Read Online Loving Lucas by Violetta Rand - Free Book Online Page B

folds her hands on the table and gazes at me thoughtfully. “It’s not a kind world.”
    “There’s a lot of suffering,” I agree. “But I’ve also seen communities pull together and change the tides. People are generally kind.”
    “They can be.”
    “Did you have good foster parents?”
    “They didn’t abuse me if that’s what you mean,” she says. “I think they cared more about the monthly checks the state sent. But I had clean clothes and food to eat. Mrs. Johnson still sends me a Christmas card every year.”
    “Do you ever visit them?”
    She shakes her head. “Tried to a couple of times. But Texas supposedly frowns on foster parents maintaining close contact with former wards of the state.” She sips her coffee, completely comfortable with the subject change. “There is one advantage.”
    I appreciate her positive attitude.
    “Most people can’t pick their families. I did.”
    “Marie and Brandon?”
    “Thick as thieves.” She crosses her fingers.
    “Where did you meet her?”
    “We spent two years in high school together.”
    I recline, absorbing everything we’ve learned about each other this morning. She returns my smile, all that hot nervous energy we felt last night seemingly gone. I finish my coffee and bacon, trying to remember the last time I talked this long with a beautiful girl.
    “Can I take you out to dinner tonight?”
    “A date?” she asks, standing up and gathering our plates.
    She’s surprisingly calm. I guess a night in the same bed together, clothed or otherwise, accounts for something. I fight a smile. “Did I leave you speechless again?”
    She arches an eyebrow at me before she enters the kitchen, reappearing seconds later with a washcloth. “Where do you want to go?” She wipes the tabletop clean, scooping crumbs into her hand.
    “There’s a great place in Rockport called Poor Man’s Country Club. Blackened fish tacos and cold beer.”
    She licks her lips. “Tempting.”
    “Is that a yes?” My caveman instincts are kicking in again as I focus on her smile, then those beautiful breasts encased in silk. Thump her on the head and carry her upstairs. Isn’t that how it used to get done? I chuckle.
    “Lucas?”
    “Did I miss something?”
    She thrusts her hand on her hip. “I said yes.”
    “Good.” I stand. “I’ll pick you up at five.”
    The last thing I expected was for Lucas to leave me here alone. He gave me a chaste kiss on the lips, then left via the garage. I watched him pull his Harley out and speed away. So last night and today are snippets of what life can be like with a normal man. I sigh as I load the last glass into the dishwasher, shut the door, and press start. The kitchen and dining room are spotless. I grab the cleaner caddy from the cabinet underneath the double sink and head to the guest bathroom. There are streaks on the mirror, so I wash them off, then the countertop. The bathtub and toilet are now sparkling clean, so I vacuum the hallway and living room next.
    As I finish up with the downstairs, I head to Lucas’s bedroom. I make his bed, admiring the soft sheets and wondering how many beautiful women have shared this bed with him, what they’ve done. Crap, where did that jealous thought come from? Hurrying to push it out of my mind, I quickly straighten up the pile of magazines and books on his headboard. I’m obviously too damn efficient, as I now find myself with little else to do. But I check his bathroom just in case. Wow is all I can think—sunken tub with mirrors surrounding it, tastefully decorated with white, black, and gray tiles—this shitter is outfitted for a man of importance. On the way out of his room, a silver picture frame sitting on his dresser catches my eye. Smiling back at me is a pretty brunette and a too-cute-for-words little boy with the same hair color as his daddy. I let out a frustrated cry—not because I’m envious over of his son, who’s adorable. It’s just the fact that I’d never be able