Discovering Lucy

by Laura Dunaway

  He sat back in his chair. “Yeah, I never thought he was up to much good. I wouldn’t be surprised if he were involved in this somehow.”

  Fear settled in me. “Wait, what? Why would you think that?”

  He turned back to me. “Just a feeling, that’s all. I’m not going to jump to conclusions until I hear back from Maxwell.”

  “I never heard Drake mention anyone by the name of Justin. It doesn’t make any sense.”

  He leaned over, putting his hand on my arm. “Once we figure this out, it’ll all be over with, and we can move on. With any luck, Drake will find himself in jail, and Justin might too. But for now, let’s try to enjoy the rest of our night. I got your favorite movie for us to watch.”

  I clapped my hands together. “While You Were Sleeping?”

  “Of course, what else would it be?”

  Knox was able to make me forget about Drake, just like he’d promised.

  Later that night as we were falling asleep, my phone vibrated. Both of our eyes instantly opened, and Knox reached over for my phone, then handed it to me.

  Just because you’re sleeping with him now, doesn’t mean you’re not mine

  Knox swore and jumped out of bed.

  “Where are you going?” I cried, not wanting to be left alone.

  He saw my face and crawled back into bed, taking me into his arms. “I’m sorry, baby, I’m not leaving.”

  My heart was still pounding a mile a minute. The texts were getting more personal. There was no question who was sending them now.

  “I need to call Maxwell and see what he’s found out,” he told me as he kissed my hair.

  “Right now? It’s almost midnight, Knox.”

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  He reached for his phone and pushed a number.

  “Maxwell, she just got another text. They’re getting worse, and I have no doubt that Drake Meyer is the one sending them. We need to figure out his association with this Justin. I have a feeling Joey McManus is the key.”

  They spoke for a few more minutes, then he ended the call and tossed his phone on his nightstand.

  “What did he say?” I asked quietly.

  He shifted to his side, spooning me so that my back was to his front. He cupped my breast over my tank top, and started rubbing his thumb over my nipple. I sucked in a breath at the pleasure it gave me.

  “He and the security team have found a link between this Joey and Justin. We already know that Drake and Joey are friends, so my hunch that Joey is the key between the two seems to be correct. Maxwell said they’re just checking out a few more things before we can make any decisions and that he’ll be in touch in the morning.”

  “I just want it to be over, Knox. He’s getting worse. I think I should change my phone number.”

  I felt him shake his head on the pillow. “Normally I’d agree, but we need him to keep sending the texts until we get him. The more proof we have, the better. If things get worse, then we definitely will, but for now let’s see what happens. My hope is we’ll get him in that time. There’s not much else we can do besides…”

  His other hand snaked around me and started doing the same thing to my other nipple. I moaned as his erection pressed against my bottom. He rolled me over and lifted my arms, taking off my tank top. His mouth lowered onto my nipple as his hand massaged my other breast, then he sat up and yanked off my boy shorts. I watched as he quickly stood up and shed his briefs, his hard cock springing free.

  No words were spoken as he put on the condom, then laid back down between my legs. He ran his hands through my hair as he stared into my eyes, then he lowered his lips to mine as he slowly entered me. He started to thrust, back and forth as his mouth took in my cries of pleasure. As he increased his speed, the delicious build up of pleasure started in my toes, quickly traveling to my core and bursting in a spasm of pleasure. I cried out, and he thrust a few more times then found his own release, shouting my name.

  When he pulled out of me a few minutes later, he rested his head on my chest. I ran my fingers through his hair. “I love you so much, Knox.”

  “I love you more, angel,” he declared huskily.

  WHEN I GOT HOME FROM work the next evening, there was another bouquet of yellow roses sitting on the table with my name on the card. Megan wasn’t home so I couldn’t ask her when they had arrived, and Knox had stopped sending me yellow roses; instead, he would send lilies, so I knew these weren’t from him.

  He may send you lilies, but I know yellow roses are your favorite. We’ll be together soon.

  The bile rose in my throat again as hot tears started to stream down my face in frustration. Before I realized what I was doing, I picked up the glass vase and hurled it across the room where it smashed on the kitchen cupboard and shattered. The water puddled, and the roses scattered. I slumped to the floor, and let the sobs that had been threatening for days finally come out.

  When my tears had dried, I stood up and went to the bathroom. I tried to be strong, but the fear of Drake in my life again scared the shit out of me.

  I sat on the side of the bathtub, trembling. My right eye was swollen shut, and my lip was red and puffy. I wrapped my arms around my middle, trying to keep the tears at bay.

  “When will you learn, Lucy Jane?” Drake asked, appearing at the bathroom door.

  I felt the needles of fear rush through me, praying he wasn’t going to start beating me again. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to answer, so I just looked at him.

  He saw my eye and cursed. “See what you made me do, bitch?” He stalked toward me, then stopped at the medicine cabinet. He looked through the first-aid kit, swearing when he couldn’t find what he was looking for. He grabbed a washcloth instead and put it under cold water, then squeezed it out.

  I flinched when he handed it to me, making him sigh. “It’s for your eye, Lucy. You should probably go lay down. I’m going out with the guys. I really hope you’ve finally learned a lesson, so I don’t have to do that again.”

  I sat on the tub and watched him walk away. When I heard the apartment door shut, the tears I’d been holding in fear finally fell as I sank to the floor.

  Cringing at the memory, I splashed cold water on my face, then went back out to the kitchen and picked up my phone.

  More roses came. Card too

  I had just finished sweeping up the shards of glass when Megan and Sean walked in, laughing about something. As soon as she saw my face, the laughter stopped, and she hurried over to me.

  “What happened, Lucy?”

  Sean mumbled something about needing to check his email in Megan’s room, and excused himself. I told her about the bouquets with the messages, the latest texts, and Justin’s likely involvement. Megan’s jaw dropped.

  “I’m going to kill him,” she muttered.

  “Who? Drake or Justin?”

  “Both.”

  A thud hit the door; followed by pounding, making us all jump.

  “Lucy! Lucy, let me in!”

  Knox!

  I hadn’t checked my texts after I’d sent him the message about the flowers. I rushed to the door and opened it, and he immediately pulled me into his arms.

  “Thank God you’re safe,” he breathed into my hair. “When you didn’t return my texts…”

  I held him tight. “I’m so sorry, baby,” I whispered over and over. He didn’t say anything as he ran his hand through my hair, and breathed in my scent.

  After a few minutes, he stood back and looked at me. “What happened? Why didn’t you return my texts?”

  I took his hand and brought him inside. Megan pretended to be busy with something in the kitchen as I led him to my room and shut the door. He sat on my bed, and I kneeled in front of him.

  “I’m so sorry, but I set my phone down after I texted you and cleaned up the broken glass on the kitchen floor. I threw the vase with the roses across the room in frustration. Not my finest moment, but it felt good.” He pulled me up onto his lap, holding me close. “T
hen Megan came in, and I told her what had happened, then you came. I’m so sorry.”

  He nuzzled my neck, then ran his nose from my ear down my jaw line, giving me the sweetest kiss. “Don’t apologize anymore,” he whispered against my lips. “It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

  I pulled him onto the bed with me and wrapped him in my arms. This time it was him who needed comforting, and I was only too happy to give it. We lay there for a little while, soaking each other in.

  “Maxwell called me earlier,” he said, breaking the silence. “From what we can tell, Joey McManus and Justin are childhood friends. They went through school together. Maxwell was able to pull up Joey’s credit card receipts, and it seems he paid a visit to your former town not too long ago. My guess is he was there to see your dumbass ex.”

  I processed this, and knew he was right. Somehow Drake had conned Joey and Justin into his sadistic plans. Why, though? Why not just come here himself?

  The protective order.

  “He’s trying to walk between the lines with the protective order, Knox. He’s trying to do everything legally.”

  Knox let out a sigh. “Yeah, exactly. What they’re doing isn’t illegal. You can send someone flowers and texts. I don’t think a court would consider what he’s doing as harassment.”

  I thought about that for a minute. “Bastard. I swear Knox, it’s like the law is on the perpetrator’s side, not the victim’s.”

  “I know. But I’m going to make sure that doesn’t happen here. He’s not going to get away with it angel.”

  I smiled a little, playing with the hem of my shirt. “I hope so.”

  “Lucy?”

  I looked back at him. “Yes?”

  “Have you told Megan you’re moving out yet?”

  I ran my hand through his hair, loving the aroma of pine and cedar that surrounded him. “Not yet. She just got home, remember?”

  He bent his head and kissed my neck. “Right.” He rolled me onto my back, pinning my arms above my head.

  “I want to be with you when you tell her,” he said as he leaned over and licked the shell of my ear, sending shivers down my body.

  We made out for a few minutes, then he stood and helped me to my feet. We held hands as we opened the door and walked out of my room. Megan and Sean were sitting on the couch.

  “Everything okay?” she asked, concern in her big green eyes.

  Knox sat down in my favorite chair, pulling me into his lap. “Yeah, everything’s okay.” I explained how I hadn’t answered Knox’s texts and why he was so worried. Knox wrapped his arms around my waist, leaning me against his chest.

  “Megs, I need to tell you something.”

  She brought her knees up and hugged them to her chest. “Okay, shoot.”

  I took a deep breath, hating to tell her I was leaving, but knowing it was what I wanted. “Well, Knox has asked me to move in with him, and I said yes.”

  Her eyes grew as big as saucers, then she squealed and jumped off the couch, pulling me out of Knox’s arms and wrapping me in a big hug.

  “I knew this was coming!”

  “You did? How?”

  “I just had a feeling. And the timing couldn’t be better.”

  I stood back and looked at her suspiciously. “What do you mean?”

  We both sat back down, and she looked up at Sean, then back at me and Knox. “Well, Sean and I decided to move in together, so I was going to ask you if you’d mind another roommate until Knox finally asked you to move in with him.”

  I clapped my hands. “Megs, I’m so happy for you.”

  Knox pulled me back against him. “Congrats, you guys.”

  Sean leaned in and kissed Megan on her cheek as she twisted a curl of her hair around her finger. “Do you know when you’ll be moving out?”

  Knox smiled down at me. “As soon as possible. I’m thinking this Saturday would be good.”

  That was three days away. I mentally started to pack in my head. The bed and dresser belonged to Megan so I wouldn’t have to move those. Packing shouldn’t take me that long.

  Knox tightened his hold around me. “I can’t wait,” he whispered.

  Megan stood up and went to the kitchen. “We have some celebrating to do, loves,” she announced as she uncorked a wine bottle. I helped her bring them over, and we all stood in the tiny living room and clanked our glasses together, cheering each other for this next step in our lives.

  Knox softly planted kisses up and down my neck. “I can’t wait for you to meet my family. I’ve told my mom all about you. She said you sound perfect, which you are.” It hadn’t occurred to me that I’d have to meet his family, but that was the natural step.

  He raised his head and looked at me. “Don’t be nervous. They are going to love you. It doesn’t have to be tomorrow, but I just wanted you to know that I think it should be sooner than later. Is that okay?”

  I turned my body around to face him, and ran my fingertips down his cheek. “Of course, I just hadn’t thought about it. I want to meet your family, just give me a little time, okay?”

  He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. “We’ll do it when you’re ready. I can’t wait to show you off, angel.”

  We fell asleep with dreams of a new future, a future with us together.

  Justin was sitting at his desk in his office. This was getting to be too much. He had some decisions to make, and he had to make them soon.

  “Hey, man, you ready to go?”

  Justin looked up at the guy in the doorway and sighed. “Yeah, let’s get out of here Joey,” he answered, picking up his briefcase and heading out the door.

  IT DIDN’T TAKE VERY LONG to load my things into Knox’s car. I hadn’t brought much with me when I’d moved to New York, and hadn’t accumulated that much since, so everything fit into a few boxes and a suitcase. When the last of it was loaded, and I was ready to go, I stood in the middle of the tiny living room that had been mine for a few months, and looked at the girl who had become my best friend.

  Tears were pooling in her eyes as I hugged her tight. “No crying, Megs. This is a good thing remember?”

  She hiccupped, which made us both giggle. “I know, but I’m still going to miss you so much, Lucy.”

  I pulled back and looked her in the eye. “You’re still going to see me all the time. You can’t get rid of me.”

  She placed a piece of hair behind my ear. “Promise?”

  I stepped back and took her hand. “Always.”

  Knox came in and walked over to me. He wrapped his arms around my waist, his front to my back. “Everything okay?”

  Megan and I nodded. Sean came out of their bedroom and wrapped Megan in his arms as well. The four of us stood there for a minute, not saying a word. Finally, I’d had enough of the heavy emotions, so I moved out of Knox’s arms.

  “Let’s blow this joint.”

  We all laughed, and Knox took my hand to lead me to the door as Megan and Sean followed behind. I looked at her one last time. “Thanks for everything, Megan,” I said. “Thanks for taking me in, and thanks for being the best friend I’ve ever had.”

  She moved her hand in dismissal. “You’re going to make me cry again. I love you, girl. Take good care of her, Knox,” she told him.

  He brushed his lips across my forehead. “I will, I promise.”

  As we drove closer to Knox’s building, our building, I felt a bubble of excitement—a new Chapter was beginning.

  He slid into his parking spot and shut off the engine. “I’ve been waiting to say this for so long…” He shifted in his seat so that he faced me. “We’re home, angel.”

  My heart melted at the look of pure love in his eyes. I raised my hands to his face. “Finally.”

  Smiling, he leaned over to kiss me. “I love you so much, Lucy.”

  Warmth enveloped me. This was home, he was my home.

  We grabbed some boxes and rode the elevator up to the apartment. I took my suitcase to the bedroom and started
to unpack when I heard voices in the living room. I walked into the room and the rest of my boxes were there—Knox must have arranged for some of the employees of the building to help.

  I smiled. “Thank you so much.”

  “Our pleasure, Ms. Simmons. Welcome to the building.”

  Knox shook their hands and gave them a substantial tip, then walked them to the door. I turned around, taking it all in. I had been in this apartment many times, but this was the first time it was my home. I walked to the large windows and looked out at Central Park. A year ago I was living in a small dumpy apartment in a small dumpy town—I never imagined that this was where I’d be a year later.

  Strong arms wrapped around my waist as warm, soft lips trailed kisses along my jaw. I leaned my head back onto his chest and sighed. He lifted me into his arms and carried me down the hall. He kicked his…no, our bedroom door open and set me down on the bed, then leaned over me, pushing a few loose strands of hair behind my ear. His eyes were blazing, the gold flecks as bright as I’d ever seen them.

  “Welcome home, angel,” he said huskily as he pushed me gently down on the bed.

  Then he showed me just how happy he was that I was home.

  “Has Priscilla said any more about the buyer position?” Knox asked me a few days later. We were sitting at the table having breakfast before we had to leave for work.

  “Not really, she just keeps saying they’re working on it. I kind of wish she hadn’t said anything in the first place.” I replied.

  He looked up at me, his hair still a sexy mess from our earlier morning activity. “Yeah, it doesn’t make sense. Do you want me to see what I can find out?”

  “No, please don’t. I want to do this all on my own. If this doesn’t work out, something else will, but thank you.”

  “Well, if you change your mind…”

  I stood up and kissed him. “I know, thank you. Speaking of Priscilla, I need to get to work.”