Love So True

by Marquita Valentine

“Oh, Adam Lawson is married, but you know that. His wife is just the sweetest.”

  Bailey’s head spun. She pressed the tips of her fingers to her forehead. “Are you being this way on purpose?”

  “Purposefully helping you—of course. Anyway, be ready at seven. Tonight.”

  “Tonight? One, I don’t know this guy. Two, I don’t get off until six. Three, I don’t know this guy.”

  Apple waved a hand in the air. “Your parents know him. I ran it by them first.”

  Bailey gaped at her for a full thirty seconds before she grabbed her purse. “I appreciate your help. But no date.”

  “But Nate will be so disappointed. He’d planned to bring flowers and something for Leo, too.”

  “Even if I did agree to go out with him, there is no way I’d let him meet Leo this soon.”

  “Oh, I didn’t think of that,” Apple said, sounding genuinely upset. “I’m sorry.”

  What was it about Apple that made Bailey want to knock some sense into her head one minute and then hug her the next? “It’s okay. You wouldn’t know that. It’s my rule. When I do choose to date, I can’t bring anyone around until after I get to know them and make sure that they’ll be sticking around. Leo doesn’t need to get attached to someone who’ll end up leaving.”

  “So no date?”

  Bailey shook her head. “No date. I’m not ready.” But as she gave Apple a hug to at least show her that she wasn’t completely mad at her for trying to set her up with a good guy, Bailey couldn’t help but think of Lucas. Of how he saved her son with no thought to himself. The things he’d said while she cried.

  Ribbons of warmth wove through her body.

  “Fine,” Apple sighed. “Too bad Lemon wasn’t here today. I bet she could have helped me convince you.”

  Bailey nodded. “Maybe next time.” She waved good-bye to everyone in the shop and started for the diner, still thinking of Lucas. It was like he’d invaded her mind, but she had no inclination to kick him out.

  She relived their kiss, the way he pulled her under him, and held her to him. They way he felt as he rocked against her.

  Warmth gave way to hot flashes of desire.

  Was it too much to hope that Lucas—a former bad boy who’d become a really good man—would stick around?

  Chapter Eight

  ‡

  Lucas stood behind the counter, slicing up an apple pie into eight equal parts, when Bailey sailed inside. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair was windblown, and when their eyes met—hers sparkled.

  “How are you today?” she asked. “Not too sore?”

  Actually, there were parts of him that were pretty damn sore, but he was sure she wasn’t asking about that part of his anatomy. Not to mention that he didn’t sleep for shit last night.

  But there was no way he’d tell her that either. She would feel like it was her fault. “Nothing a good night’s sleep didn’t fix. My brother, Mason, had some stuff to do around his house, so that helped work out any kinks in my muscles.” He finished slicing the pie and put it under the pie dome. “You?”

  White teeth flashed as she nibbled on her bottom lip. The sparkle in her eyes dulled. “I slept with Leo last night, but I’m doing a lot better today. While Leo doesn’t even act like something huge happened yesterday. Kids.”

  “That’s good.” He meant it. Worrying about her and Leo was the reason why he’d tossed and turned all night.

  “He kept asking about you this morning.”

  Lucas grinned. “He did?”

  Bailey nodded. “Wanted to know when Superman could come make him fly again.”

  “Tell him whenever he wants,” he said without thinking. Son of a gun. He shouldn’t have said that to her.

  “Really?”

  No. “Yeah.” Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. “When’s a good time?”

  Her pretty eyes danced. “Friday? It’s my day off because Leo’s preschool has a teacher workday and Jess can’t babysit. So we’d planned to do something fun like go to the park.”

  “The park in town, over by the elementary school?” he asked.

  “Yep. Want to join us? We’ll have a picnic and everything.” She frowned. “But you’ll need to check your schedule. I can’t…it’s not right for me to give you time off to come play with Leo and me.”

  Lucas leaned against the counter, lowering his voice. “I already know my schedule. I’m working breakfast and that’s it. My boss even gave me Saturday off. So, it’s not a problem.”

  “I like your boss,” she said softly, placing her hands on the counter and pushing up. “She sounds super smart.”

  He touched her hand with the tips of his fingers. “Very smart.” What in the hell was he doing?

  Bailey smiled wider. Oh yeah, she was why.

  “It’s slow right now, so if you could follow me to my office, I have something to discuss.” Bailey walked away, her jean-clad hips swaying. The pink shirt she wore clung to her curves. Curves that he had his hands on last night.

  And that’s the type of thinking she doesn’t need. Bailey was vulnerable and had been taken advantage of too many times in the past. The last thing she needed was a guy like him, who pictured her in the shower while he—

  “Lucas?” Bailey glanced at him over her shoulder, her expression confused. “You’re coming, right?”

  “Be right there.” First, he needed to get control of his thoughts and his very inconvenient erection.

  Lucas strode to her office, striking any lustful thoughts of Bailey and her very sexy body from his mind.

  As soon as he got halfway in, the door slammed behind him and Bailey jumped him, her arms and legs holding on tight. “I decided that I don’t want to wait until Friday to have a playdate with you.”

  Then she kissed him. Holy shit, she kissed him.

  She tasted like heaven, moved her body against him like the devil’s own special torture device. There was no way he’d let this continue, especially at work. What would people say about her? He’d have to go to jail again because he would beat the living crap out of anyone who tried to say an unkind thing about her.

  She wriggled against him, putting her in direct contact with his erection. His brain shut down, body going hard as he wrapped his arms around her and cupped her firm ass, working her against him. The friction was driving him crazy and judging by the whimpers coming from her, she felt the same way.

  He slanted his mouth over hers, taking what she offered while wanting so much more. He devoured her, exploring every inch of her mouth and sucking on her tongue. It had been so damn long. Too damn long.

  And he was greedy.

  A moan escaped her throat, turning him on even more. He propelled them to the desk, setting her down and running his hands all over her body. She pulled his shirt up and practically tore it off of him. Her mouth went to his chest, kissing him everywhere. She bit at one of his nipples, and he groaned. He helped her out of her clothes, not stopping until she sat on her desk, gloriously naked and—he ran a finger down her core—wet.

  She cried out. He covered her mouth with his hand, sliding a finger inside of her. Her eyes opened wide. They were glazed with desire. He felt a surge of lust so powerful that he almost mounted her right then and there.

  But he didn’t because it would be over before he’d even gotten started. Dropping to his knees, he buried his face between her thighs, keeping his fingers working in and out of her while he licked and sucked and drank down every bit of her sweetness like a man starving.

  He watched as she leaned back on the desk, bracing her hands against it and spreading her thighs wider. Her back arched, sending the most perfect pair of breasts with the most perfect pink, tight nipples he’d ever seen into the air.

  She bit down on his finger, and his cock pulsed. He scraped his teeth against her clit, and she screamed. And even though her scream was muffled by his hand, he was pretty damn sure anyone within a one-mile radius had heard her.

  Pumping his finger in and out of her, he cu
rled them slightly and her body shook again. “Lucas, Lucas, Lucas,” she chanted.

  Sweetest sound he’d ever heard. “I’m here.”

  When her tremors had subsided, she sat up a little, looking at him with a dazed, satisfied gaze. Male satisfaction roared. He’d done that to her. Him and no one else.

  Rising to his feet, he kissed a wet path up her tummy, circled her belly button, and then spent some time getting to know her breasts. Her nipples were still hard and tasted like… “Candy. God. I knew you would taste like candy.”

  He wanted to take his time exploring her hot little body, maybe get her to come again, but his own body was hammering at his brain for him to find the same release.

  As if reading his mind, Bailey pushed him back a little and unbuttoned his jeans. She shoved them down and put her hands inside, cupping him. With a siren’s smile, she hopped off the desk and dropped to her knees, pulling his erection out and wrapping her sexy lips around the head.

  He swore, fisting his hand into her hair. Guiding her mouth, he showed her what to do, not that she needed much teaching.

  She was an expert, and damned if he didn’t love and hate it. Love it because it felt so good. Hated it because he wasn’t the one who taught her how to—

  The head of his cock hit the back of her throat.

  He couldn’t hold back any longer. “Bailey, I have to…” God, he couldn’t talk, couldn’t breathe as she took him deeper.

  As she stayed with him through his entire orgasm.

  Heart slamming against his chest, he adjusted his jeans and pulled Bailey to him. “You didn’t have to do that,” he whispered.

  “I wanted to,” she said simply.

  Stroking her long, brown hair, he absorbed her statement. Her warmth. He’d been cold for so long that the feeling was strange, but not unwelcome.

  “We’re still on for Friday,” he said finally. “And I’d like to take you out on a proper date. Leo can come too.” Whatever was easiest on her.

  She leaned back in his arms. “A proper date? What’s that?” she asked with a wink before her expression turned serious. “I’m not vulnerable, Lucas. What just happened between us was…wonderful.”

  Liar. She was just as vulnerable as him, only neither of them wanted to hurt the other. A good thing. A beginning. Hopefully, the start of putting his life back together. “Next time, I’m aiming for amazing.”

  *

  The rest of the week at work was spent with the two of them giving each other heated looks and accidental touches. At one point, when he’d finally had enough and pulled Bailey into the storage room, kissing her for so long that one of the waitresses started looking for them.

  “We have to stop this before everyone figures out that it doesn’t take this long to find baby peas,” Bailey giggled against his mouth. “This is, like, the third time.”

  “Well, shit. I told them we were looking for baby carrots.” It was their second trip to the storeroom that day.

  “At least they go together?” came Bailey’s oh-so-helpful reply. He kissed her nose, then her cheek, and pretty soon, he had her pinned against the wall, one hand down the front of her pants while the other cupped the back of her neck. He worked at her clit, pumped her wet heat with two fingers, and felt the sting of her bite when she came apart.

  “Such a very bad girl,” he said, licking her sweetness off his fingers. “But such a very good taste.”

  Blushing, Bailey attempted to unbutton his jeans, but he gently moved her hands away. “Not this time. But don’t worry, I’ll have a lot for that pretty, little mouth of yours to do when we have enough privacy.”

  With a little pout, Bailey let her hands fall to her sides. “I haven’t snuck around this much since high school.”

  Lucas smirked. “Knew I shouldn’t have stopped with just a kiss from you.”

  Bailey’s eyes grew wide. “You remember that?”

  Deliberately, he let his smirk fade. “Yes. It was awful.”

  Her mouth grew round, and she punched him in the shoulder. “That’s not nice.”

  “You just needed a little practice, was all.”

  Her nose wrinkled. “And you need a little lesson in manners.”

  “If I had manners, then I wouldn’t be kissing you in the storeroom.”

  Her face fell. “Manners are overrated.”

  “No, no, no. I promise to be a gentleman from now on. Keep my hands to myself and—”

  Bailey hefted a bag of peas at him. “Shut up.”

  Catching it easily, he teased, “Feisty little thing.” He tossed it back to her.

  Eyes narrowing, she grumbled, “Get to work or next time, I’ll aim at your crotch.”

  Laughing more than he had in years, he grabbed a bag of freshly chopped carrots from the shelf and headed back to the main dining room before she made good on her promise.

  *

  Bailey waited anxiously for Lucas to show up at the park. Leo was beside himself and asked her every five seconds when Superman was coming.

  A small part of her wondered if what she’d instigated between her and Lucas had been a mistake. Maybe she should take a step back and reevaluate her reevaluation of him.

  Giving Leo another push on the swing, she scanned the park and checked the time on her phone.

  “Superman,” Leo sang out. “Superman is on his way.”

  Her heart flipped in her chest. What if Lucas didn’t come and his nonappearance broke Leo’s heart? God, what had she been thinking?

  Well, it was clear as anything she hadn’t been thinking—with her brain, anyway. Her head had been clogged with lust and desire and—

  “Superman,” Leo shouted, launching himself out of the swing and into Lucas.

  “Hey, buddy,” Lucas said as he got on the same level with her son. “That was a great jump. You were almost flying.” He held up his hand. “High five, man.”

  Leo grinned and smacked his hand against Lucas’. Lucas made a mock face of pain and shook out his hand. “Watch out, buddy. You don’t know your own strength.”

  Her son giggled. He was already falling for Lucas’ charm.

  So was she.

  Bailey took a deep breath. “Hey, Lucas.”

  His dark blue eyes glanced up at her. He smiled, and this time it reached all the way to his eyes. “Hey, Bailey.”

  “Let’s swing,” Leo said, turning Lucas’ face to his. “Mommy can push you too, if you don’t know how.”

  “I know how to swing—I’m superman, remember?” He picked Leo up and hoisted him over one broad shoulder, then ran around the park with him.

  Bailey pressed a hand against her mouth as she watched them play. For some reason, she wanted to cry. Maybe it was because Leo had taken so quickly to Lucas. By nature, Leo had an outgoing personality and loved meeting new people, but this was different.

  He actually looked at Lucas as his hero because Lucas had been his hero.

  Lucas caught her eye and winked. Clearly, he was enjoying himself while she was having an emotional breakdown.

  “Mommy watch,” Leo shouted.

  She waved. “I’m watching, buddy!”

  “You go sit down and watch us, Bailey,” Lucas said, flexing his muscles. “Let the men play.”

  Leo copied him, making a snarling face. “Yeah, Mommy. The men pway!”

  Bailey held up her hands. “Far be it from me to get in the way of men playing.”

  With a grin, Lucas hefted Leo and sat him on a bucking bronco that rocked, then he swung one long leg over a pink-and-white duck that spun in circles.

  He winked at her. “It’s a manly duck.”

  Bailey hid her smile. She moved to the picnic table and began to unpack the lunch she’d brought for them to share. Yet another reason she was glad Lucas had shown up. There was enough food in her cooler for two grown men.

  After she had gotten everything out, she sat down and watched her son with Lucas. It was almost noon, and she knew Leo had to be hungry. His little stomach
could double for a clock—if you only needed to know three hours of the day.

  Face flushed, Leo ran and tackled her. “I’m hungry.”

  “Hi Hungry, I’m Mommy.”

  Leo made a goofy face at her. He knew she was teasing him. “Superman is hungry too.”

  “Then it’s a good thing I brought food.”

  Lucas joined them at the table and sucked in some air through his teeth. “I didn’t think to bring lunch. I was running late and thought y’all would eat without me.”

  Bailey handed Lucas a pimento cheese sandwich. “Saw you scarfing down these the other day.”

  He unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite. “So good.”

  Leo copied him with his own sandwich. Once again, Bailey found herself tearing up over the silliest things. It was just lunch, and Leo was a huge copycat.

  “Thanks for inviting me,” Lucas said. “I had fun playing with Leo.” He mussed Leo’s hair and her son made a don’t-mess-with-me-while-I’m-eating face.

  “Careful or you’ll draw back a nub,” she said.

  “Duly noted.”

  Suddenly, Leo perked up, his brown eyes widening. He quickly drank the rest of his water and said, “Mommy, my friend is here. Can I go play?”

  Glancing over her shoulder, she saw one of Leo’s soccer teammates waving their way. What looked to be his teenage sister held one of his hands.

  “Can I?”

  “Go on.”

  She turned in her seat to keep an eye on him as they played.

  “I’ll take turns swinging them,” the young girl called out.

  “Is she old enough to be his mother?” Lucas whispered.

  Bailey laughed. “I’m pretty sure that his sister. The entire county has the day off from school.”

  He came around the table and joined her, sitting so close that their thighs almost touched.

  “I’d like to take a nap now,” he said suddenly. “I only played with Leo for an hour…I don’t know how you do it.”

  “With lots of help. And chocolate,” she said with a laugh. “But I have to admit, he is exhausting.”

  “My little brothers were like that. Hell, they’re still like that.”

  “Is that why you were such a natural with Leo?”