Read Online Fractured Innocence (#2 IFICS) by Julia Crane - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Julia Crane
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acting unprofessionally. But then I realized I was upset that he acted differently with Ace than me. He likes Ace better, and I don’t like it.”
Lucas chose his words carefully. “They’ve known each other a long time. They have a history together. I think what you are trying to say is that seeing them together made you more aware of your own differences?”
“If you mean made me acutely aware of my flaws? Then yes.” She crossed her arms over her chest. Lucas was struck by the very human movement. The fact that she did it unconsciously didn’t slip past him.
Lucas dropped his chin onto the top of her head and ran his hand down her arm. “Kaitlyn, you are not flawed. You are unique, wonderful, funny, exciting, sexy. I could go on and on if you want me to.”
Kate lifted her head. “You really think I’m funny?”
Lucas pulled her tighter. “Kate, you make me happier than I’ve ever been in my life. Just thinking of you brings a smile to my face. You do things daily that make me laugh. If I could only choose one word to describe you it would be extraordinary.”
She pulled away and searched his face, as if she was trying to figure out if he was telling the truth.
He hesitated before speaking. It was hard for him to be so open, but Kaitlyn deserved his honesty. He didn’t want any secrets between the two of them. “The way you are jealous of Ace and Erik is the same way I am jealous of you and Erik. You two have a bond that does not include me. Sometimes, I feel like I’m on the outside looking in.” He paused to gather his thoughts. “If your concern is that Erik doesn’t feel close to you like he does Ace, your fears are misplaced. The two of you work together like a well-oiled machine.”
Kate looked at him. “Why haven’t you told me before that you were jealous? It’s not a pleasant feeling.”
Lucas shrugged. “It’s not something I’m proud of.”
“Relationships are very complex aren’t they?” Kaitlyn laid her head against his shoulder.
“Yes, they are.” He wished she had put his mind at ease a little more, but he knew emotions were a very delicate situation with Kaitlyn. He did feel some relief that she had come clean with her jealousy of Ace. If she felt more than a working relationship with Erik, she would probably tell him, because that was how she worked. It wouldn’t even occur to her that she would be tearing his heart to shreds in the process.
Lucas couldn’t bear the thought of losing her; it would be like a knife through the chest.
Hopefully, that was something he’d never have to deal with.
She looked up. “I actually like that one.”
“What one?”
“Well-oiled machine. It makes sense.”
He smiled and kissed her forehead. “I love you, Kate, and I want you to know that you can always tell me anything. No matter what.” No matter how badly it hurts.
“I know that, Lucas.” Kate stood up. “We need to meet Harrington.”
Lucas looked at his watch and nodded in agreement. “It’s about that time. Are we okay?”
She answered him with a quick kiss. Her lips were soft and sweet; he could still taste a hint of hot chocolate on them. His anxiety levels ratcheted down a few notches. Sometimes it felt like he was walking on a tightrope with Kate. Scary as hell, but also the most excitement he’d ever experienced.
Kaitlyn took a few steps forward before stopping to look over her shoulder. Her eyes softened. “I love you, too.”
Lucas glanced around the office, searching for clues as to what the hell was going on. He hated that Harrington had kept him in the dark. Not that any of this was his expertise. He was, after all, just the lab geek, but Harrington had involved Lucas in all the planning up until this point. Or so he’d thought.
Harrington rested his hip on the corner of the desk. His face was unreadable. Adams was nowhere to be found. He was probably napping. Meanwhile, the three of them sat impatiently
Lucas chose his words carefully. “They’ve known each other a long time. They have a history together. I think what you are trying to say is that seeing them together made you more aware of your own differences?”
“If you mean made me acutely aware of my flaws? Then yes.” She crossed her arms over her chest. Lucas was struck by the very human movement. The fact that she did it unconsciously didn’t slip past him.
Lucas dropped his chin onto the top of her head and ran his hand down her arm. “Kaitlyn, you are not flawed. You are unique, wonderful, funny, exciting, sexy. I could go on and on if you want me to.”
Kate lifted her head. “You really think I’m funny?”
Lucas pulled her tighter. “Kate, you make me happier than I’ve ever been in my life. Just thinking of you brings a smile to my face. You do things daily that make me laugh. If I could only choose one word to describe you it would be extraordinary.”
She pulled away and searched his face, as if she was trying to figure out if he was telling the truth.
He hesitated before speaking. It was hard for him to be so open, but Kaitlyn deserved his honesty. He didn’t want any secrets between the two of them. “The way you are jealous of Ace and Erik is the same way I am jealous of you and Erik. You two have a bond that does not include me. Sometimes, I feel like I’m on the outside looking in.” He paused to gather his thoughts. “If your concern is that Erik doesn’t feel close to you like he does Ace, your fears are misplaced. The two of you work together like a well-oiled machine.”
Kate looked at him. “Why haven’t you told me before that you were jealous? It’s not a pleasant feeling.”
Lucas shrugged. “It’s not something I’m proud of.”
“Relationships are very complex aren’t they?” Kaitlyn laid her head against his shoulder.
“Yes, they are.” He wished she had put his mind at ease a little more, but he knew emotions were a very delicate situation with Kaitlyn. He did feel some relief that she had come clean with her jealousy of Ace. If she felt more than a working relationship with Erik, she would probably tell him, because that was how she worked. It wouldn’t even occur to her that she would be tearing his heart to shreds in the process.
Lucas couldn’t bear the thought of losing her; it would be like a knife through the chest.
Hopefully, that was something he’d never have to deal with.
She looked up. “I actually like that one.”
“What one?”
“Well-oiled machine. It makes sense.”
He smiled and kissed her forehead. “I love you, Kate, and I want you to know that you can always tell me anything. No matter what.” No matter how badly it hurts.
“I know that, Lucas.” Kate stood up. “We need to meet Harrington.”
Lucas looked at his watch and nodded in agreement. “It’s about that time. Are we okay?”
She answered him with a quick kiss. Her lips were soft and sweet; he could still taste a hint of hot chocolate on them. His anxiety levels ratcheted down a few notches. Sometimes it felt like he was walking on a tightrope with Kate. Scary as hell, but also the most excitement he’d ever experienced.
Kaitlyn took a few steps forward before stopping to look over her shoulder. Her eyes softened. “I love you, too.”
Lucas glanced around the office, searching for clues as to what the hell was going on. He hated that Harrington had kept him in the dark. Not that any of this was his expertise. He was, after all, just the lab geek, but Harrington had involved Lucas in all the planning up until this point. Or so he’d thought.
Harrington rested his hip on the corner of the desk. His face was unreadable. Adams was nowhere to be found. He was probably napping. Meanwhile, the three of them sat impatiently
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