“Pity.”
Lana frowned and looked back over the party, trying to figure out why this man wouldn’t tell her who he was. Her lungs felt like they were on fire and nausea coiled like an angry snake in her stomach.
No. Not now. Recognizing the signs immediately, she exhaled a deep, slow breath. She couldn’t be having a panic attack!
Forcing another breath in, she swallowed down the disgusting lump in her throat and cleared it.
“Sheriff, huh? Where are you from?”
Talk to me. Distract me.
“From around here. I made sheriff about three years ago.”
“Sheriff Meyer finally decided to retire?” Inhale, exhale. It was a simple concept but one her brain couldn’t quite grasp.
He nodded once but kept his gaze averted.
She was out of questions. What now? Now the panic attack was about to get the best of her and the last thing she wanted to do was make a scene.
“Excuse me,” she mumbled and rushed past him.
His arm snaked out and grabbed her wrist.
“You okay, Lana?”
She stared at his large hand consuming hers, as sweat beaded on her brow. Then her eyes trailed up carefully to meet his. The sudden contrast from angry to concern stopped her heart momentarily. The panic attack faded for a second, and she tried to remember where she’d seen those eyes. They had such a magnificent color.
“I’ll be fine. I just need to get to a restroom,” she whispered.
“You’re white as a sheet. Are you sick?”
That was one way of putting it. “Actually,” she licked her lips. “I am.”
His grip loosened and her wrist slipped free. “What’s wrong?”
Lana shook her head. She didn’t want to talk about it, and she certainly didn’t want his pity. She didn’t even know the man.
As panic overwhelmed her again, she thought about the restrained strength in his touch and the muscular frame underneath the uniform. He could twitch a finger and she’d be across the room. Just like it had been with James.
The bathroom had a line, and she couldn’t wait. Her control was slipping fast and her heart slammed against her chest. Whipping back around to the outside, she pushed past the crowd and finally found a haven in a darkened back corner where no one stood. She sat on her knees facing the bushes, her chest heaving and her heart racing.
After ten years, she was finally free of James.
Only to realize that freedom came with a price.
Chapter Two
Lucky eased his fingers over Lana’s arms and squeezed.
“You okay?” he asked her quietly and rubbed her shoulders free of the tension. The feel of her small, bony shoulders against his palm caused everything to hit home. All the rumors he’d heard over the years had to be true. The wariness in her eyes as she looked back at him spoke louder than anything else. The Lana he had known in high school, so full of life and smiles, was no more.
“I’m fine, thank you.” Shrugging his hands away, she took a deep breath and stood.
“You said you were sick.” His eyebrows rose as she towered above him.
As he sat kneeling in front of her, she looked away. “Uh…yeah. I’m sick. But I’m feeling better now.”
Lucky stood. “What’s wrong, Lana?”
He hadn’t meant to say her name like a caress, because she looked at him then. His eyes held hers with determination, and she sighed.
“My life is pretty much over, that’s all.” She gave him a little shrug.
Lucky’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed deeply. After everything he’d heard from the gossips in town, it couldn’t be possible that she was dying. She deserved so much more.
“I’m sorry I bothered you, Lucky. It was nice meeting you. Happy Fourth.” With a dismissive smile, she turned to walk away.
“Lana…” His voice sounded tight. “Do you not know who I am?”
“You said your name was Lucky and you were sheriff. Beyond that I don’t know much except…” She squinted at him and grinned. “You’re a little strange. You act like you actually care about me, but we just met twenty minutes ago.”
Lucky didn’t say anything, but continued to study her, waiting for the pieces to come together.
“Believe me,” she continued on, shifting when he didn’t say anything. “I learned my lesson the hard way about powerful men and how easily they can pretend to care.” Her hand popped over her mouth.
Lucky couldn’t help the smile that curved his lips. He weighed his words carefully. “Your life is about over…” he murmured, propping his hands on his hips and watching her intently.
“Yes, I have about seven months to really live.”
“Wow, Lana. I’m sorry. I had no idea. I heard that you got a divorce, but I didn’t realize there was more to it.”
Lana’s gaze moved to watch the couple closest to them dancing in the courtyard. “Lucky, it was wonderful meeting you. I need to find my sister and head home. I don’t want a repeat of what just happened.”
“The fireworks haven’t even started. You should enjoy them.” He needed more time with her. He didn’t understand it, but he wanted to be close to her.
“Enjoyment is hard to come by these days. And I’m sorry I’m so down about everything. Wow, if I was talking to me, I would need a shrink after this conversation.”
Understanding overwhelmed him and his eyes softened.
“I don’t want your pity,” she immediately said.
“What do you want?” He was pretty sure she didn’t want what he found himself suddenly wanting.
“To be happy again.”
He took a step toward her. “Elaborate.”
Frustration ate at him. If she only had seven months to live, he was going to make sure he was a part of it. He could see the longing in her eyes and feel the heat of her body responding to him. Lucky was no stranger to a female’s company, and she wanted exactly what he wanted. There was a universal look all women had when sex was on their mind.
He pushed away the thought that he was being unfair and let his eyes slide down her body, lingering on her breasts.
Lana shook her head, oblivious to his carnal thoughts.
“I don’t know. I want to dance like they are,” she said, sweeping her hand in the direction of the couple.
His eyes darted to them momentarily.
“I want to feel like everyone else does. I want to go back and do everything all over again and be smarter. Not waste so much of my life on something that only brought me pain.”
Before he took time to talk himself out of it, he wrapped his arms around her waist. Her frail body pressed against his intimately. Maybe she just needed some extra attention. He grazed his lips against her soft hair, inhaling the soft honeysuckle scent. She closed her eyes and rested her cheek against his heart.
Steeling himself against her softness, he refused to let her tender sigh thwart his plans to spend more time with her.
Without warning, she tried to push him away, but he didn’t break his hold. It was a risky move, but he wanted her to see he could be trusted.
“I have to go,” she repeated. “Thank you for…this.”
He started swaying. His allowed her to see his desire for her. “You don’t deserve any of this, Lana.”
“You don’t know me. I deserved all of it and more. And now I’m about to pay the final price. All’s well that ends well, right?”
“I take it you don’t trust men anymore.”
She met his gaze for a moment and grinned. “You take it right.”
“You’ve lost all hope that any of us are worth it.”
“Pretty much.”
“But still.” His voice lowered and his hand came up to touch her face. “All your heart wants is for someone to come along and prove you wrong.”
“Seven months isn’t long enough to get involved. I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone.”
The corners of his lips quirked. She was falling quite nicel
y into his plan. Her gaze settled on his cheek as he spoke again.
“Who said anything about getting involved?”
Lucky shuffled his feet with her, dancing, turning in slow circles as his palm rested against her hip. Her small hand in his lay tucked next to his heart. For a moment, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensation. Back in high school, he’d spent many nights dreaming of a moment like this. It wasn’t until after high school he’d realized he didn’t have to dream about it. He could live it.
“Lucky,” she whispered with a husky voice. “I have to go. I can’t do this.”
“There’s nothing to do,” he answered steadily. “We’re just dancing.”
“I don’t want to dance with you.”
But the shining tears in her eyes contradicted the stubborn tilt of her chin. “Shut up,” he said with a grin and then a full smile came over him when Lana’s chocolate eyes narrowed at him with fire. “Just shut up and dance with me.”
Her right brow lifted, and he thought she might refuse him. But slowly she accepted his nearness and rested her cheek against his badge. The song turned into three and by the end, they were pressed together in a tight embrace. Sometime during the dance, Lana had wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him close. He blocked out all the painful memories of his past and reminded himself he was a different man now.
“Let me prove you wrong tonight, Lana.”
Her eyes flew opened then squinted at him. “What?”
“If you only have a few months, shouldn’t you live every day like it’s your last?” The tip of his tongue darted out and licked his lips. She watched the movement with sultry eyes. She probably didn’t realize he could read her like an open book, because right now, he could tell she was seriously considering his proposition, and a smile escaped.
She laughed then, but it wasn’t real. It didn’t reach her eyes, and the sound was forced.
“You think I’ll have a one night stand with someone I just met?”
“No.”
“Then what’s your game?”
He was in trouble now. He cursed the sarcastic nickname he’d been given by his deputies and its accuracy. All of a sudden, the old insecurities that had haunted him for years came rushing back.
“No game.”
“Then what makes you think I’d sleep with someone like you?”
“I’m the sheriff?”
She shook her head in disbelief and his confidence waivered. “Don’t insult me,” she scoffed.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…” Did they make muzzles for men? He could probably wear one made for a dog since that’s what he was. He might as well send his plan to hell in a hand basket with his muttering fool self.
“I might have been gone for awhile, but I know firsthand how vicious rumors can be in this town. But don’t think you can go flash your pretty little badge at me and I’ll swoon. I intend to learn from my mistakes and move on with my life, not fall into the same ole trap.”
And there it was. The anger Lucky kept hidden deep down inside bubbled to the surface. The same look she had given him back in high school, like she was better than he was, snapped his mouth closed. He gritted his teeth so hard he feared they might crumble. For a moment, he was sixteen and he wanted to cower. Then he reminded himself of all he’d done to get where he was; all the blood, sweat, and tears to put his past behind him.
“Let’s get one thing straight,” he said through clenched teeth. “I don’t beat up on women.”
She crossed her arms underneath her breasts and cocked her head to the side. A saucy tilt to her hip made his mouth run dry. She was still beautiful and possibly even sexier than she had been ten years ago.
“You don’t beat them up, you just try to take advantage of their vulnerabilities.”
“Believe what you want,” he grumbled and turned to walk away.
“Did I hurt your feelings?” she mocked in a saccharine sweet voice.
Facing her once more, his lips peeled back over his teeth and he snarled, “Sticks and stones, lady.”
She studied him for a moment. Then, as if she realized what she was doing, she uncrossed her arms with a look of disbelief and laughed. This time it was real.
“Wow,” she said. “That felt good.”
He grunted, not sure what she was talking about.
“I haven’t spoken like that to anyone in years.”
Yeah, he remembered the last time. “Good for you. Glad I could help.” Again, he turned to leave.
Her hand caught his and turned him back around. “I’m sorry,” she said, her eyes sad.
“Don’t be sorry, Lana. Just come home with me tonight.”
Hesitation worked her jaw as she tried to find the right words.
“I’m flattered, Lucky. You’re a handsome, virile man. I’m just not ready for casual. Maybe a few years from now.”
He swallowed past the lump in his throat.
“Won’t a few years from now be too late?”
“Maybe not. You never know.”
He looked away and studied the lighting around the patio where the crowd gathered. With a quick glance at his watch, he said, “The fireworks are about to start.”
Just as the words left his mouth, the sky lit up with a brilliant array of colors. A feminine gasp met his ears, but he didn’t want to see the fireworks. He wanted to watch her. Her beautiful brown eyes widened in amazement, and her full lips dropped open. Another flash of light and he couldn’t help himself; he entwined his fingers with hers. The pad of his thumb worked over her smooth skin. He marveled at how well they fit together.
Her chest rose and fell with each breath and the hint of cleavage under the vee in her shirt drove him crazy. Her hips contoured her jeans perfectly, and his hands itched to fill his palms with her cheeks.
Glancing back up, she was no longer watching the fireworks, but she stared at him instead. He couldn’t erase the hunger from his eyes. Her tongue darted out and slowly licked her lips. He wasn’t sure if he should laugh or cry that her eyes glazed over with desire. Long lashes lifted to meet his gaze and then dropped to his mouth.
Lucky knew it was a mistake to push her. But he’d never felt the kind of hunger he felt looking at her, so sweet and vulnerable, yet underneath it all, he knew embers burned just waiting to be stirred to life.
As was his downfall, he didn’t think his plan through. He just reacted. His fingers traced her jaw and his lips covered hers. He was surprised that she kissed him back, but he wasn’t about to question it. In fact, she was the one who rose onto her toes and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Her tongue lined his lips, and he opened for her. The kiss spiraled out of control and his thoughts turned to finding a secluded place. Little husky moans filled his senses and went straight to his gut.
But never in a million years did he think he would be the one to stop her.
“Lana, final offer. Come to my place tonight.”
This time, instead of an immediate rejection, she touched her lips and fell silent. “I can’t.”
“I won’t beg,” he said, but every fiber of his being demanded that he do just that.
“You don’t have to. I think it’s pretty clear that I enjoyed that.”
He pressed against her subtly. “Me, too. What’s stopping you?”
Brown eyes bored into his. “I’m pregnant.”
*****
“Wait,” Lucky said with a frown. “If you’re pregnant, how does that affect your illness? Won’t it hurt you or the baby?”
It was Lana’s turn to frown. What was he talking about?
Obviously reading her confusion, he pressed on. “If you’ve only got seven months to live and a nine month pregnancy, what’s going to happen?”
Then everything clicked into place. She smiled at him, the concern evident in his blue eyes. Overhead, the fireworks lit the sky and his face in varying shades of reds and blues. Taking his hand, she led him to a bench not far away.
“I’m not dying
, Lucky.”
“Keep going.” His tone was harsh.
She flinched a little at his ruthless tone but continued on. Since the kiss, she didn’t dare ignore the fact that this man made her feel again. Even if it was just for a few hours, she wanted to enjoy his company and be herself again.
“I’m pregnant. I’m not dying,” she said again.
“But you said you had seven months to live.”
“I do. Meaning the baby will be born then and I’ll be at home taking care of it.”
He mulled this over, and she could practically hear the wheels turning.
“Your ex is the father?”
She didn’t want to answer that, but if she couldn’t trust the town sheriff, who could she trust?
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep this off the record, but yes. After all of the abuse and the divorce, I figured he shouldn’t know. I don’t want a child subjected to his fist. Knowing James, he’d want to be a part of this kid’s life just to spite me. It’s just not a chance I’m willing to take.”
He took her hand and traced lazy circles on her skin. His touch, the concern in his eyes, and his nearness made everything seem okay. She didn’t want to think about the regrets she would have tomorrow when she realized she had spilled the beans to a man she barely knew.
“You know people are going to talk, Lana. You can’t hide it from him forever.”
“I can try.”
“It won’t work.”
“I’m not planning on getting out much once I’m showing. I’m hoping it’ll help all the busybodies move on.”
He shook his head before she finished her thought.
“Nope. It’ll fuel the gossip. It’s never going to work.”
“It’s the only option I have,” Lana whispered softly. “I just need enough time to get back on my feet. Daddy’s already offered to help me and so has my sister. I’m going to get a job and make things look normal after the baby is born.”
“And then what? You’re going to keep the kid inside night and day for the rest of its life?”
Lucky for Her Page 2
