Just a Little White Lie(65)

“Zane?”

“Close your mouth, Jake.”

“By God, I’ll kill him if he toys with my sister, with Sammy again.”

She laid a hand on his arm. “It didn’t look much like ‘toying’ to me.”

“I don’t get it. Why didn’t she say something?”

“He called her last night. But I was there when he walked in and, believe me, she hadn’t been expecting him.”

Perky Sally Kay, her blond ponytail bouncing, chose that moment to show up. “You gonna be wanting any dessert?”

Jake looked straight at Lucinda, stared into her eyes. “Nope.” A smile curved his lips. “I’ve already got mine.”

Lucinda prayed there were firemen nearby, because her entire body spontaneously combusted.





Chapter Twenty




It had been four hours. Four lousy, damn hours! And already Jake was itching to see Lucy again. Here he was, backing his bike down the drive, knowing full well he was gonna be early.

But he couldn’t stay home. Couldn’t wait any longer. He’d showered, then puttered around the kitchen, tidying up. He’d even changed his sheets, hoping against hope he could talk Luce into coming home with him tonight. Fat chance that was gonna happen, but a fellow had to be prepared, didn’t he?

He was far from happy about the feelings swirling inside. His house, his own company, always more than enough for him, felt empty the second she’d driven away. Her perfume lingered in the air, a forgotten makeup brush huddled in the corner of his bathroom vanity. But she was gone, and she’d sucked the life from his little bungalow. He’d have sworn even the house itself felt bereft.

He didn’t understand it. It wasn’t like he’d been looking for her, wasn’t like he had wanted her in his life.

Yet she’d stood there on the side of the road, dressed in bridal white, and turned his world ass over teakettle in a matter of seconds. She haunted him night and day. Those eyes of hers played in his dreams.

In high school he’d watched the wrestlers a few times and remembered the impact of a full body slam. The whole gym practically shook from the force of their collision. That was pretty much the feeling he’d gotten when Lucy blasted into his life.

And then, just as suddenly, she’d walked away, leaving him wanting. Truth be told, it irritated him.

He didn’t need her. Didn’t want to need her.

Ahead, a truck with no turn signal veered into a driveway, and Jake almost ran up the back of it. He bit back the profanity he’d been tempted to hurl at the driver. If he’d been paying better attention, he’d have realized the truck was slowing down. His fault.

Lucinda Darling might as well be on the bike with him. She was all he could think about. He goosed the Harley. He’d really screwed up this time. He should have taken her as far as Charity, then dropped her off at Maynard’s and run like hell.

But he hadn’t. There’d been Gram to think about. Of course, Wanda Sue was always available. He winced. Problem was, she wouldn’t be happy with temporary.

He wasn’t either. Not anymore.

Now there was a scary thought. He turned on the bike’s radio and switched it to a hard-metal station. Through sheer willpower, he switched his mind off and enjoyed the rest of his ride.

When he pulled into Birdie’s drive, he studied her house. She was doing a great job keeping all the balls in the air. The house looked good, Sammy was happy and growing like a weed, and from all accounts her business was thriving. He was proud of his sister.

What did Zane showing up in Pride mean? Why had he come here now? Lucy said she’d found them in the backroom making out. That sure didn’t sound like his feet-on-the-ground sister. He’d have thought she’d plant a boot up his behind and send him on his way.

It worried him that his friend showing up might trigger fresh heartache for Birdie and his nephew. And he knew there wasn’t a darn thing he could do about it. This was between them.

Until Zane stepped over the line. Until he hurt one of them. Then Jake intended to make it his business. He squelched the personal pain that thought sparked. Zane was one of his best friends. Still…Birdie and Sammy were blood.

He hooked his helmet on the back of the bike with the spare, then took the steps two at a time. The house was cool…and empty.

“Hello?” he called.

No answer.

He walked to the sliders leading into the backyard and simply stopped. Something inside him shifted, and he had a hard time catching his breath.

Well-bred, sophisticated Lucy Darling was spread-eagle in the grass in designer shorts and a T-shirt. Swiffer was crawling all over her and so was Sammy.

Before he could say “Georgia bulldogs,” she rolled to her side, trapping Sammy with one arm and tickling him with her other hand. Entranced, Jake listened to the boyish giggles, her laughter, the yips of the little fur ball, which, tongue hanging out, jumped from one to the other.