Loving Lucas Read Online Free PDF

accept.”
    “Can you cook?” he asks cockily.
    “Gourmet,” Marie answers for me.
    “Know how to work a mop?”
    I giggle. “You might have to teach me.”
    Then his cell rings, breaking the spell. “Excuse me.” Lucas slides off the bench, walking a few feet away.
    “Talk about fate.” Marie reaches across the table and pats my hand. “All that’s missing is the white horse.”
    “It’s not like that.”
    “You keep thinking that way, Karlie.”
    “It’s not.” I’m in complete denial; hormones don’t dictate my fate. And Lord knows how often I’ve denied my urges. “There’s cobwebs down there,” I remind her.
    “I’m sure Lucas knows how to clear those out.”
    She’s shameless, and I’m an emotional coward. “I can’t jump into another relationship, Marie. Even if I wanted to, the only man . . .”  
    “That piece of shit isn’t a man.” I’m quickly cut off by Brandon. “Someone needs to show you real tenderness. And you should let him.”
    My mind is swirling. I really can’t take another bite of food. “When the right guy comes along, I’ll know it.” As if on cue, Lucas returns. I frown at Marie—she’s beaming, probably ready to make me eat my own words.
    “You were saying?”
    “Remind me to slap you the next time we’re alone,” I say. “Everything okay?” I ask, focusing on Lucas.
    “Something came up,” he says. “I need to go. I wouldn’t worry about Connor—he’s shit-faced and knows I’m a cop now. Marie has my phone number and address. If anything happens tonight, call me. Otherwise, contact me tomorrow afternoon and we’ll get you moved in.”
    “Sure.” I’m actually disappointed he’s leaving. “What about my bike? Brandon’s trailer can’t accommodate three.”
    “I can take it now,” Lucas offers.
    “Where’s your rig?” Brandon asks.
    “A hundred yards north.” Lucas points. “In the nosebleed section.”
    “Why didn’t you park closer?” Marie asks.
    “I prefer keeping a little distance until I get to know everyone.” Must be a cop thing.
    Brandon stands. “I’ll help you load her stuff.”
    Lucas extends his hand to me. “I enjoyed meeting you, Karlie.”
    For the second time, our hands touch, and a chill spirals up my spine. Did I just see sparks, or is that my overactive imagination?
    “You made the right choice,” Marie says after they leave.
    “I can make it on my own.”
    “With what? Your brains? That doesn’t pay rent.”
    “How about my body?” I tease.
    She stretches over the table and rests the back of her hand against my forehead. “Feverish?”
    “You’re avoiding the subject.”
    She sits back down. “Are you thinking about stripping again?”
    It’s not beyond the realm of possibility. A couple of girls at school work weekends and make enough money to sustain a comfortable lifestyle. “Why not? Beggars can’t be choosers.”
    “But you have options. And once you cross that line, you can’t turn back.” She takes a swig of beer. “Just give the arrangement a try—if it doesn’t work, I’ll drive you to The Devil’s Den myself.”

Chapter Five
    I elected to sleep in the RV in Marie’s apartment complex parking lot. She tried to talk me out of it, but I refused. Although it’s not as posh as Connor’s, all the necessary comforts are at my disposal: a soft bed, a kitchen, and a bathroom. I rub my eyes, thankful the windows are tinted so the morning sunshine doesn’t blind me. I kick the sheet off, stretching my arms over my head. Coffee—I need a triple-shot mocha and a new life plan. I rest my head in my hands, the reality of what happened last night hitting me.
    I hate Connor.
    That’s my new mantra. Remembering all the crappy things he’s done to me should inspire me to never miss him, to never regret my choice. But moving into Lucas’s house . . . What was I thinking? Sure, he’s a cop, but is that reason enough to trust him? Probably not. Though he defended me without pause