“After my mother?” I ask in surprise.

She nods her head. “Yes, and Debra’s middle name is Anne, which sounds so good with Lara.” She rushes ahead saying, “I know you’d probably like to name her after Fae as well so if you don’t like it, then we can pick something else. I just thought it would be nice to name our daughter after the women who gave us life. Your mother had you, and Debra is my mother in every way that counts.”

“Lara Anne,” I manage to choke out of my suddenly tight throat. “I think it’s perfect, baby, and I know Fae will feel the same way. It’s a beautiful tribute to two amazing women.”

She takes my face in her hands, stroking it sweetly before saying, “I’d give anything for a McDonald’s cheeseburger right now.” Ah, sweet bliss. Sometimes I’m making love to my woman and sometimes I’m feeding her. And if I’m really a good boy, she shows her gratitude for the late-night food run in the most inventive of ways.

Chapter Nineteen

Lucian

I’m leaving the office when my phone chimes with an incoming text. I pause, seeing that it’s from Aidan.

“Can you stop by my place on the way home? Need to talk to you.”

“Something wrong?” I ask, feeling uneasy. He’s normally the type who calls rather than asks for a face-to-face.

“Cassie & Monique—big problem. When will you be here?”

“Fuck,” I bite off as I grab my jacket and briefcase. It was probably asking far too much that we have more than a few weeks of quiet before something else falls apart. “On my way now,” I text back as I leave. Sam took Cindy to an appointment, so they’re both already gone for the day. I make my way at a fast clip to my Range Rover and within fifteen minutes, I’m parking at the curb at Aidan’s apartment. He buzzes me up and has the door ajar, waiting for me when I step off the elevator. I shut it behind me, not seeing any sign of him. “Hey, man, where are you?” I call out as I walk through the foyer. I turn the corner into his living room before coming to a halt. Monique is standing in front of the fireplace not looking at all surprised to see me.

“Hello, Luc, glad you could make it,” she says smoothly.

The hairs on the back of my neck prickle as I ask, “Where’s Aidan?”

She studies her nails before giving me a smirk. “A few states away by now I’d think.”

I’ve never considered myself a slow man, but I’m baffled by what in the hell is going on. “He asked me to drop by—”

“I’m the one who sent you the text. Did you know you can call or text and make it look as if someone else did it? Technology is simply amazing these days.”

“What the fuck are you up to?” I snap, pissed I’ve been played.

She clicks her tongue. “Temper, temper. And here I was trying to be nice.”

“I’m out of here,” I spit as I turn to leave before she stops me in my tracks with her next words.

“Didn’t you ever wonder how Cassie found out you’d cheated on her?” I freeze, before whirling around. “Ah, finally I have your attention,” she sneers. “Have a seat and I’ll tell you all about it.”

Putting my hands on my hips, I try to figure out what her game is. “I see you’ve been chatting with your long-lost sister. What makes you think I give a shit what she’s had to say?”

Giving me a pitying look she says, “You know I really expected better from you of all people. You’re supposed to have some kind of wonder-boy IQ, yet you’ve never put the pieces together. In the beginning, it was funny, then after a while, it just annoyed me. I mean, how could I enjoy my revenge if no one fucking knew it?”

She’s beginning to sound like Cassie in one of her manic rages, which is unsettling. Apparently, they’ve been spending too much time together. “Listen, Monique,” I begin dismissively, “I have no wish to rehash the past.”

“No, goddammit, you’re going to hear me. I’ve waited for this moment for years and you’re not leaving!”

Holy fuck, do I just drive women off the deep end or something? Even though I’m not even slightly interested in anything she has to say, it seems easier to let her get it out so I can get the hell out of here. I walk over to an armchair and sit down in it, thinking that maybe she’ll relax if I’m not towering over her. “All right, I’m listening, Monique.”

My ploy appears to work and she calms almost immediately. “Good, Luc. Thank you. Would you care for something to drink?”

Is she for real? She’s managed to get me here by lying her ass off and now we’re having a cocktail party? “Er…no, I’m fine.”

She moves to perch on the edge of the sofa and folds her hands primly in her lap. “As I was saying, Luc,” she begins softly, “I’ve been waiting for some time for you to remember me. You see, we all went to college together.”

“I’m aware of that, Monique. I’m sorry, but I don’t recall ever meeting you there.”

Her face reddens and she takes a couple of deep breaths before once again giving me a pleasant smile that makes my skin crawl. Something is seriously off with her. “We had Psychology and U.S. Government together. I sat behind you in one class and beside you in the other. You always said hello to me,” she adds almost shyly. “I’d see you walking around campus with Cassie and you two looked like movie stars. You were nice though and she was mean. No matter how many times I tried to talk to her, she wasn’t interested. She even called me a loser and told me to get lost. Can you believe that?”