Read Secret (Peters Junction Series Book 1) Page 35
When they arrived home on Friday afternoon, April got a call from Karen to say the police had been to see her. As they’d discussed, she’d put them in touch with her lawyer in Jamestown.
“You okay?” Lachlan asked when she’d hung up.
“Yes,” she nodded with a sigh. “One way or another, I just want all this to be over.”
“I know,” Lachlan said, pulling her into his chest and massaging the back of her neck. It felt so good having his hands on her. She pressed herself into him and ran her fingers up his back.
“Marie and Ben haven’t returned from Magnetic Hill yet,” he whispered against her cheek. Instead of responding she allowed her fingers to slide down his body until they reached his hand, then she tugged him towards her bedroom.
Later, as she lay with her head against his chest and the blankets pulled high over her shoulders, she breathed in deeply and allowed herself to relax in his arms. Just as she began to doze off, his voice rumbled beneath her cheek.
“I’m going to cancel my flight to LA next Friday.”
“What? No!” She sat up quickly, drawing the sheet around her as she did.
“I was only going to attend an awards show and do a couple of interviews. It’s nothing that I can’t get out of and I’d rather be here with you.” His tone suggested he’d already made up his mind.
“No Lachlan,” she said again.
“Why not?” The now familiar frustration had entered his voice. The same frustration he always got when she said no without giving an explanation.
“When I spoke to Karen, she said some reporters had been in contact with her. She didn’t tell them anything but she said it probably wouldn’t be long before they followed the police here.”
“So?” A deep frown creased his brow.
“So, if you’re here when they arrive, we’ll become national news in a heartbeat and you’ll be bombarded with reporters trying to get a comment and digging into our personal lives.”
“April, I’m already a part of this.” He sat up beside her. “Don’t forget I was also in that video with Samantha. Anthony and my PR reps have been fielding calls about this for over a week. Why are you still trying to push me away?” She’d seen him angry before, but this time it was different. This time she wasn’t trying to make him angry so he’d leave her. The last thing she wanted was for him to go.
“I’m not trying to push you away.”
“Yes you are!” he said angrily. “When are you going to understand that I want to be with you? I want to be there for you! No matter what. I don’t care about the bloody media. I don’t care about the paparazzi. I don’t care about any of that crap. I care about you.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered when he stopped. She ran her hand over his chest and up his neck until she cupped his cheek. She could feel his jaws clenched tightly beneath her fingers. “You’re right. I’m sorry,” she said again and let out a relieved breath when he relaxed slightly.
“I’ve always handled everything by myself. I’ve never had anyone there to support me. It’s hard to get used to. I don’t want to push you away. I want you with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere, April.” He drew her into his arms and tilted her head so he could meet her eyes. “I will always be here for you.”
“Always?” she murmured, mesmerised by his sapphire gaze.