“Emily is engaged to Grissett’s right-hand man. All I need to do is drop out of the race, and this will be over. No one will care who you are or about your past. They only care because of me.”

I reached out to cup her cheek as I stared into her anguished eyes, swimming in tears.

“Don’t leave me, Lucy. I’ll fix this.”

CHAPTER 19

~ Lucy ~

Leaving and going to California, although tempting, wasn’t what I wanted. I’d run away once already, and that was plenty for me. The thing was, my past was just that—mine. I couldn’t hide from it, nor could I shield myself from the scrutiny that came with it. However, I could protect those I loved from getting hurt in the process.

“I’m not leaving.” My attempt at sounding strong must have been futile because Drake looked at me like his dog just died. I wrapped my arms around him. “I’m not, Drake. I love you too much.”

His arms tightened around me, and as usual when I was with him, I felt safe and protected, even though the only one who could protect me was myself. There was no way I was taking my friends down with me. To think of the Prescotts being bombarded by reporters was enough to make my stomach lurch.

Mason glanced between us and sighed, then walked toward the front door. “Lucy, I’m going to take off. I’ll call you before I leave. Please think about what I said. Getting away may be exactly what you need. It doesn’t have to be permanent.”

Giving him a wan smile, I shook my head. “Thank you, but I don’t want to run. You and I both know that there are certain things that you can’t hide from. I’m just sorry you had to deal with all of this.” I got up and hugged him good-bye. “Please take care of yourself, and if I need a break, I promise I’ll come visit you.”

Mason shot a hard glance at Drake as he left, and they didn’t exchange good-byes before the door closed behind him.

“Do you want me to leave too?” Drake peered at me, his eyes so caring as they bored into mine, and I couldn’t let him go.

“No. I need you here, but it’s late and I understand if you need to leave.” Although I said those words, in my head, I begged him not to leave. Please don’t go. Please don’t go . . .

“I’ll never leave you,” he said softly, and pulled me back into his arms. “But it’s late, and you should get some sleep.”

“Come with me?” I mumbled against his chest. “Please, I need to be in your arms tonight.”

Drake followed me into my bedroom after I locked the front door and flipped off all the lights. We stripped to our underwear and lay on the bed, facing each other, but not as a precursor to sex this time.

I pillowed my face on my hands, not wanting to talk, but I could sense the gears turning in his head. The moonlight angling in through the blinds emphasized the stress lines that had formed above his eyes.

“What are you thinking about?” I whispered as I linked my fingers with his. “Please, Drake, tell me.”

He reached out to brush back my hair from my face, his voice low. “How much your life has changed since I walked into your classroom not so long ago. I’ll never forget that day. When I saw you, I practically forgot my own name. Then the way you handled your class, it was a huge turn-on for me. You have such a way with them. We need more teachers like you, and now the school administrator has reporters calling him.” His eyelashes laid flat on his cheeks before he opened his eyes again. “I didn’t realize Mason was moving.”

“He was offered a coaching position at UCLA. It’s a great opportunity for him, but I’ll miss him very much. I honestly can’t imagine not seeing him every day.”

“He’s a good guy.” Drake’s eyes dimmed. “I can see how much you mean to each other.”

I smiled. “He’s the best. I’m really sorry he yelled at you. He was just upset.”

“And he has every right to be. You did so much to protect yourself, and he’s been right there with you. Then you meet me, and I had to go and fall in love with you.” Drake winked, and his dimple that I loved faintly appeared, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I won’t apologize for how I feel about you, but I am sorry for thrusting you into the public eye.”

“I don’t want you to apologize. You see, when I met you, I just had a feeling. Yes, your charm and good looks instantly won me over, but your heart is what I fell in love with. It didn’t take me long to know you were a great man. And it wasn’t because of things I’d read or pictures I’d seen of you helping others, but because of what’s in here.” I placed my hand over his heart. “Everything else is just a bonus.”

Drake placed his hand on my cheek and stared into my eyes. “You, Lucy Washburn, are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” His fingers ran up and down my arm from my wrist to my shoulder. “Can I ask you a question?” he asked, and I nodded. “Why Lucy? What made you pick that name?”

Thinking back, I couldn’t help but grin. “I wanted a name that when I heard it, would make me happy. When I was really young, my grandmother and I would watch I Love Lucy reruns. After she passed away, I watched them to remember her and the good times we had. So, when I filed the papers for a name change, I picked Lucy with the hope . . . never mind. It’s silly.”

“Tell me.”

“I always hoped that I’d fall in love and when someone said they loved me, I’d be reminded of all the good times rather than the bad. Plus, if they ever told someone how they felt about me, I’d hear, ‘I love Lucy.’”

Drake nodded. “And Washburn?”

“Those were for my bad memories,” I said with a shrug. “I just wanted to wash away all the bad things in my past and burn them so I didn’t ever need to think of them again.”

“Thank you for sharing that with me.” Drake rolled to his back and I nestled against his side. “I love you, Lucy.”

I moved my hand from his chest until I reached the waistband of his boxer briefs, then I slid it lower until my palm rested on his hardened shaft. I needed him, so I slipped off my panties and straddled his hips, noting idly that the V in his muscles was like an arrow directing me to where I wanted to be.

Before he reached for a condom, I said, “I’m on the pill.”

Our gazes locked, and we let our eyes do all the talking. I lowered his shorts until he was naked and bobbing between my legs. Then I sat up straighter, and with my hands on his ribs and his on my hips, I rocked back and forth, spreading my wetness over him.

No foreplay, no words, just us.

Leaning forward, I positioned him so I was able to slide onto his hardness. He groaned, and his fingers tightened on my skin. Rolling my hips, I shifted until he was in me as deeply as I could get him, never breaking eye contact. We were skin on skin, which we’d never done together before, but I was protected and I trusted him. The feeling was borderline surreal.

Our bodies knew what the other needed. When I moved my hips and leaned back, he brought his thumb to my clitoris and applied just enough pressure that had me moaning. Meanwhile, I reached back and ran my fingertips along the underside of his balls. Drake immediately sat up, bringing us chest to chest. My legs wrapped around his torso as we continued to make love to each other.

With his hand fisted in my hair, he pulled me closer and pressed his lips to mine. Our tongues mimicked our bodies as they pushed and swirled around each other. Between his taste, his hard chest pressing against my breasts, and the feeling of complete fullness, my orgasm that had been building unleashed with full force. Bright spots danced under my eyelids as I pulsed and tightened around him.

“You’re so beautiful when you come. Give me another one, Lucy.” His lips closed on my right breast, and his teeth gently grazed my nipple while his fingers pinched my left one.