keeping from you too. We have the opportunity to be completely honest. Don’t we owe each other that?”
Despite his better judgement, he paused. “What things?” Did she already have a boyfriend? A husband?
To Lucas’s surprise, she took his hand and lifted it with cool fingers. He heard the soft rustle of fabric, felt a whisper of the softest silk, and then she placed his hand, palm down on her flesh. He almost jerked away in surprise, but she pressed down, holding him in place.
“I’ve been hiding these,” she whispered.
Curious, he stroked his fingers up and down her skin, feeling strange welts and lumps, and tiny indentations. What was he touching? “I have scars too, Lucas. And everyone can see mine.”
Chapter Thirteen
Natalie stood there in the sunshine, Lucas’s warm palm pressed to her forearm, and waited for him to speak.
Sarah broke the silence. “Up to you, Luc. What do you want to do?”
If he said no, Natalie would never forgive herself. It took the longest time, but he sighed eventually. “One coffee.”
“Should I come?” Sarah’s sharp words made it clear she was still not happy at his decision.
“No, I’m good. Thanks. I’ll ring you when we’ve finished.”
Natalie felt light-headed with relief.
“I’ll take Molly.” Lucas turned to his sister, so similar in looks, and gave her a faint smile. “Thanks, sis. You’re the best.”
Sarah gave her brother a hug and then left them alone.
Natalie wondered where to start. Coffee, she decided. “I haven’t been to Wellington for a few years. Is there a café somewhere close? I need to sit down and rest my ankle.”
“Yeah. We’ll go to Eddie’s.” He gave Molly’s harness a gentle tug. “Eddie’s, Moll.” The dog immediately nudged Lucas in the leg and set off at a slow walk. “She’s in training, and we’re still getting used to each other.”
The gentle pace suited Natalie just fine. Her ankle throbbed, little sparks of pain shooting up her leg, and she didn’t think she could walk much further. She felt relieved when Molly stopped and gave a short bark.
The waterfront café was small but had a vacant table in a patch of dappled sunlight, and Natalie sank gratefully onto one of the seats. Lucas sat opposite her. She picked up a menu and pretended to scan the options, while sneaking a look at him. He sat up straight on his chair, tension evident in his taut arms and tight jawline. The relaxed guy from half an hour ago had vanished.
He turned to face her. “The mochas are good here. And they do excellent pain aux raisin .”
It felt like a peace offering, and Natalie felt a shard of hope. They placed their orders and sat in silence again. She’d asked him for honesty. Perhaps she ought to lead the way.
*
Lucas wasn’t sure why he’d agreed to talk to Natalie. Just when had he developed such masochistic tendencies? He resolved to be polite and then walk away with his dignity largely intact.
“I can’t stand it when people pity me.” Her voice broke into his thoughts, mirroring them. “They try not to stare, but they can’t help it. Now I wear long sleeves all the time.” She sounded matter of fact, and he imagined her shrugging, as if she didn’t care. “I was driving when we had the accident. We were going to an exhibition in Nelson, on the South Island.” He heard her take a quick breath. “A drunk driver took the bend too wide, and pushed us off the road.” There was a long pause. “I was trapped in the car with my parents, and I knew they were dead. They had to cut me out.”
He couldn’t stand the pain in her voice. Without even thinking about it, he stretched his hand across the table, groping for hers. He squeezed her fingers when he found them. “I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine how that must have been.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t move her hand away, and so Lucas kept hold of it. “I’d been with Phil for nearly two years, and we were on the verge of buying a house
Despite his better judgement, he paused. “What things?” Did she already have a boyfriend? A husband?
To Lucas’s surprise, she took his hand and lifted it with cool fingers. He heard the soft rustle of fabric, felt a whisper of the softest silk, and then she placed his hand, palm down on her flesh. He almost jerked away in surprise, but she pressed down, holding him in place.
“I’ve been hiding these,” she whispered.
Curious, he stroked his fingers up and down her skin, feeling strange welts and lumps, and tiny indentations. What was he touching? “I have scars too, Lucas. And everyone can see mine.”
Chapter Thirteen
Natalie stood there in the sunshine, Lucas’s warm palm pressed to her forearm, and waited for him to speak.
Sarah broke the silence. “Up to you, Luc. What do you want to do?”
If he said no, Natalie would never forgive herself. It took the longest time, but he sighed eventually. “One coffee.”
“Should I come?” Sarah’s sharp words made it clear she was still not happy at his decision.
“No, I’m good. Thanks. I’ll ring you when we’ve finished.”
Natalie felt light-headed with relief.
“I’ll take Molly.” Lucas turned to his sister, so similar in looks, and gave her a faint smile. “Thanks, sis. You’re the best.”
Sarah gave her brother a hug and then left them alone.
Natalie wondered where to start. Coffee, she decided. “I haven’t been to Wellington for a few years. Is there a café somewhere close? I need to sit down and rest my ankle.”
“Yeah. We’ll go to Eddie’s.” He gave Molly’s harness a gentle tug. “Eddie’s, Moll.” The dog immediately nudged Lucas in the leg and set off at a slow walk. “She’s in training, and we’re still getting used to each other.”
The gentle pace suited Natalie just fine. Her ankle throbbed, little sparks of pain shooting up her leg, and she didn’t think she could walk much further. She felt relieved when Molly stopped and gave a short bark.
The waterfront café was small but had a vacant table in a patch of dappled sunlight, and Natalie sank gratefully onto one of the seats. Lucas sat opposite her. She picked up a menu and pretended to scan the options, while sneaking a look at him. He sat up straight on his chair, tension evident in his taut arms and tight jawline. The relaxed guy from half an hour ago had vanished.
He turned to face her. “The mochas are good here. And they do excellent pain aux raisin .”
It felt like a peace offering, and Natalie felt a shard of hope. They placed their orders and sat in silence again. She’d asked him for honesty. Perhaps she ought to lead the way.
*
Lucas wasn’t sure why he’d agreed to talk to Natalie. Just when had he developed such masochistic tendencies? He resolved to be polite and then walk away with his dignity largely intact.
“I can’t stand it when people pity me.” Her voice broke into his thoughts, mirroring them. “They try not to stare, but they can’t help it. Now I wear long sleeves all the time.” She sounded matter of fact, and he imagined her shrugging, as if she didn’t care. “I was driving when we had the accident. We were going to an exhibition in Nelson, on the South Island.” He heard her take a quick breath. “A drunk driver took the bend too wide, and pushed us off the road.” There was a long pause. “I was trapped in the car with my parents, and I knew they were dead. They had to cut me out.”
He couldn’t stand the pain in her voice. Without even thinking about it, he stretched his hand across the table, groping for hers. He squeezed her fingers when he found them. “I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine how that must have been.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t move her hand away, and so Lucas kept hold of it. “I’d been with Phil for nearly two years, and we were on the verge of buying a house
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