lucian never even mentioned it.”
I choked on a laugh when she pursed her lips and glared in the direction he disappeared to, as if he would feel the judgment through the walls. “Thank you, and it’s okay that he didn’t say anything. I’m sure it didn’t come up, and talking about my dead mom isn’t the best conversation topic.”
Grace reached across the space between our chairs and rested her hand atop mine. The comforting warmth from earlier returned, softening the tight knot in my chest. “I’d love to hear about her and the plans you came up with.”
“Of course.” The words barely escaped around my building emotions. When was the last time someone asked me about my mom and the good memories we made? Grace was offering me a gift I didn’t know I needed. I thought about where to start and laughed at the first memory that came to mind. “It was silly, really. I’d go through my parents’ wedding album, pointing out my likes and dislikes. Of course, thirty years ago, there were a lot of things I disliked. Despite the occasional glare over my comments about why I would ever choose something so old, she never complained. She listened to every word and asked me what I wanted instead.”
A soft snort of amusement escaped her. “Oh, my goodness. I couldn’t imagine having that much patience.”
Grace laughed, winced, and held my hand through every story, never once making me feel like I was talking too much or wasting her time. She asked questions and sat with me as I recalled one happy memory after the next.
“She sounds like a wonderful mother,” Grace said, squeezing my hand before pulling back.
“She was.” I took a deep breath, finding it easier than it had been in a while to fill my lungs with enough air that didn’t leave me on the edge of suffocation.
“Lucian’s a lucky man to have found a woman like you.”
I wasn’t sure he’d agree, so I just smiled.
“I was worried about him and how he’d handle Felix’s death, but I’m glad to see he won’t be alone. He has a strong woman who will love him through it.”
Oh, god.
My smile slipped as she rubbed salt into my guilty wound. “I’ll try.”
“You know, I wasn’t sure he’d ever let anyone else in after his divorce,” Grace started.
I froze, striving for a placid expression that held the right amount of interest to keep her going, but not too much that would alert her to the fact that I knew nothing about his first marriage—that I barely knew anything about Lucian at all. I probably should have stopped her, but curiosity won out, leaving me eager for every bit of information she’d share.
“His ex…I worried she had broken his ability to love. He’d changed so drastically from the man who dreamed of having a family with an army of kids and a wife he adored to the man he is now. One who isolated himself from the opportunity of love and focused his whole life around business.”
Thankfully, Grace focused on her glass of wine because no amount of control could have kept my jaw from falling open. Lucian wanted an army of kids? He wanted a wife he adored? None of the information matched the cold, stoic man who claimed he would never fall in love and called kids complications.
“He wanted to be like his father—a good businessman, but a better father and husband. He talked about putting his family first over work and retiring early so he could travel the world with his wife.” She paused, and her brows pinched in thought. “Part of me wonders if he ever truly let that dream go.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, on the edge of my seat.
“For starters, his apartment. It’s huge.” She rolled her eyes. “He claims he needs it to entertain business associates and host various events, but I haven’t seen him host a party in years.”
“I actually plan on hosting one this weekend.” Lucian’s voice cut through the room, smooth and unreadable, giving nothing away about what he thought of catching us discussing him.
I jerked, finding him leaning against the wall with his arms crossed just inside the room. How had I missed him there? How long had he been there? How much had he heard? My cheeks heated, and I avoided his gaze like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
“Oh, really?” Grace asked doubtfully, unashamed of being caught talking about him.