Playing Dirty: San Diego Social Scene Book 3

by Tess Summers

  “Overprotective much?” She shook her head with a grin. “I’m fine. They’ve been roughhousing all afternoon. They’re going to be inseparable when you and Lucas move in. I found some really cute furniture for Lucas’ room I want to show you.”

  He slowly released her and ran his hand through his hair. Her expression fell at his gesture, recognizing he was about to tell her bad news.

  Looking at the ground, she whispered, “You’re not moving in, are you?”

  He shook his head glumly, “Not yet, Cass,” then reached for her.

  She crossed her arms defensively in front of her and stepped out of his reach.

  “I want to be with you, please don’t doubt that, but I need to get some things squared away before I can ask her for a divorce.”

  Her disingenuous smile suggested she didn’t believe him. He watched as she began the process of writing him off in her mind, her expression giving away everything she was thinking. He had no doubt, she was done with him. There would be no second—or in his case, fourth—chance without serious contrition on his part. Contrition he couldn’t offer yet.

  “Madrastra!” Lucas’ voice squeaked, followed by the pitter patter of his little shoes on the asphalt, Brenna following close behind.

  A single tear ran down her cheek, and she uttered to Luke, “You need to explain I’m not his stepmother,” then wiped it away and kneeled down to greet his son with a hug and as real a smile as she could muster.

  “Hi sweet boy,” she murmured in his hair, hugging him close.

  Lucas kept his arm weaved around Cassie’s leg after she stood and chattered happily about the cookies they had baked for Uncle Ron, and how Brenna said he was the best helper she’d ever had.

  “Tia said I can come back anytime and bake anything I want! She even gave me cookies to take home, Papa!”

  Brenna stood back quietly with a small plate of baked goods, a sad expression as she watched the three of them.

  “Be sure to thank Mrs. Brenna,” he advised quietly.

  His son didn’t catch that Luke didn’t refer to her as tia, but Brenna did, and she shot Luke the dirtiest look he’d ever seen by such a beautiful woman. Her pregnant sister silently weeping nearby might have contributed to her ability to form it.

  Ron, dressed in old jeans and a black t-shirt with paint on it, appeared in the doorway next to Cassie. He was wiping his hands on a rag and silently surveying the scene before him when his arm went protectively around his sister-in-law.

  “Hey, your garbage disposal is all installed. Go try it out.” He then called to Brenna, “Darlin’, I think we need a new one too. Check hers out.”

  Lucas followed the ladies inside but stopped and presented Ron with a cookie. “I helped Tia Brenna make these for you!” the little guy exclaimed proudly.

  Ron smiled and took the cookie, making a production out of taking a bite and raving how good it was, making Lucas beam with pride.

  “Are there any more?” the older man asked with a chuckle.

  His son nodded enthusiastically and pointed to the plate Brenna was holding. “But those are for me. Yours are at your house.”

  Ron threw his head back and laughed. “Thank you for leaving me some. Go inspect the kitchen and see if you think Cassie will be able to make as good of cookies there.” The trio disappeared inside and Ron’s face turned serious.

  “What’s going on, Luke?”

  Luke shook his head, not sure he wanted to share his dirty laundry with the lieutenant general.

  Ron must have sensed his reluctance because he simply asked, “Do you love her?”

  “Of course, I love her.” The question was fucking ridiculous and Luke snorted his derision. “More than I ever thought I could love a woman.”

  “Then do something about it.” Ron leaned forward to add, “Word of advice? Before it’s too late. There are more than a few men who would do anything to be in your position. She’s not going to wait forever.”

  Thanks for telling me something I already know.

  “I know,” he spit out through a clenched jaw. Luke knew the Marine was only trying to be helpful, so he tried to hide his annoyance

  Ron seemed to understand Luke’s frustration and smiled. “The ball’s in your court, my friend,” he said as he clasped Luke around the shoulder and squeezed.

  Except Luke didn’t think it was in his court anymore. It felt like he’d already lost the game.

  Chapter Fifty

  Luke

  They were back to weekly, polite text exchanges. He fucking hated it.

  She looked like the beautiful professional she was in her black skirt, tan blouse, and low-heeled black and tan pumps when he and Lucas showed up to her next appointment. The two males were dressed starkly different in their casual cargo shorts and polo shirts.

  Luke didn’t want Lucas to forget about Cassie or vice versa. That wasn’t going to be a problem. She dropped down to her knees, and Lucas hugged her tightly around her neck the second they saw each other.

  “I’ve missed you!” she told his son while she ruffled his hair. “I think you’ve gotten bigger since the last time I saw you two weeks ago!”

  Lucas replied in stilted English to which Cassie replied with the appropriate fanfare of how impressed she was, causing the boy to grin from ear to ear.

  Watching the two together made Luke’s heart happy, and hopeful. She didn’t correct Lucas when he called her Madrastra, but she did say through unmoving lips as she stood up.

  “I thought you were going to talk to him about that.”

  He shrugged, knowing she wouldn’t argue with him about it in front of Lucas.

  Truth was, he knew Cassie was going to be a great step-mom even if he didn’t know how he was going to make that happen. She was a lot chillier with her reception of Luke, barely looking at him and answering his questions in clipped tones. A vast contrast to how warm she was with his son.

  So, Luke decided to play a little dirty.

  “How late are you working tomorrow?” he asked nonchalantly.

  “I usually get off around four these days,” she replied, still not looking at him.

  “Any way you could pick him up from daycare? I’ve got training that’s going to run late.”

  “Why can’t his mom?”

  “She’s got a part-time job now, so she works tomorrow until eight.”

  Lucas’ English was definitely getting better because he seemed to understand what Luke was asking of Cassie and choose that moment to lean his whole back against her thigh and grab her fingers in his hand.

  “He certainly got your charm,” she muttered.

  “You think I’m charming, doll?”

  She shot him a mean look while replying, “I’m sure your wife does, too.”

  Ouch. Point for Cassie.

  “As long as my future wife does, that’s all I care about.”

  Her tiny gasp was exactly the reaction he was hoping for.

  Tie score.

  “So, can you, doll?”

  “Please don’t call me that, and yes, I can. Text me the address and make sure I’m approved to pick him up.”

  Her appointment went well. Their baby girl was developing on schedule with no complications. Every time Luke saw her on the monitor, he was amazed he’d help create that little human. Cassie seemed awestruck, too, because she didn’t balk when he held her hand as she lay on the table, and they looked at the screen together.

  As soon as the display turned off, she was back to business as usual, short and to the point as far as Luke was concerned. He and Lucas walked her to her Lexus parked in the front row in front of the building.

  “So, I’ll pick him up about six—at your new house or the condo?”

  “My beach house,” she replied, unable to hide her smile when saying my beach house.

  He hadn’t seen the inside of her place the other day when he picked up Rex but imagined she’d been putting a lot of work, time, and money into it to make it exactly how she
wanted. He wished that still included him and Lucas there with her, someday.

  “I’ll bring Figurino’s.”

  She cast him a suspicious look.

  “What? You gotta eat, plus it’ll be my way of saying thank you for doing me a favor.”

  She bent over and kissed Lucas’ forehead. “It’ll be my pleasure to hang out with my favorite little man. Maybe we’ll even run next door and say hi to Tia Brenna.”

  She didn’t even seem to notice she’d referred to her sister as Lucas’ aunt.

  He was getting Cassandra Jo Sullivan back, no matter how dirty he had to play.

  ****

  Cassie

  She picked up Lucas around three thirty; she was looking forward to spending time with the little boy who was going to be her daughter’s big brother. He was an easy kid to love, for sure. Whether it was because he was the spitting image of his handsome daddy or because of the charming innocence three-and-a-half-year-olds possessed, he had her heart wrapped around his finger. Like his handsome daddy had done at one point.

  Not anymore, she admonished herself. Luke Rivas’ days of dragging her heart through the mud were over. Cassie had again come to terms they were over like she’d done so many times already. Something this time was different though. A quiet resolve she really was done with all the bullshit, she didn’t have the energy anymore. She had thought seeing him yesterday would be hard on her, but the reminder of the existence of their little girl made her realize she couldn’t hate him, they were going to have to get along for the sake of their daughter. Lucas was an easy extension to accept and love.

  So, she wasn’t prepared for the dip in her stomach when he showed up at her doorstep in his SWAT uniform, looking hot as fuck as he greeted her with his cocky smirk. She hadn’t changed from her work attire of the sleeveless, seafoam green sundress and long beaded necklace but was barefoot as she stepped aside to let him in.

  “Hi, doll, you look beautiful,” he said as he set the bag of Figurino’s on the small table by the door.

  She rubbed her stomach, not believing him, and lamented, “I’m starting to feel very pregnant.”

  He glanced at her feet and kissed the tip of her nose, pausing to lean down and whisper in her ear as his hand brushed her tit while making its way to her tummy.

  “I like the feel of you.” He brought both hands to encompass her belly. “Barefoot and pregnant with my baby, you’re perfect.”

  Damn that man for being so sexy and damn her hormones for falling under his spell.

  “Papa!”

  He broke his hold of her baby bump and bent over to swing Lucas up in his arms.

  Yeah, watching him adore his son wasn’t helping her swooning situation.

  “Were you good for your Madrastra?” he asked as he kissed the boy’s cheek.

  “Luke Rivas, what did we talk about?” she reprimanded.

  He cocked his head as if giving her question serious consideration. “I think we talked about you marrying me?”

  She scowled and turned toward the kitchen. “I’m not falling for that again.”

  With Lucas on his hip, he reached out and grabbed her around the waist, his green eyes pleading with hers.

  “I’ve got things set in motion, doll. I swear, it’s not going to be much longer until I can make things right again.”

  She smiled sweetly as she slipped out of his grip and patted his cheek with her hand.

  “I’m not holding my breath.”

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Luke

  She was as fucking stubborn as she was beautiful. It was one of the many reasons he loved her. And why he was worried she was going to move on without giving him a second thought.

  He’d upped his text game. Fuck polite and fuck weekly. As he’d shown before, he wasn’t above playing a little dirty. He was flirting with her several times a day and looking for any chance he could to see her.

  Things that week were crazy at work. He’d been on a callout every day for five days straight, including his days off, and he was going to be stuck at training again tomorrow. Since he would be late picking Lucas up from daycare, he naturally took the opportunity to ask Cassie for help again. Lying in bed, he fired off a text.

  Luke: Hey doll, any way you could pick up Lucas tomorrow?

  Cassie: I want Figurino’s again, including cheesecake was her reply two minutes later.

  He smiled as he adjusted his pillow behind his head and shoulders.

  Luke: You got it.

  At breakfast, he told Lucas Cassie would be picking him up again. His little boy’s excitement at the prospect of seeing his madrastra made Luke’s heart swell.

  Soon, dammit. She would be his again, and they would be a family. Soon.

  His lawyer promised him he’d be able to file the paperwork to name Luke as Lucas’ father and solidify his paternal rights. Since he and Adriana were married when Lucas was born, it was easier to establish paternity without having to wait for the DNA results that were going to take several months to receive.

  Knowing his son was being taken care of, coupled with the fact he was going to see Cassie later made it easier for him to relax while he taught that day’s training class. He was at the podium going over the slides on the overhead when he felt his cell buzzing in his front pants pocket. Normally, he wouldn’t have even pulled his phone out, but something compelled him to.

  He saw Cassie’s name as the caller, and he immediately excused himself. She rarely called him, only texted, and it was right around the time she was supposed to pick up his son.

  “Luke! Where are you? Do you have Lucas?”

  His heart dropped at the panic in her voice. His mind started reeling. What day was it? Was it Adriana’s day to work? What time was she supposed to take him to daycare? It was Tuesday, Luke remembered Adriana telling him that morning she would drop their son off at preschool after lunch, and they agreed he’d be responsible for getting Lucas since she’d be working until eight. Why was Cassie calling him and asking if he had Lucas?

  “No, doll, he’s at daycare. You’re supposed to pick him up, remember?”

  “Luke, I’m at his daycare. He’s not here. They said he never came today. Is this your idea of a joke? Because it’s mean.”

  No! No, no, no. This wasn’t right. Maybe Adriana stayed home today. The sinking feeling in his gut told him differently.

  “I’m sorry, Cass,” he told her, trying to keep his voice even so as not to let on he was alarmed. “I would never play a cruel joke on you like that and waste your time. I’m not sure why he isn’t at school; let me call Adriana and see what’s going on.” He hung up and dialed Yanna’s phone.

  No answer.

  He fought back a sense of panic. He kept telling himself there was a perfectly good explanation for why Lucas didn’t go to school and Adriana wasn’t answering her phone. Still, he let his trainees go and raced home. Rex greeted him at the door, spinning in excited circles and chasing him through the house as Luke raced from room to room looking for them.

  All of her clothes were gone, along with Lucas’. Luke slid his back down the wall next to Lucas’ toddler bed, landing with a thud on his ass as he buried his face in his hands.

  He couldn’t lose Lucas now. He couldn’t.

  Luke pulled his work phone from the breast pocket of his camouflage jacket. Time to call in the cavalry. Fortunately, the chief’s secretary answered right away, instead of letting it go to voicemail and put him through to Todd immediately.

  There were five officers at Luke’s house by the time Cassie arrived. She was beside herself, and although he was feeling the same way inside, he needed to be strong for both of them.

  She desperately wanted to help but seemed to quickly realize after answering the detective’s questions, she didn’t have anything to offer other than making coffee.

  Brenna rushed through his front door about thirty minutes after her sister did.

  “Ron’s on his way home from D.C. He’s getting on the
next flight out, but said to let him know whatever you need, Luke.”

  Oorah. Ron was a three-star general in the United States Marine Corps, and Luke served ten years as a Marine. Although Ron’s offer of help probably had more to do with Luke’s association to Brenna than the Marines, he knew Ron always looked out for his fellow devil dogs, active or not.

  “Thanks, Brenna. If there’s anything, I will be sure to let him know.” He lowered his voice, “Can you take Cassie home? I don’t want her driving in her frame of mind, and she really needs to get her feet up. I can’t worry about her too, right now.”

  Brenna snorted. “So, you’re asking me to be the bad guy and suggest she leave? Not a chance, Rivas. I value my life.”

  He sighed. Fine, he’d be the bad guy. To his and Brenna’s shock, Cassie didn’t argue when he proposed she let Brenna take her home. The dark circles under her eyes indicated how worn out she was.

  “We’ll take Rex, too,” Brenna offered as she rubbed the dog’s ears.

  “That would be a big help, thanks.” One less thing he needed to worry about.

  “You will let me know the second you hear anything?” Cassie asked as he got her situated in Brenna’s front seat.

  “You’ll be the first call I make,”

  She grabbed his hand, tears filling her eyes. “Find him, Luke.”

  Luke leaned down to cup her cheek. “I will, doll. I promise,” he said before giving her a chaste kiss goodbye.

  “Try to get some rest,” was the last thing he told her before closing the door and tapping the hood.

  She gave him a forced smile as Brenna drove off. He watched them down the street, then quickly turned on his heel to get back inside. He had to find his son before Adriana got him across the border into Mexico.

  ****

  An Amber Alert had been issued for Lucas. Video footage from the neighbors’ security cameras showed Adriana loading up her blue Kia and putting Lucas in his car seat, then a Hispanic man being dropped off and getting in the car to drive away with them.

  At least Lucas looked happy and not scared. Luke knew Adriana would never hurt their son, but he couldn’t have her fleeing to Mexico with him, not to mention he had no idea who the man with her was.