“I’m not one for the small town life, Lance.You know that.” Andrea flipped her hair behind her shoulders.
“If you give it a chance, it might work.” Headded.
“Why can’t you give the city a chance?”Andrea released her grip on his hand.
Chantelle pulled at her skirt, avoiding eyecontact with them as they debated. Didn’t they discuss this before?The wedding was two weeks away.
“There’s nothing wrong with the city life,and there’s nothing wrong with Delta Heights. I like it here. It’smy home.”
“It is a great community,” Chantelle said.She didn’t know if it was a good idea to diffuse the situation, butshe didn’t want to lose control of the interview. “Low crime rate,amazing schools, and a bakery that makes the best cinnamon rollsyou’ve ever tasted.”
Both Lance and Andrea stared at her. Drawingback on the sofa, Chantelle lowered her gaze to her tablet.Twisting her lips, she wanted to disappear.
“You grew up here?” Andrea asked.
Chantelle met her gaze. “Yes, I…” She lookedover at Lance. “I grew up here before leaving for college.”
Andrea gestured between Chantelle and Lance.“You knew each other before?”
Lance ran his hand down his face. “Yes. Wegrew up here… together.”
Andrea looked back and forth between the twoof them. “Were you two friends?”
Chantelle swallowed.
Lance clasped her hand. “Chantelle and I kneweach other in high school.”
Chantelle tilted her head to the side. Hedidn’t tell Andrea about them? They were more than friends. She washis wife. The mother of his child.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Andrea asked. “Thatwould have been nice to know.”
“It was years ago,” Chantelle said. She hopedher voice didn’t sound cold, but Lance brushing off their past madeher pulse thump.
“Did you two date?” Andrea gestured betweenthem.
Lance stood and faced her. “Let’s talk aboutthis in private.” He looked over at Chantelle. “Do you mind?”
She reached for her recorder and tablet,stuffing them back inside her bag. “No problem.”
Chantelle hurried to the door. Would Andreawant another reporter to finish the story? She would. What sanewoman would want her fiancé’s ex-wife lurking around?
Chapter 22
“What was that?” Andrea asked, herexpression pinched.
“I told you the reporter was a native.” Lanceexplained.
“Yes, but you didn’t tell me you grew up withher or that you used to date. Why did you keep that from me?”
“Because it was a long time ago. I’m marryingyou, aren’t I?”
She crossed her arms. “Are you? You won’teven move to be with me. Now I find out your ex-girlfriend is… waita minute… she’s been here this whole time?” She pointed to him.“You’re having second thoughts about us, aren’t you?”
“Andrea, let’s not get into that.” He stalkedoff to the kitchen, but she followed.
“You’re telling me that there’s nothingbetween you two?” She asked.
Why did his stomach tingle? Heat further rosebehind his eyelids. He opened his mouth to answer, but Andreacontinued.
“I don’t know. She seems nice, but I couldn’thelp but wonder...”
“Wonder what?” Why did his pulseincrease?
“If she’s over you. I know you said highschool, but you’d be surprised how women can carry a torch for aman.”
Lance wouldn’t do it. He wouldn’t go there.“I think she was nervous in interviewing you.”
Andrea exhaled, tapping her fingers on thekitchen island. “I just keep thinking...”
“What?” He faced her.
She shrugged. “You’ve told me about your pastand that you were married before. You told me you dated around, Ijust didn’t expect to see one of your exes here. It felt...awkward.”
Lance wanted to reassure her, but that wouldrelease all the skeletons in his closet. He breathed easier whenChantelle didn’t mention their brief marriage. She could have. Itwas the perfect opportunity to bash him to Andrea. How he left herat the hospital after losing their child.
Lance rubbed at his forehead.
“I haven’t made the situation better.”Andrea’s expression softened. “Have I?”
His body relaxed, and he extended his arms toher. She hurried to him and he hugged her tight. “No. I wasn’thonest.” He wasn’t truthful now. Inwardly, he winced. Why was thepast still so painful? “I don’t want you doubting.”
She stroked his back. “I trust you,Lance.”
His heart pounded. He wouldn’t start theirmarriage with lies. “Babe, I need to—”
She drew back and pressed her fingers to hislips. “I don’t want to know. Not now. I just want to enjoy beingwith you.”
“But I—”
She shook her head. “No, Lance. Please? I’drather not right now.”
Lance sighed and cupped her face in hishands. “I am glad you’re here.”
She gave a faint smile. “Me too.”
Dropping his hands from her face, he added.“If you want me to, I can request another reporter. I can assureyou though, Chantelle is a professional.”
“It’s too close to the wedding to think likethat.” Andrea scratched at her arms.
“Are you okay?” He asked.
A giggle escaped her lips. “We’re gettingmarried.”
Lance bobbed his head. “It doesn’t seemreal.” He placed his hands on top of her shoulders. “How about wehave dinner tonight? You and me. No reporters and no cameras. Wecan even turn off our phones.”
Her eyes widened. “I can’t take a selfie? Ihave to at least post something on Instagram.”
“I think we need a break from all themedia.”
“Well… I would, Babe.” She groaned. “Ipromised I would have dinner with your mother.”
He blinked. “What?”
Andrea bit at her bottom lip. “She said shewants to get to know me better as her future daughter-in-law. Thismay be our only chance to talk between the wedding and us leavingfor the honeymoon. Not to mention work. I have meetings that I’veagreed to do online.”
Lance’s shoulders drooped. “Did she pressureyou? I haven’t talked to her yet, but—”
She touched his face. “It’ll be fine. I canhold my own with your mother.”
“Tomorrow night then. You and me. Noexceptions.”
“Agreed.”
***
Chantelle laced her fingers back and forth.She still berated herself for hinting at her past with Lance. Thenagain, why didn’t he tell Andrea about them? Were there someunresolved feelings that he didn’t want his fiancé to know about?Chantelle could hope, but she wouldn’t let her mind go there.
Why stay and torture herself? Her feelingsfor Lance were stronger than ever. Watching him sit across from herwith Andrea tore at Chantelle’s insides. How she wanted to
