All of You (24 page)

A thought occurred to me, and I grabbed
Lincoln’s arms and looked at him with panic. “Lincoln, have
you—have you seen the picture?”

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me
close to him. “No, baby,” he answered, and I sagged against him
with relief. “I promise you no one will see that picture. Carter
will get the injunction, and we’ll get restraining orders against
this guy and Mackenzie, okay?”

“Will that help?” I asked, pulling back from
him. If it were that easy to get a restraining order, Elliott would
have suggested it before.

He put his hands on either side of my head
and stroked my hair. “I don’t want her anywhere near you. She’s
clearly unstable if she was willing to give this vulture your
picture.”

“It might not have been her, Lincoln. A lot
of people had a copy of that picture.” Mackenzie made sure everyone
on campus saw it. I sat back on my legs.

Lincoln let his hands drop. “Carter also
suggested you file assault charges against her.”

“Assault?” I was confused. “But she never hit
me.”

He shrugged. “Carter said she didn’t have to.
He thinks this is a good idea.”

“But then… would I have to testify against
her?” I asked reluctantly.

“Possibly. But she deserves it. I can’t stand
thinking she’s gotten away with this for so long.”

I shook my head. “It would be her word
against mine, Lincoln. And her friends will back up her story. No
one will believe me.”

“I believe you, Princess. That’s all that
matters. Let me and Carter handle it. Don’t worry about anything,
okay?”

I sniffled. This was such a mess, and it was
all my fault. Lincoln was being so supportive when he easily could
have washed his hands of me and this mess and spared himself any
hassle.

I looked up at him through the tears in my
eyes and nodded. “I’m sorry, Lincoln. I’m so sorry.”

“Hey… hey… what are you sorry for?” Lincoln
asked as he wiped my tears away with his thumbs.

“This mess is all my fault. And you—and you
shouldn’t have to deal with this because of me.”

Lincoln stood up, bringing me with him. He
reached down, lifted me up, and carried me to the couch. He laid me
down on it and crawled on next to me as close as possible and
rested his forehead against mine. He inhaled deeply several times
with his eyes closed before speaking.

“Jillian, none of this is your fault. None of
it. Never think that, Princess. You have it backward. You’re the
one that shouldn’t have to deal with this because of me. It’s my
fault Mackenzie gave the photographer your picture. She’s jealous
we’re together, but that is NOT.YOUR.FAULT. Okay?”

I opened my eyes and pulled back enough to
look at him. I brought my hand up and rested it on his cheek. He
had given me comfort when all I wanted to do was run away from my
problems. I exhaled and ran my thumb over his lips. “Lincoln…you’re
not going to be able to stop this. She’s going to win. She always
wins.”

“She’s not going to win. Not this time.
Please, don’t worry about this. I don’t want you to even think
about her. She doesn’t deserve your thoughts. She doesn’t deserve
your time,” Lincoln said as he ran his hand over my hair. “She’s
not going to mess with you. I won’t let her. You’re so strong,
baby. I’m going to be strong for you on this. She won’t get through
me. Carter will throw the fucking book at her. Don’t worry.”

I stared into his eyes. I loved this man. I
didn’t care if we had only known each other this short time. He was
so wonderful and generous and caring. He knew exactly what to say
to ease my worries. “The only thing I’m worried about is you seeing
those pictures, Lincoln. Please promise me you won’t ever look at
them. I don’t want you to see that,” I pleaded with him.

Lincoln squeezed my scarred hip through my
jeans. “Princess, I want to know everything about you. The good and
the not so good. I feel like I can’t ever get close enough to you.
I want to know all your secrets, and I want to make all your wishes
come true.”

I swallowed hard several times. “I want that
too, Lincoln.” He smiled at me. “But, my scars aren’t just ‘not so
good.’ They’re bad, Lincoln. Like really bad. I know how ugly they
are; I don’t want you to see that.”

Lincoln shook his head. “I know what ugly is,
Jillian. And someday you’ll believe me when I tell you there is
absolutely nothing ugly about you.”

“How can you say that, Lincoln? You haven’t
seen—”

He interrupted me. “I don’t have to see them
to know there is nothing ugly about you, baby. I’ve seen your
goodness. I’ve seen how you care for everyone regardless of how
they treat you. I know how generous you are, and I know how much
you love your niece. I’ve seen your selflessness, your strength,
and your humility. Your smile, your laugh. All of that is
beautiful. It radiates from your soul, and I’m in awe of it. Every
day I’m in awe of you.”

If I didn’t love this man before, I certainly
did now. He had rendered me speechless. He was in awe of me? In awe
of my beauty? Never in my life had anyone made me feel this
cherished and… loved? Oh God, I hoped he was falling in love with
me.

“Lincoln… Can you see how hard it is for me
to believe that? I’m terrified of the day you realize how annoying
and needy and ugly I am, and you leave me just like everyone else
has.” I pushed my face into his chest to hide my shame.

He rubbed my back. “That’s not going to
happen, Princess. You’re mine. I’ll never leave you.”

I was his? I liked the way that sounded. “I’m
yours? Does that mean you are mine?” I asked with a shy smile, and
he nodded.

“I’ve been yours since I spilled hot
chocolate all over you on New Year's,” Lincoln teased, and we both
chuckled slightly before Lincoln turned serious again. “Princess, I
am yours. I am so wrapped up in you, I feel like I can’t breathe
when you are gone, or when you pull away from me. I don’t ever want
to be away from you. So, yes. I’m yours, baby. I’m so yours.”

I smiled and bit my lip. Lincoln was mine,
and I was his. I caressed his face with my fingertips. “My man…” I
said softly. “My sexy, smart, funny, caring, generous, wonderful
man. Mine.”

He brought his mouth down to mine. “Yours,”
he said against my lips before kissing me deeply. I kissed him
back, feeling totally contented and happy. My man was going to make
Mackenzie pay. My man.

We kissed and cuddled on the couch for a
while before Lincoln insisted we get up and find Kennedy. He led me
into the kitchen area where Kennedy sat on a high stool next to the
island in the middle of the room. Margie sat on another one, and
they were both drinking coffee and talking.

“Hey, kids,” Margie said as Lincoln and I
approached the island.

“Everything okay?” Kennedy asked as her eyes
darted between the two of us. I nodded and smiled up at Lincoln as
I put my arm around his waist. He draped his arm across my
shoulders and pulled me closer to him before kissing my
forehead.

“Did Carter call back?” Lincoln asked
Kennedy. I noticed his phone sitting on the island. I realized
Kennedy and Carter, and probably Margie if she had been filled in,
must all be wondering why an old picture of me was causing such
turmoil.

Kennedy shook her head. “No. He could still
be with the judge.”

“What if… what if he doesn’t get the
injunction?” I asked quietly, looking down.

Lincoln brought his face down to my level.
“He will, baby. Don’t worry.”

I nodded in reply, and Lincoln kissed me
quick on the lips. “I’m going to call him. He should have been out
by now.” Lincoln grabbed his phone and swiped his finger across the
screen to unlock it. “I’ll be right back, baby,” he told me. “Are
you done with the judge?” Lincoln said into the phone as he walked
away. “Then why the fuck haven’t you called me?” he said as he left
the room through the swinging door at the end.

I deflated and bit my lip. Despite what
Lincoln said, I was worried about everything.

“Hey. Quit worrying,” Kennedy said, trying to
sound stern. Margie leaned over and patted my hand.

“Did Lincoln tell you what was going on?” I
asked them.

“He said some tabloid guy got pictures of the
two of you when he went to pick you up from work and Carter said
there was another picture.”

I nodded, relieved no one knew anything
else.

“You can talk to me, you know. About this. If
you need to. Trust me. We have plenty of experience with this
shit.”

“You do?” I asked with surprise. Lincoln
didn't talk about it much.

“Oh yeah. Our father’s been a senator for a
long time, and before that he was the governor. He’s always been in
politics, so we’ve always had reporters waiting around for us to
make headlines. Wasn’t so bad when we were kids. At least, I don’t
remember it being that bad. Much worse now with the Internet and
all. And of course, Lincoln has it worse out of any of us ’cause of
his hockey career.” Kennedy paused and took a sip of her
coffee.

“Can I get you anything, dear? Snack?
Coffee?” Margie offered.

“Oh. I left the tray you brought in the
library. I’ll go get it.” I started toward the hall door but Margie
stopped me.

“Nonsense. I’ll get it. Are you hungry?” she
asked.

“Oh, no. I’m fine. I would love a cup of
coffee though, if you show me where the coffeemaker is.” I looked
around the room at the shiny appliances. None of them looked like a
coffeemaker.

“Aren’t you sweet? It’s my job, dear. Let
me,” Margie said as she stood up and prepared a cup for me from a
fancy one-cup-at-a-time maker. She set it in front of me and pushed
a small tray closer to me. “Creamer, sugar, milk,” she said
pointing to the containers on the tray. “I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
She patted my arm and left the room.

I sat down on one of the high stools in
silence and fixed my coffee with some creamer. I took a sip and
tried not to dwell on the problems Lincoln was facing right
now.

“She’s just giving us some privacy. She’s
very good at her job,” Kennedy said.

I raised my eyebrows and cocked my head to
the side. I didn’t understand.

“Margie,” Kennedy clarified, answering my
unasked question. “She’s been Mom and Dad’s housekeeper here for
ages. She knows when to leave a room to give people privacy.”

I nodded, understanding now. Kennedy wanted
me to talk to her. “I’m just so worried,” I finally blurted
out.

“What are you worried about? Lincoln and
Carter will take care of everything. And if they don’t, I’m sure
our dad can,” Kennedy said flippantly.

Oh God. Their parents. More people to be
embarrassed around. I rubbed my forehead. “Lincoln didn’t tell you
what the picture was?”

“No,” she shook her head. “He just said they
had another picture.”

I nodded and cringed internally. I wanted to
explain, but didn’t want to tell too much. “That picture was of me…
from years ago in college.”

Kennedy snorted. “What, it’s not like a nudie
pic or something, is it?” she asked while laughing.

I bit my lip and looked away from her.

“OHMYGOD! It is a nudie pic!!” Kennedy got up
and rushed to my side. She shoved my shoulder playfully. “You dirty
girl. You posed for porn??”

Kennedy’s face was absolute joy. She thought
this was all a joke. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and laugh at
Kennedy’s reaction.

“NO! Oh my God, Kennedy. I can’t believe
you’d think I’d do that!” I exclaimed while laughing.

Kennedy laughed loudly. “I mean, I’ve always
heard of girls doing it to pay for college, but I’ve never met one
that actually did. Did you do exotic dancing too?”

“You are such a dork!” I chuckled. “I would
never do that!”

She laughed. “I know. I know you’d never do
that. I just had to give you shit,” she said, pushing my shoulder
again.

I rolled my eyes again but had to laugh at
the exuberant woman. God, it felt good to be able to laugh about
this. I would never have guessed I’d be laughing at one of
Mackenzie’s schemes.

Lincoln returned to the kitchen as Kennedy
and I were laughing at the idea of me stripping for money. He
smiled brightly when he saw I was laughing and kissed me on the
side of my head. “What’s so funny?”

“Your sister,” I said. “She thinks I could
have paid my way through college by stripping.”

“What? How in the world did you start talking
about that?! Not that I’m arguing, mind you,” he said and kissed my
head again.

“Well, we were talking about Mackenzie’s
picture. And then posing for porn. And then stripping. It just kind
of deteriorated from there,” I explained, still chuckling.

“Wait. Mackenzie?!” Kennedy exclaimed,
suddenly serious. “What does she have to do with any of this?”

Apparently I forgot to mention that part.
“Oh. Um, she was my roommate freshman year.” I trailed off. I
didn’t want to explain this again, but I knew Kennedy had a right
to know. I hoped we could be close friends, and close friends tell
each other that kind of stuff, right?

“She played a prank on Jillian, and the
picture that was sold to the tabloid reporter is the end result,”
Lincoln explained, filling in the gaps for his sister.

“And you were naked in this picture?”

“Not willingly,” I said quietly.

Kennedy’s eyes got huge and she sat back in
her chair. She finally understood. “I’m sorry, Jillian. I didn’t
realize. I shouldn’t have made fun,” she said, apologetically.

“No, no, Kennedy. It’s good therapy to laugh
about it. And trust me, I’ve been to a lot of therapy,” I said and
laughed. Kennedy’s eyes got even wider. I laughed loudly. “It’s
okay! Really!”

Lincoln squeezed me and kissed me on the side
of the head again. “You are amazing. Ignore my idiot sister.”

“Hey!” Kennedy exclaimed in defense. “Well,
at least I said she would have made a lot of money stripping.”