Love So True

by Marquita Valentine

  “I made Brody leave before he could punch you,” she said matter-of-factly. Sydney’s directness was one of the things he’d always liked about her. “True.”

  “Give him time, Lucas. Brody will come around. He’s still in shock and—”

  “Five years is a long time to hold a grudge,” he pointed out, remembering Bailey’s words.

  “It is,” she agreed. “But he’s hurting. Brody took it personally when you went to jail. He feels like he failed you as a big brother.”

  Involuntarily, his jaw clenched. “I know he did. I knew it every day he didn’t write, call, or email me.”

  Her big blue eyes grew shadowed. “I’m sorry, Lucas. I really am.”

  “It’s not your fault,” he said. “Hell, it’s not even Brody’s. And I have time. When I said I was home for good, I meant it.”

  Later that evening, he got all nostalgic and opened a container his mom had given him. It was full of his life before he went to jail—newspaper clippings, awards, photos, and baseball cards…among other things.

  He lifted his yearbook out and started flipping through the pages, trying to place names with face that looked almost ten years older than they had before.

  Bailey Yates picture smiled up at him. Kindness shone in her eyes, even in a black-and-white photograph. He traced the curve of her jaw, remembering the kiss they once shared.

  It was one of the few times he didn’t take what a girl was offering. Back then, he’d been so full of himself, working hard to cultivate an image that was in direct opposition to his older brothers.

  They treated women with respect and didn’t kiss-and-tell. Lucas found that the more asinine he was, the more women wanted him. And while he didn’t share with the world what he was doing with a female, he sure as hell didn’t try to hide it.

  Yep, he used to be a punk-ass prick.

  People probably still thought of him as a punk-ass prick, too. Except, now they could attach criminal to it.

  With a thick exhale, he closed the yearbook and placed it back inside the container, fitting on the lid.

  He had a lot to make up for in this town. A lot of people who rightfully distrusted him. He’d fooled so many people into thinking he’d grown up, that he’d changed because of college and a prestigious job.

  But the truth was, he’d gotten greedy and turned a blind eye to what was really going on at T&G Securities. Though to be fair, he hadn’t known everything his bosses did.

  It didn’t excuse him. Only gotten him a reduced sentence that had to be served at a federal prison.

  Moving to the desk in the far corner of the living room, he powered up the computer his dad and brother, Caleb, used to run their business, and clicked on the first browser icon he found.

  Fair or not, while he was in prison, he was granted limited internet access. From their computer lab, he was able to maintain his bank accounts to make sure the attorney had done his job. He logged into his bank account and checked the balance.

  He smiled grimly.

  Lucas knew he couldn’t erase what he’d done to the people of Jessamine, but he could give them back what they’d lost.

  Chapter Four

  ‡

  Bailey couldn’t believe her parents had actually shown up at the diner that day. They claimed it was to try out the new menu she had recently introduced, but she knew the truth. They were there to keep an eye on Lucas.

  “Sorry,” she muttered to Lucas as he hefted a crate of glasses. And in being true to her former bad-boy loving self, she couldn’t help but notice the way his forearms looked, or the tattoo that peeked out from underneath his rolled up shirtsleeves.

  A ghost of a smile barely kicked up the corners of his mouth. “It’s no big deal.”

  To her it was. They had agreed to trust her judgment, yet there they sat—like the two guys in the balcony of the Muppet Show Theater—watching…waiting for Lucas to screw up.

  She took the crate from him and put it on top of the other one, then began to pull out glasses, filling each with ice.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she caught her dad dropping money on the floor right as Lucas walked by. Turning slightly, she narrowed her eyes to watch Lucas prove her dad wrong. But if she were being truthful, her heart sped up the tiniest of bit.

  What if he did take the money?

  Ugh. She couldn’t think that. She would give him the benefit of the doubt instead.

  Lucas stopped. She sucked in a breath. He bent down, picked up the money, and handed it back to her dad, with a, “Sir, you dropped this.”

  She twisted her lips and put a hand on her hip as her dad stumbled on his words. “Thank you, son. I—have to be more careful next time.”

  Lucas nodded.

  Bailey mouthed, I told you so.

  Her parents looked away, their expressions guilty.

  She resumed scooping ice. They were a regular comedy act without all the funny parts. When she was done, she marched over to her parents, taking their plates.

  “Satisfied?” she asked.

  “Keep your voice down.”

  “You tried to set the man up, and you’re concerned with the volume of my voice?”

  Her dad held up a hand. A hand that still clutched the one dollar bills he’d let drop to the floor. “He doesn’t need to know about my test.”

  “Ones—could you be more obvious?” She blew out an aggravated breath. “Pretty sure that gave it away, if nothing else.”

  Dumping the plates in a deep tray, she tried to control her temper. “You’ve eaten. You’ve tested.” She jerked her head in Lucas’ direction. “He passed. I think it’s time you go home.”

  “Listen here, young lady,” her mother began, but Bailey walked away, refusing to hear another word.

  “Thanks for coming by Mom and Dad. Don’t forget Leo has soccer practice this afternoon,” she tossed over her shoulder. Now they would have to leave.

  Bailey walked to the back of the diner, needing some time to herself so she could cool off. Her office was situated in the corner. It was mostly quiet and mostly off-limits to everyone. Not because she didn’t trust them, but because there had been times she would come back here and cry. Especially when Leo was a lot smaller and she had wanted to prove to her parents that she could handle managing the diner.

  Which meant she came back here a lot during those first years.

  However, today, she didn’t feel like crying. Oh no. She felt like screaming. She felt like smacking herself upside the head with a butcher-block cutting board. There was absolutely no reason to be so emotionally invested in Lucas’ feelings.

  Yes, her parents needed to be told to leave.

  Yes, he needed someone to stick up for him.

  No, she should not be the one doing it.

  Bailey sighed, moving to the window and looking outside. The day was sunny, not a cloud in the sky. Leo was sure to be happy about the weather. He always pouted when he couldn’t go outside at preschool with his friends.

  “Hey,” Lucas called from the door.

  Heart jumping in her throat, she spun around. “Something wrong?” Oh gosh. He probably overheard the conversation she’d had with her parents.

  “That’s what I came to ask you,” he said, easing just a bit more into the room without actually blocking the doorway. There was enough room for her to scoot by if she needed to.

  She wondered if that were by design or accident. Probably by design.

  “I’m fine.”

  His dark brows rose, blue eyes so darn sexy that she had to look away. “I’ve become accustomed to keeping to myself and respecting other people’s privacy, but you gave me a shot, so I feel like I should check on you.”

  A ribbon of warmth wound around her heart. She couldn’t remember the last time someone—other than her parents—had been concerned about her. Since becoming a mom, she didn’t have much time for friends, and the ones she had from high school were married or had moved away. While a couple of the married ones, in the b
eginning, had invited Bailey and Leo over, it always felt awkward to be the only single mom there. It was like married people only hung out with other married people.

  So she didn’t accept the next invitation to a cookout. Or the next. Finally, the invitations stopped coming at all.

  “Thanks.”

  He didn’t leave, just loosely crossed his arms over his chest and waited. She suspected that if they had a waiting contest, he would win.

  “I had an argument with my parents,” she finally said.

  “About me?”

  Bailey hesitated. She didn’t want to lie to him, but her conversations with her parents weren’t public record. Though they had made it public by coming here and testing Lucas in front of God and everyone.

  Lucas watched as myriad emotions played across Bailey’s expressive face. He was almost one hundred percent sure it was about him, but he wanted to give her parents the benefit of the doubt. So, if she said no, then he’d go right back to work and act like nothing had happened.

  Not even that bullshit test her dad had given him with the dollar bills would make him leave. He liked working here already, and it had only been one shift. Her parents hadn’t shown up until lunchtime, so at least the whole day wouldn’t leave a sour taste in his mouth.

  “It was and wasn’t about you,” she said, her sweet mouth turning down at the corners. “My parents made me manager of Yates’ diner but they don’t trust my judgment.”

  Though he’d only been home for a week, he knew exactly how Bailey felt. “Maybe it’s hard for them to let go.”

  She nodded, her chest rising and falling beneath her green Yates’ Diner T-shirt. “I agree, but why pretend that it’s not hard? Why check up on me, call vendors, and try to—” Abruptly, she smashed her lips together and shook her head, her silky-looking ponytail swaying back and forth.

  He wanted to touch her hair. To run his fingers in the dark strands and press them to his lips. He knew she smelled good. His senses had a taste of her perfume at Mason’s homecoming party when she’d sat her cute self down beside him.

  But what he wanted and what he deserved to have were two very different things. Besides, Bailey, no matter how kind she was at heart, would never let her son be around a man like him. All things being equal, he was still a criminal. He still had served time.

  He’d almost killed a man. Twice.

  So it stood to reason that while he could be her employee and maybe even a kind of friend, nothing else would ever happen between them. God knew he didn’t have many friends in Jessamine. So he would take what she would give him and never ask for more.

  Like when she’d given him that kiss.

  Get it together, man. “They still see you as a child instead of a woman raising a child.”

  Her beautiful eyes clouded. “I suppose you’re right,” she said slowly. “But what can I do about it?”

  Nonplussed, he stared at her for a minute. “You’re asking me for advice?”

  Playing with the gold necklace around her neck, she nodded. “Why not? You’d be more objective than anyone else I know.”

  “Sure you won’t get mad and fire me?” he asked.

  A smile curved up her lips. “I asked for it.”

  “The first thing I would do is stop telling them everything you’re doing, or planning…or hiring. Just do it. You’re manager. They pay you to manage.”

  “Easy for you to say. They’re not your parents.”

  He laughed at the expression on her face. “You didn’t ask me for easy.”

  “I’ll think about doing it your way.”

  He shrugged. “It’s up to you. Take my advice or leave it. Either way, I won’t be offended. You do what’s right for this business and you won’t go wrong.”

  Her expression changed, becoming softer. “You really think that about me? That I can just stop doing what I’ve been doing and—”

  “I know you can.” He ventured another step inside. Man, he wanted to get close to her. He wanted to be so close that she was in his arms. Reaching out, he placed the tips of his fingers on her heart, close to the upper swell of her left breast. “You have it in you.”

  Bailey stared at him, but not in fear. Oh, no. Those pretty brown eyes of hers took him all in, almost encouraging him to keep touching her. He wanted to keep touching her.

  He’d lost his damn mind.

  Reluctantly, he let his hand fall and took a step back. “You’re smart, Bailey. Why else would you have hired me?”

  She gasped, then picked up an oven mitt and threw it at him. “Lawson brothers think they’re such God’s gifts.”

  “My mother would agree with you,” he said solemnly.

  A peal of laughter filled the room. “She’s the reason for your big ego.” She touched her forehead with the tips of her fingers. “Gosh, I’d better start watching what I say to Leo. Now.”

  “Nah. It’s his momma’s job to fill his brain with nonsense about himself. And his daddy’s to bring him back to reality. You have to do that or else that kid’s going to be real messed up.”

  Bailey’s smile fell. The laughter that had brightened her eyes seemed to be completely sucked from the office. Damn it. He shouldn’t have mentioned the dad thing. Or that bit afterwards.

  Knowing he’d most likely hurt her made his chest ache. He hated the feeling.

  “Sorry. That was insensitive, but for what it’s worth—I was thinking of my brothers and me.”

  This was why he couldn’t get involved with anyone for a long time, maybe not even as a friend. He didn’t know how to speak carefully and considerately anymore. Smooth-talking men and women alike used to be something he excelled in, now he was ashamed he ever had the skill.

  “Not you and Leo,” he added quickly.

  She gave him a tight nod and glanced up. “Looks like your shift is over. See you tomorrow at four-thirty.”

  “Four-thirty it is,” he said.

  He wanted to say more, but he couldn’t think of anything else to say. Hell, he’d already talked more to Bailey in the past ten minutes than he’d talked to anyone in the past five years. Continuously that is.

  Tomorrow, he would come in, keep his head down, and do whatever Bailey needed him to do. Then he would continue doing that until he wasn’t needed. Maybe by then, he’d have a better grip on what to do next with his life.

  Chapter Five

  ‡

  There were only two things Bailey didn’t like about managing the diner. One, covering shifts for people who failed to show up for work. Two, sitting Tina down—yet again—for a talk about flirting with customers.

  It drove her nuts to constantly worry about who was and who wasn’t getting extra attention from one of her best waitresses. Okay, so Tina was one of her best waitresses to certain customers, not everyone who dined at Yates.

  “I know why you wanted to talk to me,” Tina said with a scowl.

  Awesome. Tina already had a bad attitude, and Bailey hadn’t said a word.

  “But I really can’t help it. I’m naturally friendly. If anyone’s complaining about me, then they’re just being difficult,” she added, her tone and posture becoming defensive as Bailey let her ramble.

  “If you were naturally friendly, then you’d be giving everyone the same special attention,” Bailey pointed out.

  Tina rolled her eyes. “I can’t help that people are jealous.”

  Bailey gritted her teeth, trying to maintain her temper. It wasn’t easy for her—not with an adult at least. She expected them to be responsible and not act like they were still in high school or college.

  With a sigh, Bailey said, “They’re not jealous. Those difficult people are paying customers, who, on top of what I pay you, are encouraged to leave a tip. But when you forget a table, they don’t feel so encouraged.”

  “They’re cheap.”

  “They’re not going to pay extra for something they don’t get,” Bailey said evenly. “Look, you’re one of my best waitresses, but when you igno
re half the customers in your section, then it makes the entire diner look bad. When the entire diner looks bad, customers stop coming.”

  “So?” Tina crossed her arms over her chest. “We don’t need cheapskates.”

  If Bailey fired Tina right now, she would be one waitress short, which meant she would have to cover all future shifts until she could find a replacement. She’d be working two jobs, and she couldn’t do that to Leo. Heck, she couldn’t afford to do that. Double the jobs did not mean double the pay, tips or not.

  “Let me put it to you in plain English. No customers. No money. No diner. No job.”

  Tina’s eye widened. “But I need this job.”

  “And I need you. But you can’t continue flirting…” Tina scowled and Bailey nearly threw her hands up in frustration, “Providing different services for people who all pay the same price for food. Give everyone one hundred percent. I bet you’ll see your tips go up.”

  “I know,” Tina said quietly, uncrossing her arms. “It’s just when I worked at Take This Shot, it was easy to spot the guys who were big tippers. Same here. I just keep working that angle. I’m sorry I keep screwing up so bad.” Tears shone in her eyes. She glanced away and wiped at her face with the heel of her hand.

  And that was Bailey’s other weakness. She hated to see someone cry over screwing up. Especially when they apologized for it.

  She eased off the desk and hugged the woman. “Stop beating yourself up. We all make mistakes.”

  “I know, but you’re the best boss I’ve ever had. Like I don’t have to sleep with you to get a good schedule or get a day off.”

  Bailey gave a weak smile. “Yeah, you know that’s not how it works, right?”

  Tina smiled brightly. “I know. I was happy to do it, especially if my boss was hot.” She wrinkled her nose. “Didn’t like it when I found out they were married though.”

  “Yes, that would be…” Bailey floundered for the right word.