Saturday Snippet!!

Hello my beautiful peeps!! I’m in the final phases of Romantic Times Reader’s Convention and it’s been a zoo, but a FUN zoo!! Today was my first signing and it was incredible to meet readers and others who knew my stories! This was a whole new experience for me, as was getting my picture taken (notoriously camera shy!!), but I had a lovely time. That said, I’m very much looking forward to writing again, this business is not conducive to word counts!!

I’ve been debating what to post for this week’s snippet. I love this part but worried it was a spoiler, or that I was giving away too much by posting the whole bit. Then I thought: well heck, that’s PERFECT for a snippet right?! 😉

*~*~*

“My brother doesn’t deserve you.”

Lucas had completely ditched the British accent and false joviality. He sounded angry, and I glanced at him briefly. In my heart, I didn’t believe his words. Beneath the fake beard I saw the bruising and puffiness from his fight with Jeremiah. It hurt me to know I’d been the cause of more pain, and I looked back down at my hands.

“I’m sorry I caused this.”

I shook my head. “It wasn’t was your fault. I made all the decisions that brought me here.” I lifted one shoulder in a tired shrug. The sadness was creeping back, making me long for the numbness I’d felt before.

“No.” My response seemed to fire him up because he squirmed in his seat before looking at me again. His eyes darkened as he leaned into me. “You deserve so much better than this, better than anything our fucked up family can give you.”

“Oh Lucas.” The self-recrimination in his words touched off something inside me. I brought my hands up to his face and turned his head so we were eye to eye. I stroked the bruised sliver of exposed skin on his cheek, the false beard prickly against my thumb. “Somebody once told me we all have choices, even if they aren’t good ones. You’re worth so much more than this life you lead right now.”

The muscles beneath my palm clenched, and the sudden yearning in his eyes nearly undid me. “Let me stay with you,” he rasped, covering my hand with his own. “I’m a better man around you. I need…”

He trailed off as I shook my head sadly. “You’re already a better man, Lucas.” But I was done with the Hamilton family. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that, not now, but it was the truth. There was too much pain and history now to ever allow for a normal life if I chose to stay with either brother.

A woman’s voice echoed over the PA system, announcing my boarding for my flight. His fingers dug into the back of my hands as if to hold me in place, prevent me from leaving, then finally then slid down my arms and to his lap. I leaned forward and kiss his cheek. “I can’t be your absolution,” I whispered against his skin, wishing that there were some way to change that.