Love Unwritten (Lakefront Billionaires, #2)

by Lauren Asher

Rafael handpicked most of these items himself but gave Nico all the credit.

I always thought Rafael was too stuck in his own head to notice little details, but he keeps proving me wrong. So very, very wrong.

Rafael doesn’t only pay attention. He cares.

Sorry it’s not Xanax, but you can still hold my hand.

“Do you like my dad?” Nico asks in a singsong voice. “Because he likes you.” Ellie’s eyes collide with mine. “He said that?” Nico lets out a puff. “Well, no, but he said you’re pretty.” Her cheeks flush. “He’s never said anything to me.” “He’s shy.” Nico fails to keep his voice at a whisper. “Not true,” I say. “Just a coward then?” Ellie’s eyes spark with quiet challenge. If she wants me to call her pretty, then I’ll do just that, but later, when my son isn’t present to hear what else I have to say.

My mind and body are at war with one another, with my head warning me away from getting close to Ellie, while my hands itch to hold her and never let go. It’s a battle, wanting someone to the point of pain yet knowing it can’t happen for a multitude of reasons.

“That you looked so damn gorgeous, it physically hurt me to look at you because I knew you could never be mine.”

“I got a vasectomy when I found out about Nico’s condition.”

“One day, when you find the one you’ve been looking for, he better do everything in his power to keep you because you deserve the kind of love that they write songs about.”

“Please tell me you didn’t do this all for me.” “Okay. I won’t.” Nico grins. “But he did!”

“It’s true! He didn’t want you to be scared about the plane.”

Twenty-four hours on a yacht with Rafael and Nico sounds like a fun expedition, so what could possibly go wrong? If I had to guess, based on the way Rafael keeps looking at me when he thinks I am not paying attention, the answer is simple. Everything.

He shakes his head, and I spend the next few minutes looking around for something white before choosing something that is pale yellow. “The deck chairs?” “Yes! Finally!” My chest twinges again. I’m not sure how to continue our game, especially given Nico struggling to differentiate between similar-looking colors. If Ellie were here, she would say something to lighten the mood and make me feel better.

“Someone who cares about me so damn much, they would do everything possible to protect me rather than hurt me, and I’m quickly coming to realize you’re not that man. At least not with me.”

“What if I wanted to be that man? For you?”

“If you find me using too much tongue, it better be while my head is between your legs.”

Rafael Lopez kisses me like he was born to. Like his lips were created to perfectly match the shape of mine.

It isn’t a soft claiming but rather a full-blown takeover of my mind and body.

My girl

“I know you may not want to be her friend, but unless you’re ready to be more, that may be the best you’re ever going to get.” The idea of Ellie and me remaining friends doesn’t sit right. “I don’t like it.” “I didn’t expect you to, but it’s the truth. You pushed her away, so now you have to find a way to draw her back.” “How?” “Be her friend. Let some of your walls down. Give her a fighting chance to earn your trust, and I’m sure she’ll let you do the same.”

I’m going to figure out who I am and what I want in life, so the next time Ellie gives me a chance—and she will—I won’t throw it away. I’ll make sure of it.

Whatever he wants, he can have it, so long as he never stops kissing me like this.

In his arms, I forget about the world around me and allow myself to feel. His adoration. My desperation. And the hope blossoming in my chest like a weed with roots that never seem to end.

He marks my skin with invisible tattoos in the shape of his lips.

“You put up a great fight, but you don’t have to battle those demons alone anymore.”

“Mi estrella.”

“A pretty flower for a stunning woman.”

“You clean up nice, Prom King.” His narrowed eyes travel over my face. “Never call me that again.” I grin. “Afraid you may like it?” “I can absolutely guarantee I won’t.”

“We’re leaving town?” He pushes against the accelerator. “Yup.” “Do you not want to be seen in public with me?” I tease. His eyes narrow in my direction. “I can turn back around and parade you down Main Street if that makes you happy. I’ll even find you a crown and declare you my prom queen.”

“Because if I’m using a vibrator, we clearly have a problem.” His laughter is quickly becoming my favorite sound. “I’m all about teamwork in the bedroom.”

I need to be better for her, or else I’m going to lose her before I ever truly had her.

I don’t even let Nico eat snacks in my truck, but all it takes is Ellie batting her lashes and saying please in that strained voice of hers for me to cave.

I swore off marriage a long time ago, but then again, I said the same thing about falling in love, yet here I am, slowly doing exactly that with Ellie. Maybe I am more open to the idea than I originally thought, and it is all because of the woman who is putting my heart back together, piece by fragmented piece, like notes in one of her songs, transforming my never-ending sad one into a hopeful symphony.

Opening up to Ellie, Nico, and Julian was cathartic, but talking to my aunt about my difficulties…

It was everything I needed and more.

It was always just Nico and me, even when Hillary was here, but now I realize I don’t have to share the joys and setbacks of parenting alone. I can count on Ellie too because she loves my son without any conditions, paychecks, or child support payments keeping her here. It is clear she could love anyone’s child, but I’m lucky she chose mine.

And for the first time since she mentioned the idea of kids, I wonder what it would be like to raise one as a team. Together.

There is no way in hell I could pretend to be unaware of Lily and Lorenzo’s fake relationship, especially if it means Lorenzo spending time around the Muñoz and Lopez families.

“Lorenzo isn’t a bad guy.” Manipulative and self-serving, yes, but he did help Rafael with Darius and protected plenty of future women from suffering like I did, so I have a soft spot for him.

“I was trying to be respectful.” “Feel free to be disrespectful. Multiple times if you’re up for it.”

“Good girls always come first. I promise.”

“I wasn’t sure if you needed me to come, so I packed a carry-on just in case and asked my family to watch Nico.” “Oh my God.” “Is it too much?” It’s… Everything. I reach over the middle compartment dividing our seats and rope my arms around him. “Thank you.” “While I can’t follow you around Europe…” He sighs longingly. “I thought I could at least help you through the hardest part.” My eyes mist over. “This may be one of the nicest things someone has done for me.” “We’ve got to work on setting your bar a little higher.” “Are you kidding? If you keep this up, no one will ever compare.” “Just how I like it.”

“I love you.” His eyes soften right before his brows scrunch. He opens his mouth, only to shut it again. “You don’t have to say it back. I just wanted you to know.” He brings our interlaced fingers to his lips and kisses the back of my hand. “When I say it back—and I promise, I will—it’s going to be somewhere without any witnesses.” “I’m holding you to that.” He gives my hand a squeeze. “Deal.”

Yesterday, Julian called me crazy when I told him I had decided to fly to London after all, but I corrected him and said, “No. I’m in love.”

“All you’re missing are some chickens.” “How many do you want?” “At least a whole coop.” “Consider it done.”

“Can’t you see? You were who I envisioned for myself, Rafael. It was always you.”

“You deserve to be with the one who will take the time to see you.”

“The one who will show up time and time again to be there for you, even if you push them away because you’re scared, angry, or unhappy.” She presses her lips against my forehead. “They don’t quit, run, or cheat. They will fight for you, even if it means fighting against you, because life is a war zone, but love is the greatest weapon we have.”

“The one does exist, but not in the way you thought I meant, like some soulmate or something cosmic. To me, the one is someone willing to do everything in their power to be the person you deserve, not because...

“No merezco a alguien tan hermosa como tú.”