by Liwen Ho
“That’s an idea. We can try it.”
“I thought you’d like the breaking even part.”
“I do,” he chuckled. “The part where you compromised was pretty sweet, too.”
“Ha,” she scoffed, though inwardly she was happy to see him finally loosen up. Curious, she decided to ask about his day again. “I gave in a little; now it’s your turn. Why were you in such a funk? Did something happen at work? Come on, spill it,” she encouraged, pushing the penny on the table closer to him. “And don’t say something generic like you did earlier about feeling tired, blah, blah, blah. Tell me how you really feel.”
Lucas pushed up the sleeves of his blue checkered shirt. “If this artist thing doesn’t work out, you could try becoming a shrink.”
“Hm. I do love telling people what to do. The listening part, not so much. But I’ll give it a try if you try talking.”
“Thanks for trying. I appreciate it.” Lucas managed a half smile. “I just had one of those days that made me realize how hard it is to raise a daughter by myself. I don’t know how I’m going to handle Lucy when she’s a teenager. What do I do when she doesn’t listen to me anymore?” He looked down at his hands clasped in his lap. “Lauren was so good with her. They shared such a strong bond. It’s not the same between me and her.”
“You’re worrying too much. You’ve got plenty of time to build your relationship. She’s only four.”
“She’s only four and she already wants to move out. She’d rather live with you than with her own father.”
“Well, you’ve got to admit I’m a tad more fun,” she teased, before changing her tone. His grim expression sobered her. He really was feeling lost. “Kids just want their parents to spend time with them. Sit down with Lucy and have a tea party. Paint together. Go get ice cream. And ease up on your rules. You spend most of the time telling her what to do or what not to do. Believe me, that gets old real fast.”
“Someone has to teach her right from wrong. You have no idea what crazy things kids are up to these days. It’s not the same world we grew up in.”
She cocked her head and studied him. “Your job’s making you paranoid. The same thing happened to my sister. When she was in med school, she’d diagnose herself with whatever disease she was studying that week. You deal with criminals every day. You’ve got yourself thinking everyone’s going to turn into one, even your own daughter. There are good guys out there, too, like you.” She playfully poked his arm. “So, what happened today that got to you?”
He drew in a deep breath, then grimaced. “We got a tip to check on a restaurant. Some guy spotted a bunch of young girls there.”
Sam could tell from the muscle twitching in his jaw that he was angry. She liked that about him, his strong, protective side that made him want to become a cop. Sure, he had the rule-following side that made him perfect for the job, but it was his heart that made him good at it. “What did you find?”
“Turns out they were serving more than enchiladas. It was a front for an escort service,” he spat out, while making air quotes with his fingers.
Sam quirked a brow. “Oh, you mean guys paying girls to—”
Raising one hand to silence her, he sneaked a peek at the hallway. “No need to go into details. I don’t want little ears to overhear us.”
“Got it,” she acknowledged in an overly secretive tone. “Calm down. I’m around kids all day. I know what’s okay to talk about. I wasn’t going to say anything explicit. I mean, aren’t some of these services for companionship only?”
“Companionship?” His threw up his hands in exasperation. “Believe me, they were doing more than, uh, having tea parties at this place. A lot more. Are you that naive? I can’t believe you’d think that. What side of town are you from?”
“The French one,” she replied with indignation. He might as well have called her stupid. Sure, she had made some foolish decisions in her life, but she didn’t need him reminding her of them. “When I lived in Paris, I got asked to join a dating site. It was a service for men who wanted female company. The guys would pay for a nice evening out and the girls would provide interesting conversation. It was purely platonic. Companionship only.”
“Wait, how old were these men that you went out with?”
“Mostly in their forties or fifties, a few younger. They were all professionals with established careers. Men who knew how to treat girls right.”
Lucas stared at her incredulously. In a hushed voice, he declared, “Older, rich men who paid to go on dates with young, beautiful girls? Haven’t you heard of the term “sugar daddy”?”
Sam crossed her arms. “Don’t make it sound crude, Lucas. It was legal and both parties benefitted from the arrangement.”
“You were a glorified escort. Why did you—how could you sell yourself like that?”
Sam’s face heated, and the breeze from the ceiling fan overhead did little to cool her. He had the gall to label her! “You have no idea how hard I worked to support myself. I got accepted into one of the best art programs and had the chance to learn from some amazing teachers. When money got tight, I did what I had to do to survive. I may have sold my time and company, but I never sold my dignity. You have no right to judge me.”
“Who said I was judging—okay, maybe I was.” Throwing up his hands, he relented, “Fine, I should have asked for your side of the story before making assumptions. I’m just surprised you did something so … so …”
“Repulsive? Desperate? Just say it.”
“Risky,” he sighed. “Did they run background checks? Did you meet in public places?”
“Of course they ran background checks and we always met at restaurants. These were respectable guys: doctors, lawyers, company executives, even some government employees. They weren’t criminals, just lonely.”
“What if a guy tried to take advantage of you? I’m sure some wanted more than companionship.”
“Even if they did, I made it clear that I wasn’t interested. Are you done with your questions?”
Lucas nodded, not looking the least bit convinced. “Just one more. How many of them were married?”
“What?” Sam spluttered, realizing she had said too much already. The way he looked at her made her wonder if there was a big red “A” stamped on her forehead. Of course she would never date a married man, much less fall in love with one, knowingly. Did he think she would stoop that low?
She tried to think of a way to get out of answering his question when the notes of a pop song cut through the silence. A male voice singing the chorus to “Shut Up and Dance” came from the living room. “That’s me,” she indicated with relief as she stepped away to answer her cell phone.
A moment later, Sam returned to the dining room with a big smile on her face. Her mood had completely shifted, thanks to some great news and an excuse to end the conversation. “My sister’s in labor! I gotta go. You don’t mind if we meet tomorrow, right? I need to go to the hospital.”
“Of course not. Give my best to your sister and brother-in-law.” Lucas walked her to the door. “Oh, and hold off on buying those easels. I want to go over our budget again.”
“But the sale ends Friday.”
“That’s four days away.”
“I was hoping to get them by then.”
“How? Shipping takes at least a week.”
“Haven’t you heard of expedited shipping?” She watched his jaw drop. “Obviously, you haven’t.”
“And you obviously haven’t heard that patience is a virtue.”
“For your information, I’m getting a big lesson on it right now.” Rolling her eyes, she flashed him a cheeky smile. She slid her feet into her red four-inch sandals and bent down to adjust the straps at her heel. Standing back up, she faced him squarely and felt her cheeks warm. That grin of his was melting her resolve again. It was so unfair. “How about we place the order tomorrow, but for two dozen? That way we’ll qualify for free shipping.”
Lucas nodded, his
smile widening. “Deal. Go ahead and place the order tonight.”
“Yes!” Raising her hands, she stomped her feet quickly on the tile floor. She immediately regretted her victory dance because she lost her balance and began toppling over. “Shi—,” she corrected herself before Lucas could. “Shoot!”
Lucas caught her just in time.
She found herself face to face with his Adam’s apple, and it took her a moment to realize she had her palms on his chest. His very firm chest. She was keenly aware of the strong pulsing rhythm beneath her right fingers and how it quickened its pace as Lucas tightened his hold on her.
“Those shoes …,” he grumbled against her hair.
She looked up to see him gazing at her intensely. She recognized the curiosity and hunger in his eyes. “Yes?”
“Those shoes,” he reiterated in a gruff voice, “are a hazard.”
“Are you concerned about me, Officer Choi?” she teased, knowing full well that she had his complete attention.
“You need more practical shoes. For your well-being and those around you.”
“And give up these gorgeous babies?” Not to mention, the opportunity to fall in his arms again? She licked her lips and saw his pupils dilate. “No, thanks.”
He finally dropped his arms. “I may not be here to catch you next time.”
“I’ll take my chances.” And that was what she chose to do. It was time to take her chances and do what she’d been wanting to do ever since they reunited.
She slid her palms from his broad chest to his shoulders and rested them there for a moment. Her breathing grew shallow as she walked the fingers of her right hand up his neck and ran them through the thick hair at his nape. His light brown eyes darkened with intensity and his hands were at her waist again, pressing their bodies close. Closing her eyes, she reached up to kiss him. Her lips had barely brushed his when he turned away.
“Sam, stop.” The words came out harsher than Lucas intended. He watched her eyes open, and humiliation cast a shadow on her beautiful features.
She snatched her purse off the tile floor and ran out the door.
“Sammie!” He slumped against the doorframe and ran a hand over his face. What am I doing?
His eyes followed her as she ran to her car parked at the curb. The hem of her white dress flew up around her knees, reminding him of a flag waving in the wind. The concept of surrender though didn’t exist in Sam’s world. Just like the dress, she could not be tamed. Her rebellious side showed itself even more in the bold slit that ran down the center of her back. Why anyone would spend money on clothing that didn’t provide adequate coverage was beyond him. It was hardly practical, but practicality aside, he had to admit she looked good. So good that he had almost kissed her back.
He had wanted to. He was human after all, and what man wouldn’t be tempted to respond to Sam’s advances? Knowing she wanted him felt like the first time he had fired a gun: exhilarating, yet frightening. So much power existed in his hands when he held that deadly weapon, power triggered by an instinct to protect himself and others. And it was his instinct for protecting Lucy that made him resist her. He couldn’t care for her after what he learned about her tonight. But that didn’t lessen the guilt he felt over rejecting her.
She would never admit it, but he knew she was hurt. As expected, her hurt manifested itself in anger. She was emptying her purse onto the car’s hood with such force that the contents made clanging sounds on impact. One item, a long black tube, began rolling away from her. Standing on one foot, she leaned over the hood to reach it before it fell into the street. She hopped up in a last ditch effort to grab it and landed back down on the heel of her sandal. Her ankle rolled onto its side, and she cried out in pain.
Lucas was out the door and running down the driveway, watching her fall as if in slow motion. He caught her with one arm around her back before she hit the concrete. Placing his other arm behind her knees, he quickly scooped her up.
The moment seemed surreal, holding Sam in his arms as the sky above them turned into mesmerizing streaks of pink and orange. Adrenaline continued to pump through his veins, causing him to hold her close. Their eyes met, and the softness he saw in hers, that unfamiliar look of vulnerability, made him love her even more. Without a second thought, he placed his mouth on hers. He heard Sam gasp before she encircled her arms around his neck. She returned his kiss with more passion than he thought possible.
After a long while, they parted, both breathless and quiet.
Sam smiled and spoke first. “You said you wouldn’t be here to catch me next time.”
“I changed my mind,” Lucas chuckled softly. “You don’t mind, do you?”
Shaking her head emphatically, she cupped his face and kissed him again. When she pulled back, she whispered against his lips, “Not at all.”
Neither did Lucas. Because for the first time in a long time, he was letting his heart do the leading, and he was more than happy to follow.
SEVEN
Sam snuggled the newborn close to her chest and breathed in deeply. The pure baby scent filled her senses, and she couldn’t help but sigh. This evening, with all of its surprises, couldn’t be turning out any better. The giddy feelings swirling inside her body made her smile again. That kiss had been amazing, so amazing that she almost forgot the searing pain in her ankle.
“You seem happy.” Her sister eyed her suspiciously.
“Of course I’m happy. I’m a proud auntie to another little girl, and a sneaky one at that.” Stroking the baby’s soft cheek, she cooed, “All this time I thought I was getting another nephew and you show up. We’re going to have so much fun together. I’m the fun aunt, you know.”
“You hate hospitals and you have a twisted ankle. I thought you’d be complaining about how much pain you’re in, but you’re smiling. What kind of meds did they give you downstairs?”
“How is it possible that you’re lying in a hospital bed and you still sound like a doctor?” Shifting in her seat, she reached forward to adjust the ice pack laying across her left ankle, which was propped up on the edge of Melanie’s bed. “They didn’t give me anything. The nurse said to keep it elevated and iced, which I’m doing. I’m just distracted by this cutie pie.”
Melanie’s expression softened. “She is cute, isn’t she? I think she might look the most Asian out of the three of them. Her hair’s the darkest.”
Sam lifted the pink knit cap on her niece’s head to reveal a tuft of dark brown hair. “True. But her complexion is pretty fair. If you’re trying to give Ma a Chinese-looking grandkid, I think you’ll need to try again.”
Melanie sighed. “I told her with almost a billion and a half Chinese people in the world, we’re not going to die out anytime soon. But you know, Ma. Once she gets an idea in her mind—”
“It’s stuck there like super glue,” Sam finished. “She’s determined to marry me off this year. She called every day this week to read me the classifieds in the Chinese paper. The best one so far has been: Serious engineer seeks special lady friend. All blood types welcome.”
“At least she didn’t place an ad for you.”
Sam’s face heated. “Don’t you dare give her any ideas!”
“With her help, you might be the one to save our people,” Melanie joked. “Too bad you prefer non-Asian men.”
“I may be reconsidering my stance.”
“You are? What changed your mind?”
Before Sam could speak, there was a gentle knock on the door. It opened slowly and a blond head popped in. “Mel? Ben said I could come in.”
“Sure, Ash, come meet your new niece.”
Melanie’s sister-in-law walked in with a bright smile. “Hi, Sam, long time no see.” She gave Sam a quick hug before turning her attention to the baby in her arms. “I can’t believe it’s a girl. Oh, she’s beautiful.”
“She smells amazing, too.” Sam lifted her up to Ashlynn. “Wanna hold her?”
Ashlynn took the baby and sat down on t
he bed. She did a double-take when she spotted Sam’s bruised foot. “Ouch! What happened to your ankle?”
“Just had a little incident trying to save my favorite mascara. It hurts like hel—heck, but I’ll survive. I won’t be able to wear heels for a while though.”
“Flats aren’t so bad. Unless you have tall friends, then it gets to be a pain in the neck, literally,” Ashlynn grinned. “Speaking of, I met your friend in the waiting room. He seems nice.”
“Friend?” Melanie asked. “What friend?”
“The tall, Asian one Ben’s grilling.”
Sam rolled her eyes at the thought of her easygoing brother-in-law who taught high school math interrogating a police officer. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Don’t worry, Jeremy’s being their buffer. This is one of those times his negotiation skills come in handy outside the office.”
“That’s sweet of your hubby to do that, but Lucas is as squeaky clean as they come. He’s a cop, for crying out loud.”
Ashlynn’s eyes widened. “He is? He must not like doughnuts ‘cause he’s in really good shape.” Her cheeks reddened. “Not that I was looking.”
“No worries,” Sam laughed. “We all know your heart belongs to your knight in shining armor. He actually prefers muffins, but his daughter likes doughnuts.”
“Wait, a cop with a daughter?” Melanie interrupted. “Who are you talking about?”
“Remember the cop who pulled me over a few weeks ago? It turns out he’s the dad of one of my students.”
“The guy from high school? Where’s his wife?”
“She passed away from cancer a year ago.”
“That’s so sad,” Ashlynn frowned. “How old is his daughter?”
“She’s four going on fourteen,” Sam grinned, “and I’m her new best friend.”
An amused look crossed Melanie’s face. “I see what’s going on. I thought you weren’t interested in dating a widower.”
