“I’ve transferred your hours to another kitchen.”

“What?” A cold chill ripped up Lukas’ spine. This was the last thing he expected to hear. He thought when Star called him into her office that she had something else on her mind entirely. It all made sense now. She’d been avoiding him for the past few days, ever since that night at her apartment. He thought she was just shy. It was her MO to avoid him to deal with whatever was going on in her head. Clearly, she was much better at running away than even he gave her credit for. “What do you mean you’ve transferred my hours? I’ve done nothing but give you the space and time I figured you needed.”

Star’s shoulders sagged. She refused to meet his gaze. Instead, she cowered behind her desk like a frightened mouse. “There are plenty of good causes. Just like there are plenty of women. What we did wasn’t right. I’m not the right woman for you. I have the shelter and I have my dad and it’s all I want.”

Lukas nearly chocked. He had trouble reigning in the surge of anger that rushed hot through his veins. “That’s not what you said the other night.”

Star’s eyes snapped up to his face. She blushed and he was annoyed that all he could notice was how damn pretty she looked. She was the kind of woman who absolutely didn’t need makeup or a fancy hair do or even nice clothes. She was utterly gorgeous on the outside but it was her inner light that radiated through and made all the difference.

“The night out was nice,” Star admitted shakily. “This isn’t easy for me. What we did was nice but it wasn’t real. This isn’t real life. I’ve felt far too much already and I need it to stop because it’s only going to hurt us both when it doesn’t work out. Guys like you don’t end up with women like me.”

“I wish you would let us both decide that.”

“I can’t. I’m sorry.” Star blinked quickly. Lukas saw the pain shining in her eyes. He didn’t fully understand why she was doing this. He stepped forward, still hopeful that he might change her mind. He reached out but she took a hesitant step back, putting more of the desk between them.

“You need me, Star.” He hated how his voice shook. More like the other way around.

She shook her head vehemently. Strands of dark ebony hair flew about her face before settling back on her shoulders. “I don’t need anyone but my dad and this place. It’s been just him and I for the longest time and before that it was my mom and dad and I. I’ve made this my life work and I want it to be my life work. You don’t have a place in that.” Her eyes flashed with anger. She looked like she was searching for the perfect words to drive him away. “You wouldn’t understand that though would you? You probably don’t even know the meaning of family.”

Lukas grunted. Yup, she was trying to drive him away alright, he just didn’t fully understand why. She might be afraid but that didn’t really explain it. He leaned against the rough wooden desk, refusing to back down.

“You’re right. I don’t know the meaning of family. I grew up bouncing from foster home to foster home ever since I was a little kid. I never knew my birth parents or anything about them. I grew up hard and rough. When I was sixteen I went out on my own. I supported myself, made my own way, put myself through law school. I wanted to help other people. People like me or people who didn’t have a voice. Instead I became something else. I suppose that I should thank you, and everyone here, for showing me the path that I was always meant to follow. A path where humanity matters, a path of caring and understanding and not just money.”

Star’s face changed. All the hard edges smoothed out. Her eyes filled with sorrow and regret. Her lips wavered slightly, like she was on the verge of breaking down. “I’m sorry, Lukas. I just can’t. I’m happy that we helped you here and I really do wish you well in whatever you choose to pursue.”

Silence filled the office. It stretched on between them, the yawning void of distance growing ever wider with each passing second. Lukas finally nodded. He removed his hand from her desk, straightened and squared his shoulders. His chest ached. He felt sick to his stomach. His throat burned. He felt like he’d just been hit by a bus but he wasn’t giving up.

“I don’t understand why you think this can’t work. I’m sorry that you couldn’t let me choose or prove to you that it could. You’re the first woman that I’ve ever felt anything for, Star. You’ve changed me entirely. I know that if you were willing, we could be something great. I promise, whatever you think of me, that I would never hurt you. I would never fuck it up. I’m going to prove it to you. One way or another I’m going to win you back. Just like I won that date with you.”

Star offered a small, sad smile. “You can’t, Lukas. You just can’t. Now can you please just go?” She reached forward and slid a small white envelope across her desktop. “This is the address of your new place. I’m sure you’ll find that the people there are just as kind.”

“Not possible.” Lukas palmed the envelope. “I’m not giving up on us, Star. I thought you were willing to take a chance on us. I don’t know what changed your mind but I’m not going to let you go until I know full well that you mean what you’re saying right now.”

“I mean it.” Star’s voice trembled and Lukas was willing to bet that the words sounded hollow even to her own ears.

He knew there was no sense pushing her. He couldn’t change her mind overnight. He knew what hard work was. He knew what persistence was. He knew that whatever had happened, Star still looked at him the same way she always had. He didn’t miss the desire or the longing or the deep emotion seated just below that.

He couldn’t miss it because the answering emotion was embedded in his own heart.