Playing Dirty: San Diego Social Scene Book 3

by Tess Summers

  Her voice was soft when she greeted him, “Hi. It’s Cassie.”

  Her voice soothed his soul, and he tilted his head back against the seat rest with his eyes closed.

  “I know. I’m so glad to hear from you. How have you been?”

  “I’m okay,” she said politely. “How are you?”

  He wanted to tell her miserable—because he was without her—but decided against it.

  “I’m doing great. I love being a dad.”

  She didn’t acknowledge his response, instead getting to the point. “So, about the auction date.”

  “Yeah, about that. Frannie Ericson is ready to have my hide for not having taken you out yet. I’m sorry I haven’t done that.

  “Listen, Luke,” her voice turned somber, “we don’t have to do the whole station tour and dog walking thing if it’s going to cause trouble for you. I completely understand, and we can skip it. I’ll tell Fran we had a fantastic time. I should have told her that to begin with, but she caught me off-guard with her phone call. If you don’t mind, I would at least like to have lunch though. There’s something I need to discuss with you.”

  That piqued his interest. “Don’t be ridiculous, Cass. I owe you this date, and I’d love to go on it with you. You tell me what day and time work for you.

  “Is tomorrow too soon?”

  “Doll,” he chuckled softly, “today wouldn’t be too soon to see you.”

  “Oh, could you really do today?”

  Now he was really intrigued. “I’m at your disposal, Cass.”

  “I can meet you at the station in an hour, but I’m not really dressed to walk dogs.”

  “We can do that another time. Text me when you get here, and I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

  He heard her take a deep breath before replying. “Great. See you then.

  “I’m looking forward to it.”

  Luke laid the phone on the passenger seat and gripped the steering wheel in both hands, wondering if he was setting himself up for further misery seeing her again. He missed her so fucking much, there wasn’t a day he didn’t wake up with an ache in his heart only she could fill. But she was no longer his, and he was pretty sure the only thing lunch was going to do was torture him with what he couldn’t have.

  Things had started to crumble with Adriana since his last sexual rebuke of her. She was actively passive-aggressive toward him, and Luke knew it was simply a waiting game at this point for her to name her price for a divorce He was willing to give her anything she wanted as long as he got custody of his son, but he could stick it out with her for as long as he needed if it meant being with Lucas.

  He wanted desperately to have Cassie meet his little guy. Maybe she’d change her mind about kids once she met him. But then again, maybe it’d only solidify her feelings.

  When she appeared in the station’s lobby in her royal-blue sundress, strappy nude kitten heels, and blonde hair cascading around her shoulders, he conceded his best friend was right, she looked fucking radiant.

  Cooper Johnson must agree with her, he thought bitterly. He wanted to punch every bastard who slyly gave her a second look as she walked toward him with a small smile.

  “Hey,” he said stiffly. It was awkward trying to act respectfully when what he wanted to do was pull her into the nearest empty office and kiss her head to toe.

  “Hi,” she responded shyly.

  Luke had never seen her shy. “You look beautiful,” he murmured. Unable to resist, he leaned down and kissed her cheek, catching a whiff of her perfume. The scent went straight to his cock. Or maybe it was the feel of her silky skin against his lips that caused things to stir in his pants. Or her spectacular tits. He needed a distraction, otherwise he was going to have full-blown hard on in about five seconds.

  “Ready to get started on your tour?”

  She took a deep breath. “As I’ll ever be!”

  He watched her smile and decided she might be acting a little too cheerful for the Cassie Sullivan he knew. He was glad the awkwardness seemed to be mutual.

  They chatted politely as they toured the halls, but after five minutes they were laughing and teasing each other like nothing had changed until he absent-mindedly reached for her hand when leading her to the garage, and she naturally took it. Her touch was what he’d been missing in his life; her hand fitting perfectly in his sent a wave of calmness over him.

  He realized what he’d done and let go like he’d been shocked.

  “Sorry about that,” he said with a cough as he opened the door leading to the armored vehicles.

  “It’s fine,” she whispered softly, her voice tinged with sadness when she walked past him.

  It isn’t fine. Fucking things will never be fine again without you.

  “So, I hear you’re dating Cooper Johnson?” He was a glutton for punishment right now.

  Cassie tilted her head like she was surprised he knew about her and Cooper.

  Like my best friend wasn’t going to tell me, he admonished in his head.

  “How’s married life?”

  Ouch. He may have winced at her question. He noticed she didn’t answer his.

  “Never better. I love being a dad,” he replied as he directed her to the nearest truck.

  She stepped inside the vehicle with S.W.A.T. boldly displayed in yellow lettering on the side and looked around with polite curiosity before turning to him.

  “Do you have pictures?”

  “Of Lucas?” He wasn’t expecting her to be interested, so the question surprised him.

  “Yeah. If you don’t mind, I’d rather skip the ones of the happy family.”

  That was fine because he didn’t have any of those anyway, only of Lucas. The son he barely knew, Adriana had cruelly reminded him last night.

  “No judge would give you custody of him,” she warned when he broached the divorce topic.

  Luke knew she was right, but it only strengthened his resolve to stick with the status quo. He had nothing but time anymore.

  Cassie’s smile was genuine when he showed her the pictures of his little guy on his phone. It dinged as she was scrolling through the ones of Lucas at the zoo, and she abruptly handed it back to him with a frown. He saw he had a text from Adriana.

  “I’ll text her back, later,” he told her as he clumsily shoved the phone back in his pocket.

  “No, it’s okay,” she said with a tinge of bitterness in her voice. “Don’t ignore your wife on my account.”

  Her unpleasant reminder that they weren’t together and his anger they never would be caused him to lash back.

  “You’re probably right. Feel free to text your boyfriend while I answer my son’s mother’s text.”

  Her face went visibly white, and he felt like the world’s biggest asshole.

  This isn’t how things were supposed to be between them.

  ****

  Cassie

  Why the hell did he have to look so good?

  She saw him the second she walked through the police station’s sliding doors before he noticed her coming in the lobby. He must have had court today because instead of his usual fatigues, he was in black slacks, pink shirt, white, pink, and black striped tie, and shiny black shoes with his gun and badge displayed prominently on his belt.

  Real men definitely wear pink.

  Real men who are married with children, that is, she reminded herself.

  She couldn’t help the warm feeling in her stomach when he flashed his smile at her, his green eyes crinkling in familiarity. Cassie took a deep breath and offered a much weaker smile than his. She tried to shake his hand, but he ignored her and leaned down to kiss her cheek in greeting. His familiar scent was like a warm hug.

  “You look beautiful, Cass,” he said softly.

  “Thanks. You look nice too.

  “Thanks,” he replied with a wink like he already knew he looked good.

  Things between them were uncomfortable for all of five minutes until he teased her about not being a mornin
g person. After that, they quickly fell into an easy banter back and forth.

  Then the text from his wife brought them back to reality. He’d chosen Adriana over her. It still stung, but she thought she had been coming to terms with it, then just like that, the pain was as strong as the night he ended it.

  They had a hard time recovering from their petty exchange in the garage but managed to be civil as they drove to lunch together. She still wasn’t sure how she was going to tell him she was pregnant.

  “Now, Frannie can’t be mad at me.” His attempt at small talk brought her back to the present.

  She tried not to appear deflated that was why he had agreed to see her. Cassie had been a goddamn obligation, nothing more.

  “I’ll be sure to tell Francine I had a lovely time,” she murmured, blinking back tears while looking out the window at the passing buildings. Weren’t they head over heels in love with each other a month ago? She realized she had secretly hoped he’d been miserable without her and profess his undying love and regret they weren’t together, then promise her he’d fix it.

  Pathetic.

  Luke gave no indication he was anything but content with his married life. He was living the life he had wanted, the one she had been unwilling to commit to.

  Oh, the irony.

  They decided on the same bistro where they had secretly texted each other while dining with other people. That felt like a lifetime ago.

  “Shall we?” Luke gestured toward the hostess stand. She’d made a reservation after hanging up the phone once he agreed to meet today.

  Smiling warmly at the hostess, she announced, “Sullivan for two.”

  The young girl scanned her list. “Ah, right this way, Mrs. Sullivan.”

  “It’s just Ms.,” Cassie corrected, then closed her eyes tight. It was a simple mistake, and she should have let it go, but somehow, with this man who had obliterated her heart standing next to her, it escaped her lips.

  “Oh, I’m sorry! Ms. Sullivan, please follow me.”

  Now, she felt petty and small. Great. Exactly how she wanted to start this little tête-à-tête.

  Luke slid into the booth across from her and smiled, obviously trying to cut the tension between them. “You really do look great, doll.”

  She ignored his pet name for her and put her napkin in her lap, replying. “Thanks, Luke. You never did tell me, how’s married life?” Yeah, she went there, right out of the gate.

  It didn’t faze him though because he said with a goofy smile, “Lucas is incredible, he already has learned so much English. They’re such little sponges at this age, ya know? I’d love for you to meet him.”

  She didn’t acknowledge his comment about meeting his boy. Their waiter appeared with waters, both of them declining anything else when the young man asked to take their drink orders. The server left, and she shrugged with indifference.

  “I’m glad things are working out with your family.”

  “Things are working out with my son, Cass. My son.”

  “Aren’t you trying to work things out with Adriana?” No sense in beating around the bush.

  His hesitation said it all, and she quickly blurted out, “Never mind. It’s none of my business.”

  Luke grabbed her hand and squeezed, staring into her eyes. “We’re trying to get along, but we don’t share a bed or even a room. My sex life consists of my hand getting a helluva workout in the shower, thinking about you.”

  She withdrew her hand from his with a small smirk. His admission shouldn’t make her this happy. They sat in awkward silence before he reached for her hand again.

  “So, what did you want to see me about, doll?”

  She hastily removed her hand from his grip. “Please don’t call me doll.”

  He sat up straighter, placing his napkin in his lap with a frown. “I don’t know if I can promise that, Cass. I mean, I’ll try, but it’s probably going to slip out.” He paused briefly then tried again, “So, what did you want to see me about?”

  She took a sip of her water, avoiding his gaze and picking up her menu to peruse it. “Let’s order first, okay?” When she snuck a glance at him, he was eyeing her suspiciously as he opened his own menu.

  “Yeah, sure. Do you know what you want?”

  She knew exactly what she was going to order. The same thing she always did—sesame-crusted salmon over asparagus with mashed potatoes—but she pretended to be fascinated with the entrée selections, hoping to avoid his scrutiny.

  Cassie didn’t know if she could do this today.

  You have to.

  Fuck you, conscience.

  He closed his menu and set it aside, watching her closely as he did. She set hers aside too. With the universal, we’re ready to order message sent, their waiter appeared immediately.

  Luke ordered steak like she knew he would, and she ordered the salmon.

  She’d stalled long enough and reached in her purse for her phone, hoping to pull up the sonogram pictures the doctor had emailed her while at her appointment without Luke noticing what she was doing. With a deep breath, she started to form the words on her lips, then dropped her phone back into her purse.

  Maybe after lunch.

  She sat up to find him staring at her with a soft smile.

  “I wish things could be different, baby doll,” he murmured quietly. She opened her mouth to tell him not to call her that, but he cut her off, shaking his head. “I know, I know, but I can’t help it.”

  Having no idea what to do with that, she reached for her water, taking a long drink before setting it down with no still idea how to respond.

  “I’m pregnant,” she blurted out.

  Hi, pregnancy brain, Cassie Sullivan, nice to meet you.

  The unflappable Luke Rivas sat there stunned like he was processing her words over and over, then scowled. He barely contained his snarl when he told her, “Congratulations.”

  Not quite the reaction she was expecting from him. She wasn’t sure how she thought he was going to respond but never envisioned him being angry with her. His next statement cleared up why, although it took her a second to put it all together.

  “Is Cooper excited?”

  She furrowed her brows. “I haven’t told him yet—I haven’t told anyone except Brenna and Ron. I thought you should be the first to know.”

  Slowly, a huge smile of realization spread across his face. “It’s mine?”

  Did he really ask that?! Who else’s would it be? Oh…

  She nodded once, and he ran his fingers roughshod through his hair, still smiling, asking incredulously, “Are you serious?!”

  “Of course, I’m serious,” she said in clipped tones. What did he think, she was playing some kind of sick joke?

  He failed to notice her brusqueness while he thoughtfully scrubbed his jaw. “Holy… This is so awesome.” He went to get out of his seat, then seemed to think better of it, and stayed put. It was obvious his brain was going a mile a minute with all the questions he began to pepper her with.

  “How far along are you?”

  “Eleven weeks.”

  She saw him doing the math in his head, his smile grew wide again, and he reached for her hand, rubbing his thumb along the webbing between her thumb and index finger.

  “I told you we made a baby that night!”

  She shook her head and rolled her eyes, pulling her hand away and putting it in her lap.

  “It wasn’t necessarily that night. If you recall, there were several nights to choose from that week.” She knew in her heart he was right though.

  “Oh, I recall, doll.” His grin turned salacious. “Pretty much every time I’m in the shower.”

  Smoothing the napkin on her legs, she couldn’t help the corners of her mouth lifting.

  “You’re impossible.”

  “Are we having a boy or a girl?”

  “I don’t know yet, it’s too early.” Her nervous fidgeting transferred to lining up her silverware in front of her.

  “How
did this even happen? I thought you were on the pill,” he asked, still stunned.

  “I was, faithfully, so I have no idea. The doctor said it happens, especially with how often we were intimate.”

  “You told her how often?!”

  “Well, I didn’t volunteer the information, geez. I answered her question when she asked.”

  “Oh,” he chuckled.

  She fished her phone out of her purse and brought the sonogram pictures up before handing it to him.

  “Is this our peanut?” he asked in amazement, studying the screen in front of him.

  “He’s more like the size of a raspberry, but yes, that’s him.”

  He looked up from the screen with an accusing expression. “I thought you said you didn’t know the sex?”

  “Well, I don’t officially. I just don’t like calling him it.”

  “So, he could really be a she,” he stated optimistically as he handed her back the phone.

  “Yes.”

  Unable to contain his grin, he took a sip of his water. “I can’t believe this. Wait ‘til I tell Lucas. He’s going to be so excited. He’s going to want to help us pick out toys and clothes when we go shopping.”

  Those words felt like a stab to her heart, and she shot him a pained look. It was like he’d gotten so caught up in the news, he’d entirely forgotten their fucked-up situation. She could tell the minute reality set in by the look on his face. He scrubbed his face with his hand.

  “Shit, I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I got ahead of myself.

  “Don’t worry about it,” she said with her hand on her stomach. “We’ll get a schedule figured out. Lucas can still do all that with you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” he growled.

  “It means, just that. When the baby gets here, we’re going to need to establish a custody agreement. I’m assuming you want to be a part of this.” With tears in her eyes, she shrugged her shoulders. “If not, that’s okay, I’ll manage. Obviously, I hope you’ll want to be a part of your child’s life, but if you choose not to be, we’ll be alright.”

  He snarled at her suggestion he wouldn’t want to be a part of his baby’s life. “I’m not fucking going anywhere, doll. I take care of what’s mine.”

  “Yes, I know. You’re very good at meeting your obligations.”