“Awww.”
“He also said he couldn’t stop thinking about the way I held him in his moment of need,” I said.
“Oh, he’s an alpha, all right. An alpha with a heart. Those are the best kinds.”
“I have no idea what any of that means, but is it bad I’m hoping what he said was true?”
“What do you mean?”
“Part of me wants him to call and ask me out to dinner. Part of me wants to be his. But I barely know him, Bee. How can I want to be someone else’s if I don’t know them?”
“Sometimes your heart knows before your brain knows.”
“I’m not in love with the man.”
“I didn’t say you were. I said your heart knows something your brain hasn’t accepted yet. That’s it,” she said.
“Well, that was my night with Lucas. Once I did wake up on his shoulder, we got dressed back into our sopping wet clothes and we went inside to dry off a bit. Then, he called me a cab and gave me a kiss goodnight.”
“He really sounds sweet, Jess. I’m happy for you.”
“And I want to be happier for you. So, tell me more about this man? What’s his name?”
Bianca wrinkled her face and I rolled my eyes.
“You don’t know his name, Bee?”
“I mean, his tongue was a little too far down my throat? Let’s just say for the night I was ‘princess’ and he was ‘my king.’”
“You’re insane,” I said, giggling.
“We went back to this really nice hotel room. I mean, really fucking nice, right? And there’s rose petals on the bed and champagne chilling in this silver bucket. Then, over in the corner, are two cuffs dangling from the ceiling from a nice, shiny silver chain.
“Oh, that’s right up your alley.”
“I mean, we’re talking blindfolds, feathers, a riding crop, foreplay to the point where I thought I was going to punch him I was so upset for backing off.”
“Oh, this man is right up your alley.”
“I didn’t get much sleep last night,” she shrugged..
“That’s all you’re going to tell me?”
“Are you going to tell me if you had butt sex?”
I stuck my tongue out at her before I got up to fix my second cup of coffee.
“You said you gave him your number, right?”
“I did.”
“Is he just going to call you and ask for ‘his princess?’”
“Holy hell, I fucking hope so.”
I giggled as I stirred my coffee and closed my eyes. The night felt so surreal. And even though my hickey outed me to my best friend, I was glad it was there. It was a reminder of what I had experienced. It was proof that what happened last night had been real and not another dream of mine. I tossed the spoon into the sink and went back to sit with Bianca, and saw her staring off. She hadn’t even registered the fact that I had sat down in front of her. And the look in her eyes was familiar. I hadn’t seen that look since Jasper.
“Bee?”
“Hmm?”
She whipped her head over to me and smiled.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Yep. Just a little hungry. What are your plans for the day? I’ve got work tonight, but I’m free this afternoon.”
“We could go on one of our infamous hikes.”
“The ones where we dress up, think we’re going to hike, and then stuff our faces with Italian from the restaurant up the road?”
“That’s the one,” I said.
“Sounds like the perfect way to jumpstart our health.”
NINE
Lucas
“Whaddaya think ‘bout this one?” Everett asked.
I stood in our office headquarters of Wisteria Lake Design, turning the pictures around in my hands and looking at everything from different angles.
“You’re thinking about purchasing it and flipping it ourselves?” I asked.
“It’s the next phase of our business, Luke. We’ve been restorin’ old homes and shit for Mom and Dad and people who already want to buy them, and we’re losin’ out on a serious cut of those sold profits. If we flipped and sold ourselves, we’d get more money out of the same damn job.”
“None of the brothers have a real estate license.”
Everett grinned at me and I rolled my eyes.
“When did you get your real estate license?”
“Tested for it and passed a couple weeks ago.”
“Well, good for you. Have you run this by any of the other guys?”
“Yep. And because your ass has been down and out, you’re the last one that needs to approve this.”
“Okay. So, my professional opinion is this: these people want upwards of one million for a dilapidated property that’s going to need at least five hundred thousand in repairs alone. Not to mention upgrades. By the time we’re done, we’d have to sell at two million just to break even. And properties that sit on this kind of small patch of land don’t ever sell for two million. Not even with fully-updated interiors.”
“So, that’s a no?” he asked.
“Depends on how creative you get,” I said, grinning.
“I’m listenin’.”
“It’s a plantation, right? And it needs a metric shit ton of work. The thing right now that’s hot on the market, though, is in-law quarters.”
“You wanna split the property and make one house two houses.”
“Yep. It’ll take more time, but if we demolish this portion, break down these walls, and build a covered walkway between the two sections…”
I drew with a sharpie on the pictures, trying to piece together what was coming along in my mind.
“There. We outfit the smaller piece as an in-law quarters, put in its own air conditioning and small kitchen. Things like that. Then, we can sell this property for almost four million while sinking maybe two and a quarter million into it, maybe.”
“That doubles our return on investment,” he said.
“It does. It’ll take a little longer, but not double the time. So, it’s worth it in the end. Have you talked to the Historical Society about this house?”
“That’s why I wanted all of y’all’s approval. We’ll have to battle it out with them in this one.”
“Everett. Why are you bringing us houses that require legal battles?” I asked.
“Because I think I know how to get around it with them on this one. And if we can get their approval and still slap a historical landmark on it—”
“We can sell it for more.”
“Exactly,” he said, nodding.
“So, what’s your idea?”
“This particular plantation still has the bare bones underground routes the owners used to help get slaves north. Most houses around here have had theirs caved in or sealed up with cement, but not this house.”
“Do the corridors fuck with the foundation?” I asked.
“Nope. Already checked with the permission of the owners. And I don’t think these new renovations would fuck with it either. If we can promise the Historical Society that our building and reconstruction won’t jeopardize those tunnels and that we won’t fill them up, I think they’ll let us go ahead with it.”
“Well, we’ve got a good relationship with them thus far. Though they did block us on that property a few weeks ago. Derailed Flynn’s entire idea of adding a damn basement.”
“I think we got it. So long as we guarantee those corridors stay and we keep the outside historically accurate with its colors and designs, I think they’ll be in our corner for this one.”
“Sounds good,” I said.
I turned the pictures around with my fingertips on the table, but my mind wasn’t on the design. My mind was on her. Jessica. I hadn’t been able to get her off my mind since the party a few days ago. I had her number, but I had been so busy with work and new projects that I hadn’t had the time to call. The mansion we threw the party at was already turning out to be a bitch of a project, and I’d ended up sleeping there more
times than not while trying to fix shit we didn’t foresee going wrong.
“Lucas!”
“What?” I asked, annoyed.
“Did ya hear a damn thing I just said?” Everett asked.
“You were talking?”
He gave me a deadpan stare before shaking his head. “You’ve been distracted the past few days. Drew was right about that.”
“I’m not distracted.”
“Yes ya are. You're practically a damn liability on site nowadays. What gives?”
“Nothing.”
“No shit, it’s nothing. What’s got ya all twisted up inside?” he asked.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Must be big if ya don’t. You’re a big proponent on talking about shit always.”
I shot him a look and watched a grin crawl across his lips.
“Spill to your brother. What's goin’ on?”
I sighed and shook my head as I pushed the pictures off to the side.
“There was this girl I met at the party we threw.”
“Wait a second, did ya find that girl you were jabberin’ on about?” he asked.
“She has a name. It’s Jessica. And yes, she was at the party.”
“Holy shit! We were all wonderin’ if she would show up. How did it go? Did she blow you off? That’s why you're mad?”
“No, she didn’t blow me off, asshole.”
“So she gave ya a good time,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
“You cut that shit out now,” I growled.
Everett’s eyebrows hiked up to his hairline before he crossed his arms over his chest.
“This is serious. I haven’t heard that sound come from you since Lindsey.”
“I haven’t thought about a girl like this since Lindsey, either.”
“I mean, that’s good, right? Lindsey was a high school sweetheart ya dragged on about for years before divin’ headfirst into work.”
“I don’t like being distracted at work,” I said.
“But she’s obviously on your mind. I mean, I’m impressed, Luke.”
“Impressed?”
“Yeah. I was wonderin’ when the hell you’d move on from her and find yourself someone to occupy your time with. Good for you.”
“Good for me. Thanks,” I said flatly.
“What? What’s the issue here?”
“There’s no issue.”
“Have ya called her since the party?”
“What makes you think I have her number?”
“Nothin’. Figured if she’s got ya hooked this badly that maybe you two exchanged information or something.”
“I do have her number, but no I haven’t called.”
“And why the hell not?”
“Because I’ve been working, Everett.”
“But ya don’t work at night. I should know. I’ve had Kane goin’ out to the sites at night to make sure ya aren’t out there tryin’ to get yourself killed again.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. And anyway, you don’t sleep much. Maybe spending some time and wearing yourself out with a pretty lady will help with that issue.”
“Sex doesn’t help insomnia, dumbass.”
“Hey. Don’t get pissy with me. You're the one fawning after some girl and not fuckin’ callin’ her.”
He was right. I didn’t really have an excuse not to call Jessica. So why was I attempting to find one? Did I think things would turn out like they did between Lindsey and me? I mean, fuck. Lindsey was just shy of two fucking decades ago. So what if my high school sweetheart cheated on me? So what if the entire school knew but me? So what if she got her heart broken and came crawling back, only for me to be an idiot and take her back?
It was my fault I took her back. I should’ve known a girl like her couldn't keep it in her pants long enough to stay faithful. First time, shame on her. Second time, shame on me.
“She ain’t Lindsey, Luke.”
“I hear you,” I said.
“I don’t think you do. She ain’t Lindsey.”
“You can stop saying that name now.”
“You gonna call her?”
“Not right now.”
“She’s not—”
“I’m not fucking calling her in front of my damn brother who keeps chanting my ex's name like some damn ritual.”
“But you will call her.”
“Yes. I will call her. But I’m not distracted.”
“Yes, you are. But it’s fine,” he said.
“It’s not fine that I’m dis—”
I clamped my jaw shut as a sleazy smile crossed Everett’s face.
“I hate you sometimes.”
“Love you too, brother. I’ll go let everyone else know of this great idea of yours to split this home. Then, I’ll contact the Historical Society and Flynn and I will go talk with them.”
“Keep him on a leash, would you?” I asked.
“Always. I’ve thought about getting him an embroidered one for his birthday this year.”
“You’re sick,” I said, grinning.
“In all the best ways.”
Everett walked out of my office and I cocked my hip against my desk. What was keeping me from calling Jessica? I mean, I told her I would. Hell, I practically promised her I would. I looked over at my cell phone sitting on my desk and picked it up, then scrolled to find her number. There it was, with her name and everything entered into my phone. I even snuck a picture of her turned out towards the stars before she ducked into the cab I called her after the party that night. Her hair blew behind her and her arms were outstretched, leaning against the cab as she gazed out into the property. She was beautiful in the picture, even though it was nothing but her back.
I closed my eyes and pressed the call button before I held the phone to my ear. It rang and rang, and I debated on hanging up. Maybe she was working, or maybe she was a late sleeper. Maybe this was the wrong number, or maybe she was from out of town and didn’t live around here. But she did say she lived around Charleston. Born and raised, if I remembered correctly.
“Hello?”
That sweet voice filled my ear and my heart stopped in my chest.
“Hello there, Jessica.”
“Lucas?”
“I’m sorry it took so long for me to call. Work has been rough.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do?”
So sweet, and so willing to help. She was perfect in all the best ways.
“Nothing you can do, beautiful. But I’ve stolen a moment to myself, so I wanted to call.”
“I’m glad you did. I thought maybe you were second-guessing things or something.”
“Never with you,” I said. Her giggle was fantastic. “So, I was calling to see what you were doing Saturday night.”
“This coming Saturday?”
“Or Friday. Or Sunday. Any night, really.”
She giggled again and it pulled a smile across my cheeks.
“I have to work Saturday night, but I’m off Sunday since the tavern’s closed.”
“Where do you work, anyway?”
“Curious to know what place you stumbled into?”
“I was a little more curious about the woman I stumbled upon than the actual place. But it would help to know the name in case I get thirsty after a long day of work.”
“Southern’s,” she said.
“Ah, Southern’s Pub and Tavern. I’ve been passed it, but I’ve never ducked in.”
“Not true. You ducked in a few weeks ago.”
I chuckled and shook my head as she let out a soft sigh.
“But yes. I am free Sunday night,” she said.
“No, you’re not. You have plans with me Sunday night.”
“Perfect. What are those plans?”
“Do you trust me?”
There was a long pause before I heard her draw in a deep breath.
“I probably shouldn't, but I do.”
“Why do you say th
at?” I asked.
“I don’t know you well. Or at all, really. But… there is something about you I trust. Something that makes me feel…”
I hung onto her words and was disappointed when she didn’t finish that statement.
“You can say anything to me, Jessica. I’ll never judge you.”
“It just sounds so silly.”
“I promise it won’t.”
“There’s something about you that makes me feel safe.”
“Why would that be silly?” I asked.
“I don’t know, I guess.”
“That’s fine. But it’s not silly. I’m glad you feel safe around me.”
“Me, too. But you’re really not going to tell me what we’re doing?”
“Nope. I’m only going to tell you that I’ll pick you up at eight o’clock at your place. So, I’ll need your address.”
“My roommate and I have this rule that men we don’t know well don’t come inside,” she said.
“That’s a good rule to have. Then I won’t come inside. I can call you when I’m there and you can come down to me.”
“Then, it sounds like a date. But can you at least give me a hint so I know what to wear?”
“Wear what makes you feel beautiful. There’s no dress code. Be comfortable and feel your best. That’s all I ask.”
“I’m sure that’s not all you ask.”
“It’s all I can ask while being appropriate in the daylight.”
I’d never get sick of her small giggles, and I made a silent commitment to pull as many from her lips as I could Sunday night.
“So, Sunday at eight. Wear something that makes me feel good. Should I come hungry?” she asked.
“You should.”
“Heels or sandals?”
“Whatever works for you.”
“Panties or no panties?”
My eyes widened as a growl rumbled in my chest.
“You really are full of surprises, Miss Jessica.”
“I try when I can,” she said.
“You wear—or don’t wear—whatever you want. And I’ll see you Sunday evening.”
“I’m looking forward to it, Lucas.”
“So am I, Jessica. And this is my personal number, so feel free to use it anytime.”
“Hmmm, that gives me a few ideas.”
“Keep it PG while I’m at work. The last thing I need is to fall off another ladder,” I said.
Wild and Free: A Second Chance Romance (The Wilder Brothers Book 1) Page 7
