style="font-size:15px;"> ‘Not really.’
Lorenzo looked down at the bed.
‘You’re a friend of Sophy’s?’ her mother asked.
‘Yes.’
In the silence, nothing more was said.
The guilt was swamping him. It was his fault. If he hadn’t made her so upset. If she’d hadn’t been at the damn warehouse. If she hadn’t run so fast, so blindly from him.
Her blonde hair was spread on the pillow with its perfect curls on the ends. Her skin was unnaturally pale with the ugly bruise deepening. He still couldn’t believe there were no broken bones—or worse. He’d waited, utterly distraught, while they’d done their tests. A bad bump to the head, that was all, despite being knocked to the ground, clipped by the edge of the car. It was only the driver’s quick action in pulling on the wheel that had saved her from more serious injuries.
The doctors would monitor her for the night, but they didn’t think there was anything they’d missed. But even now, despite their words, he feared there was damage beyond what he could see.
‘Why don’t you call Victoria and Ted, darling?’ Sophy’s father spoke. ‘Go into the lounge area. I’ll come and get you if there’s any change.’
Lorenzo knew they were communicating behind his back. He didn’t care. He wasn’t leaving the damn room.
As soon as the door closed behind her he lifted his gaze and met the judge’s. He had the same blue eyes as Sophy’s—only his were colder. ‘Things have changed for you since we last met, Lorenzo.’
‘A lot.’
‘I’m glad.’ He looked serious. ‘Does Sophy know?’
‘Yes.’ Lorenzo swallowed.
‘And she’s your…friend?’
He knew what he was asking. ‘Yes.’
The judge’s face tightened. ‘You had a lot of potential back then. But when I saw you, you were too angry to use it. Too angry to let anyone care for you. Anyone who tried had it thrown back at them.’ His voice changed, to the implacable, imperative word of law. ‘Don’t you do that to my daughter.’
Lorenzo didn’t answer, just looked at the small fingers resting limply in his. He couldn’t bring himself to admit that he’d already done exactly that.
Sophy’s head really hurt. She blinked. Tried again, squeezing her eyes open just that little bit. ‘Lorenzo?’
No answer. But he was here. She was sure of it. She could smell him. She could feel the warmth from the pressure of his hand—he’d been holding it, hadn’t he? ‘Lorenzo?’
‘He’s not here,’ a deep voice answered. ‘I told him to go.’
‘What?’ she wailed. ‘Dad!’
A warm hand touched hers, but it wasn’t the right hand.
‘Sophy?’ Her mother bent over her. ‘Honey, are you okay?’
Had she just sobbed? Just a little bit? ‘
He’ll be back. He’ll come back, I’m sure. We just told him to go get some coffee. He hadn’t moved for almost two hours.’
Okay, so she had sobbed. She closed her eyes again. Felt the wet on her cheek and turned her head away, pressing deeper into the pillow. He wouldn’t be back. He didn’t want to be near her family—or any family.
‘Sophy?’
‘Should we get the doctor?’ Her mother’s voice rose.
‘No,’ Sophy croaked. ‘No. I’m okay.’ And with every word she spoke her voice grew stronger. ‘What happened?’
‘You were hit by a car. You ran straight out onto the road.’
‘Were you running away from something, Sophy? Someone?’ her father asked quietly, but she heard the tone, the condemnation, the conclusion.
She shook her head, wincing as it hurt. ‘Not what you think, Dad.’
‘I don’t know what to think, sweetheart.’
Carefully she opened her eyes, looked at her father. ‘Do you remember him?’
‘I remember all of them,’ her father said sombrely. ‘But some stick in your mind more than others.’
The tears welled again, stinging her eyeballs.
‘He was very angry back then. But he had a lot to be angry about.’
Sophy’s heart was breaking. She needed her father to know, to understand. ‘I love him, Dad.’
The sharp intake of breath was audible—but it didn’t come from either of her parents. Sophy turned her head. Lorenzo stood in the doorway.
‘You’re awake. Are you okay?’ The edge of panic was evident both in the speed of the question and the hesitancy as he hovered.
She licked her horribly dry lips.
‘Edward, let’s go get some fresh coffee.’ Her mother suddenly stood. ‘Come on. She can’t have too many people in here at once. She’ll get too tired.’
Sophy watched the two men looking at each other—saw some message she couldn’t interpret pass between them.
Lorenzo moved closer, where she could see him better. He was so pale.
‘Sophy.’ His voice broke. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘It was my fault. I should have been watching where I was going.’
He shook his head. ‘I shouldn’t have made you so upset. I never wanted to hurt you like this.’
The brush-off. Again. It was so embarrassing. Dully she admitted the truth. ‘I shouldn’t have pushed for something you never wanted to give.’
‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘But not about that. I’m scared—just like you said. A coward. You scare me to death—how you make me feel scares me.’ He moved quickly, sat in the seat near her head. ‘I don’t know that I can give you what you want from me.’
‘Lorenzo.’ She took in a deep breath. She’d take all there was—no matter how little. She loved him. She wanted him. She was happy when with him. She didn’t need all the bells and whistles. She just needed him. ‘All I want is whatever you have to give.’
He stared at her. The dark eyes tortured, the unhappiness hurting her more than the relentless pounding in her head and in her heart. ‘But you deserve so much more than that. So much more than me.’
‘No.’ Her eyes filled. She didn’t want him to push her away like that. No one else could give her what he could. ‘I want you. That’s all. Just
