chapter864

Lydia arched an eyebrow. "Lincoln?" Was this the same Lincoln who got forced to do a hundred push-ups by Connor at the Davis family charity gala?

"Yes, Lorelei, it's me. I was hoping to buy you a coffee. Would you let me?" Lincoln was practically dizzy from how stunning Lydia looked. He'd been waiting just for her. The roses in his hand were actually meant for someone else, but the moment he saw Lydia step out, he changed his mind and hurried backstage to wait for her.

"Didn't you say you haven't even graduated college yet?" Lydia asked.

Lincoln hesitated. "Age doesn't matter. What matters is how serious I am about you, Lorelei."

"I'm thirty," Lydia replied, her tone matter-of-fact.

Lincoln's eyes went wide. No way. She didn't look thirty at all. He paused, then tried again, holding out the bouquet. "Love doesn't care about age."

"Oh, honey, who are you? Lorelei isn't interested in dating," Katie called out, her voice full of urgency as she rushed in. She'd been waiting for Lydia to come offstage, and when she didn't show, Katie figured someone must have stopped her. And she was right. This kid barely looked old enough to shave. He actually had the guts to hit on their Lorelei?

Lincoln lifted his chin, getting ready to announce himself like he was somebody important. "I'm-"

"Lincoln, itching for more push-ups?" a cold, bone-chilling voice cut through the air. Lincoln stiffened, almost bolting on the spot. He turned slowly, disbelief written all over his face, and saw the one person who haunted his nightmares step out of the shadows.

His eyes went wide. Oh, hell. Why was this demon here too?

"Mr. Jefferson,

I wasn't doing

anything," Lincoln stammered, trying to sound innocent but clearly rattled. If he remembered right, wasn't this guy supposed to be with Miss now? Why was he sticking his nose into Lincoln's business? He just wanted to ask Lorelei out? Seriously? So Connor could do whatever he wanted, but no one else could? Where was the fairness in that?

Connor's tone was icy. "Not doing anything? Who were you flirting with just now? Who are those flowers for?" He strode closer, the pressure in the room rising so fast that Lincoln couldn't help but take a step back.

I I was just looking for Lorelei. What, you're here to ask her out too?" Lincoln's voice grew smaller with every word.

"Lorelei is my fianc e," Connor said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "You want to ask her out? Should I send you back to the military? Maybe you should stay there forever."

A few bodyguards on the sidelines looked like they'd just heard the wildest news ever. Lorelei was Connor's fianc e? Wasn't his fianc e supposed to be the heiress of some billionaire?

They were stunned, but Lincoln

looked even more panicked. Connor was threatening him again. Damnit! What if Connor really did send him back to that nightmare of a boot camp? Lincoln would rather do just about anything else.

"But Connor, don't you already have a fianc e?" Lincoln protested, feeling more confused by the second. Why did Connor have to compete with him over everything Lincoln just wanted a sweet romance with a beautiful girl. Why was that so impossible?

Connor let out a cold snort. She's my fianc e because I said so. Is your brain that slow? Drop down and give me a hundred push-ups. Maybe that'll get it working again."

Lincoln felt like it was the final straw. Seriously? Again?

Connor glanced at the other men still lingering with business cards. "And you guys... What are you waiting for? Get out of here."