“Well, I happen to think you’re very handsome.”

I smile back at the camera as my mom grins at me. Walking around the stables to meet Lena at her house, I hold out my phone so my mom can see me. The suit Lena ordered me is the most expensive piece of clothing I have ever worn. She even had a guy to come in to make sure everything fit me perfectly.

Guess I have to look like a million bucks if I’m going to be with her.

“Thanks, Mom. I hope she thinks so,” I mutter, and I hate how nervous I am.

But I don’t want to embarrass her.

“Oh, she will,” she gushes, her face still frozen in a huge grin. “So, things are good?”

My lips quirk as I look out in the field where the horses are grazing. Pip is out there, probably getting ready to bring them in, but even that distraction doesn’t keep me from thinking passionately of Lena. “Yeah, they are.”

“Did you talk to her? About what we discussed?”

“I did,” I answer, tucking my free hand into my pocket. It’s chilly. “We worked a lot of it out, but I think we’re ignoring a lot of it too.”

“How so?”

“She wants to deal with my leaving date later. And I don’t want to think of the fact that I’m about to go to a gala with a princess, when everyone thinks I’m basically the dirt on her heels.”

My mom makes a face. “Who thinks that?”

I shrug. “Everyone. I know her mom does.”

My heart clenches in my chest. I know Lena told her mom about us going together to the gala. She didn’t tell me what happened, but when she got to the pub last night, she looked really upset. I assume it didn’t go well, and that freaked me out. What if she’s started to realize she shouldn’t be with me? But it annoyed me when I thought like that. We still don’t know what will happen when I leave. And I’m over here worried if we’ll even stay together for the next few weeks. It’s pointless and makes me pathetic. I should just enjoy the time I have with her.

“That’s bullshit.”

I laugh. “It’s how it is around here. I’m not an idiot.”

“Still, I think if you guys are happy, what is the problem?”

“The problem is, she’s an O’Callaghan. I’m a Tremblay, and believe me, no one around here knows who that is. They also won’t accept that I’m Canadian and not American.”

She laughs at that. “Eh, screw them. Does she like you?”

My heart flutters in my chest. “She does.”

“And you like her, Jackson. Everything else will fall into place. Stop stressing.”

“I just want to be with her.”

“Then be with her.”

She makes it seem so simple. “What if it’s for nothing?”

“Oh, Jackson,” she says, shaking her head. “Loving someone is never for nothing, sweetheart. We learn from every experience, relationship, and heartache we go through. I hate your father, I do, but I don’t regret being with him.”

I didn’t even realize I had stopped dead in my tracks. “I loved him. He gave me you, and he made me stronger.” She watches me, a grin on her face. “So, no matter what happens, make sure that when you’re with her, you experience everything with her.”

My heart aches. “I love her, Mom.”

Her eyes soften as she draws in a shaky breath. “Oh, honey, then love fiercely. Because this life will end, and you don’t want to ever regret anything.”

Her words rock my core.

“Howya, Jackson.”

My head whips to the side to see Declan coming toward me. “Hey, um… Hey, Mom, let me call you back.”

“Sure, love you.”

“Love you,” I say before hanging up, tucking my phone into my pocket. “How’s it going?”

“It’s going. Full day of work, off to go for a ride.”

“It’s a nice night for it.”

He nods, looking out at the field. “You off to meet my sister?”

“Yeah, we’re going to that gala.”

“Yeah, I heard.”

What does that mean?

An awkward silence falls between us, but then he clears his throat. “Well, have a good night.”

I know he wants to say more, I can see it in his eyes, but instead of questioning him, I nod my head as I start toward the house. “You too, man.”

As we pass each other, though, he stops me. “Thank you.”

My eyes widen. “What?”

“I know she wouldn’t be where she is right now if you hadn’t been there for her in the way none of us could be. I’m forever in debt to you.”

I’m taken aback by his claim. “I didn’t do anything—”

“Ya did everything.”

My heart aches. “She means a lot to me.”

“I know, and you to her. So, please,” he pleads, his eyes boring into mine. “Don’t hurt her. She’s been through some really fucked-up shite, and for once, when she smiles, I know it’s real.”

He squeezes my arm softly before nodding his head, and I’m speechless. He hasn’t said but three words total to me the whole time I’ve known him, yet he just told me I’m the reason for Lena’s happiness.

I don’t want to ruin that happiness…though I’m worried I will.

Without another word, he heads toward the stables, leaving me to try to decipher what just happened. I didn’t think he would be against Lena and me being together, but I also didn’t think he would ever want me with her. Everyone has Lena on the highest pedestal.

As do I.

Taking into account what he said, along with my mom’s words, I find myself a bundle of nerves as I head toward the house. I want to love Lena fiercely, but how do I do that and not hurt her in the end. Especially when I don’t want it to end at all.

Why is this so hard?

With my heart in my throat, I walk toward the house, and when I round the corner, I find her at the top of the stairs.

I feel as if I’m going to pass out from her beauty.

“I almost thought you were standing me up!” she calls down to me, but I can’t move.

She stuns me.

Her black dress is long-sleeved and hugs her to her waist before flowing to the floor. The deep vee of the front dips to the right above her navel, showing off hints of her superb chest. The contrast of the black against her pale skin is striking. Her hair is down in huge curls, while her makeup is smoky and dramatic with a dark red on her plump lips. Diamonds drip from her like she was dipped in them, but even with every distraction of her gorgeous body, it’s her eyes that apprehend and imprison me.

“Holy fuck, Lena, really?”

Her plump lips purse as she walks slowly down the stairs. “What?”

“You’re gorgeous, and I’m supposed to keep my hands off you?”

She scoffs. “Who said anything about keeping hands off anyone?”

Coming to me, she cups my jaw in her hand before bringing me down for a lusty kiss. “I want to tear this suit off ya and have my way with ya—now. You’s a mighty fine man, Jackson Tremblay.”

But I can only shake my head. “I don’t even think I can hang with you.”

She rolls her eyes. “Shut it. I think we look great together. Heya, Tony.”

I look to where she has called to see a group of guys. Lena comes in close, setting her hand to my chest, and of course, I wrap my arm around her middle, looking down at her in awe. “Don’t we look grand together?”

A grin comes over Tony’s face. “Perfection, madam.”

“Told ya,” she says with a sneaky little grin. “I may not let ya take this suit off, ever.”

I grin down at her. “I want you out of that dress.”

“Naughty, naughty.” She laughs as she kisses my jaw before stepping away from me and going to Tony. “Take a photo, please?”

“Of course.”

When she turns, coming back to me, sashaying suggestively, I’m breathless. I reach for her, bringing her in as I gaze into her eyes. She sends me a grin before pressing her hand back to my chest and looking at the camera. But I can’t. I just want to look at her.

“Sir, right here.”

She looks up at me, laughing. “Stop staring at me!”

“You look like a princess.”

She rolls her eyes. “That’s the point. Now, look,” she says, smacking me. But when I look up to the camera, I can’t shake how much she looks like what she is.

A princess.

“There ya go,” Tony calls, bringing the phone back to her.

Lena takes it, squealing happily when her eyes fall on the photo of us. “Send it to yer ma?”

I look at the photo, and my heart catches.

We do look like we belong together.

Wow.

When my phone dings with a message, I know it’s the photo from Lena. My mom is going to freak. I chuckle at the thought as I nod. “Of course. She’ll love it.”

“She will!” she gushes, squeezing my hand.

“Ready?” Tony asks as Lena nods.

“Are ya ready?”

I’m not, but I nod before I kiss her temple. “If you are.”

“Yeah, let’s go. Thanks, Tony.”

She sends me a grin as Tony opens the door to the town car for us. I hold my hand out, taking her hand and helping her in before I get in too. I haven’t been in a town car before, but by the way Lena is moving around, pouring us glasses of whiskey, I know it isn’t her first time. Handing me a glass, she sits back as the car starts out of the drive.

Holding her glass out, she says, “To a wonderful night.”

I tap my glass to hers, and I hope she doesn’t notice that my hand is shaking. Shit, I need this drink. Taking a long pull, I feel her watching me as I hiss out a breath. “I swear the whiskey here is stronger.”

“That’s why we’re so rich,” she says with a wink, but I don’t laugh before I take another sip. “So, things aren’t so grand with my ma.” Her brows come in as she exhales quickly.

“Is she okay?”

“I mean, she’s yelling and being a damn pain, but my da told me she might not recover like we wanted.”

“Oh,” I say. As if I weren’t already nervous about the gala, now I have the knife in my chest from knowing that, in a month’s time, I’ll be gone.

And she’ll be here.

“She’s saying she’ll need me to stay a bit longer. So our trip to Dublin will need to wait.”

I swallow hard before taking another drink of my whiskey, downing my glass. “But the good thing is she’ll be better.”

“Yeah, true,” she agrees, and I feel her gaze burning into the side of my face. “I worry for her, though. She has lost a lot of control in her body.”

“From the tumor? Or them removing it?”

“I think both,” she says, letting out a long breath. “It’s scary.”

“It is,” I agree, but Lena’s fear is way different from mine.

I’m scared to lose her.

“Ah, Jacks, what the hell’s wrong?”

I sigh as I glance over at her. I can’t tell her. I don’t want to ruin our night. “Nothing.”

“Yer a damn liar. What’s wrong? Do you not want to go anymore?”

“No, I do,” I insist before setting my glass in the cupholder. “I’m just nervous.”

“Nervous about what?”

I reach for her hand, weaving our fingers together. “Like, how do I touch you? Do I just hold your hand? Can I talk to you? I mean, are there rules? Do I have—”

“Holy fucking hell, what is your problem, ya nut?”

I can’t help but grin. “I don’t want to embarrass you tonight.”

“You won’t. Jaysus, Jacks,” she laughs, squeezing my hand. “Hold me how ya want. Kiss me if ya want, and ya best talk to me because I don’t want to talk to anyone but you. Rules, fuck ’em. We’re there to support a good cause and to enjoy each other.” She holds my gaze, her eyes burning into mine. “I’m not the least bit nervous. If anything, I’m giddy with excitement. I’ve never been to one of these things with someone I want to be with.”

I bite my lip as I draw in a deep breath. “Really?”

“Uh, yeah,” she says, leaning into me and nuzzling her nose along the hair growing on my jaw. She demanded I not shave, and I think it was so she could do that. “And everyone will be so jealous that I’m with the Canadian lumberjack.”

A loud laugh leaves my lips. “I doubt that.”

“Ah, they will. ’Cause ya got the shoulders to carry me anywhere and take what ya want.”

My dick comes to life at the thought. I shake my head. “You drive me insane.”

“Grand,” she coos. “Yer wound too tight for nothing. This is just a fun night for us.”

“I know, but I just don’t—”

“No more of that,” she says, waving me off. “I have an idea.”

I eye her. “What?”

“Tony, the privacy screen, please.”

“Yes, madam,” he says, and I watch as it goes up, but Lena doesn’t. Instead, she sets her glass down, and when the screen clicks shut, she looks at me, a sly and devilish grin on her face.

“What are you up to?”

“Ah, you’ll see,” she murmurs before hiking her skirt up her thighs. I try to stop her, but she climbs between my legs, her knees hitting the floor before she stares up into my eyes. “I think ya need to come.”

When she starts to unbuckle my slacks, I stop her. “Lena, no way. You’re too pretty for all that right now.”

She blushes. “That’s sweet, but I feel ya would be relaxed.”

“No.”

She scoffs. “Ya can’t tell me what to do.” I try to block her, but she somehow undoes my slacks, and then my dick is in her hand. I hiss out a breath as she whispers, “I want ya in my mouth, Jackson.”

She moves her nail along the shaft of my dick. Of course, I’m hard as a rock. I’m pretty sure I stay that way around her. “But your makeup.”

“Will stay in place. Let me make ya feel good,” she says, and before I can even try to protest, she has me in her mouth. My eyes go half lidded as I watch her move her mouth up and down my shaft. Her eyes are shut, her lips plump, and they feel so good around my swollen dick. Squeezing me at the base, she speeds up the motion, making a loud popping noise when she gets to the top. My toes curl in my shoes as I grip the seats, small, soft moans leaving my lips as I watch myself disappear into her mouth.

I feel my orgasm building. My heart is pounding out of control, and sweat has broken out along my neck. But Lena moves up and down my dick like she isn’t dressed to the nines. When she takes me deep in the back of her throat, I let out a harsh moan as I buckle up, everything blowing up inside of me. If it didn’t feel so good, I would be embarrassed. She sucks me dry as my head falls back, and I’m heaving for breath as I look up at the roof of the town car.

“Feel better?”

I lift my head, watching as she wipes her mouth with a napkin. Her lipstick is gone, all over my dick, but I don’t think either of us cares. Reaching for her, I take her by the back of her arms, bringing her up and into my lap. She wraps her arms around my neck, pressing her nose against mine as she gazes into my eyes. “You are undeniably the most unreal woman I’ve ever met.”

Her eyes sparkle as she touches her lips to mine. “I don’t want to be with anyone but you, Jackson. Please don’t be nervous.”

I scoff. “Lena, the only thing I’m feeling right now is good. Fucking good.”

Her lips curve into a kitten-like grin. “And just think, there’ll be more when we get home.”

I squeeze her ass in my hands. “Promise?”

She licks my lips, nodding slowly, her eyes dark and teasing. “Promise.”

As I gaze into her eyes, I don’t know how someone can be as gorgeous as she is but absolutely destroy me the second she gets her mouth on me.

But then, that’s why I love her.

God, I love her so fucking much.

I gaze into her eyes, moving my thumb along her lip, and I don’t know how I’ll walk away from her.

But I’ll have to.