The Thunderbolt - Lori Wilde Page 0,44
to laugh, it’s so silly.”
Bennett straightened, put down the wrench, and wiped his hands on a rag. “That’s great. I could use a good laugh.”
Her palms were sweaty. Her heart raced. “Well, uh, it’s like this.”
“Yes?” he prompted.
Lacy studied her feet.
Bennett reached out a hand, cupped her chin in his palm, and forced her to look at him. His eyes drilled a hole straight through her. “Talk.”
Lacy tried to stall. She hemmed and hawed, but Bennett was having none of her diversionary tactics.
“Stop beating around the bush and talk to me. I don’t bite.”
No, but you’ll take a powder.
Lacy sighed. Patience and tolerance were reflected at her from the depth of Bennett’s chocolate-brown eyes. There was nothing left to do but tell him the truth and hope against hope that he didn’t find her strange or manipulative or foolhardy.
“It’s kinda hard to explain.”
“You’re a bright, articulate woman.” He wrapped a hand around her upper arm. “Give it a shot.”
“Do you believe in predestination?” Her voice rose on a hopeful note.
“Do you mean do I believe in the concept that we have no free will? That our destinies are mapped out for us even before our births?”
“Well, yeah.”
“No. Absolutely not.” He shook his head.
“You don’t think it’s at least possible that you were put here on earth to be a doctor and that even if your life had turned out differently you would eventually find your way to being a physician?”
“I’m not following you.”
Lacy wet her lips. “Do you believe in predestined love? That there is one right person for everyone, and when you find that person, you’ll know who they are, and they’ll know who you are without any doubts?”
“One right person in a planet that houses almost eight billion people? Come on, Lacy, that’s a bit far-fetched, don’t you think?”
“No,” she whispered. “I don’t.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I’ve deceived you, Bennett. I led you to believe that I wanted nothing more than to have a fling with you, but that’s not true. My family believes in the power of the thunderbolt and I was raised to believe it too.”
Then, in excruciating detail, she told him all about the family thunderbolt legend and how Great-Gramma had fabricated her chest pains in order to get Bennett to bring her to West.
She sneaked peeks at him as she spoke and watched the emotions flit across his face—confusion, irritation, disbelief, and finally disappointment.
“I can’t believe your family manipulated me into coming here,” Bennett said. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you even orchestrated that sprained ankle.”
“It’s not like that. I had no idea what Great-Gramma was cooking up until we got here.”
“But you didn’t bother to tell me the truth once you did discover that she was playing matchmaker.”
Lacy couldn’t look him in the eye. “That’s right.”
“Why not?” He folded his arms across his chest.
“Because I did believe in predestined love. From the minute you popped into the operating suite, I thought you were the man I’d been waiting a lifetime for. Call me a fool, but I know you feel something for me, too, Bennett, but I also know your career is important to you. I foolishly believed that if I gave the thunderbolt some time, then you would realize I’m the one you’re supposed to be with. But I was wrong. The thunderbolt is nothing but a stupid legend. You can’t force someone to love you.”
The silence lengthened between them.
Trembling from head to toe, Lacy raised her chin and met his calm, unreadable gaze.
“Today, I allowed myself to be swept away by my passion for you. And make no mistake, it is a powerful attraction. But that’s what frightens me. Something that flames this hot is bound to bum out. I will not commit the same mistake my parents made. I’m so sorry if I’ve hurt you in any way. You’re a truly wonderful person, and I know that someday you’ll find this thunderbolt you’re looking for. But it simply isn’t me.”
Lacy bit her bottom lip and blinked furiously to keep the tears from spilling down her cheeks.
Janet was right. Love at first sight was nothing but a Cinderella fairy tale. Her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother had simply been lucky in love, and in turn, they had dubbed that luck the thunderbolt.
But honestly, it was delusional.
For too many years, she had listened to their useless advice. Listened and dreamed dreams she had no business dreaming. She’d envisioned a fantasy man who could not, did not, exist.
“Lacy,” Bennett repeated. “I