Lucy & the Lieutenant

by Helen Lacey

  Her cheeks colored and she smiled tightly. “No problem. Ah...how’s your arm?”

  “Good. No problems. You’re something of a whiz with a needle.”

  “Yeah,” she said almost breathlessly. “Shame I can’t cook.”

  “Nice to know you have some flaws, Lucia.”

  The air between them crackled and he knew she felt it as much as he did.

  “Well, I have to go,” she said and swung her tote around her hips.

  Disappointment foolishly rushed through him. “Hey, I was thinking we could have a late breakfast at—”

  “I can’t,” she said, cutting him off. “I have a date.”

  A date?

  He frowned. “Like an appointment?”

  He watched her expression harden instantly. “No. Like a date. I’m not completely undatable, you know, Brant...despite what you might think.”

  “I’ve never said you were—”

  “Goodbye. Have a good day.”

  How was he supposed to have a good anything when she was out on a date with someone else? He reached for her and grabbed her hand. “Lucy...wait.”

  Her fingers felt soft and warm enclosed within his. He met her gaze, saw her lip tremble a fraction and felt an inexplicable urge to pull her close.

  “That’s just it, Brant,” she said, wriggling her hand free of his. “I’m tired of waiting.”

  He watched her walk down the corridor, hips swaying, head held high, and fought the need to chase after her. He knew what she meant. It was a direct hit. She wanted more...and he didn’t know what the hell he wanted. Suddenly tired of his own company, Brant left the building, got into his truck and drove to his brother’s ranch.

  The Parker Ranch was one of the largest in the area. His brother had been successfully running cattle for a decade and also worked as a county brand inspector. He’d always admired Grady’s work ethic and integrity. His brother was one of the most decent human beings he’d ever known. He’d been through a lot, too, with losing his wife more than two and half years earlier, and raising his three young daughters. Since finding love with Marissa Ellis, Brant knew his brother was truly happy again.

  Grady was in the stables with Rex, the ranch foreman. Who, as it recently turned out, was also Marissa’s father. It was a long and complicated story, but Rex had returned to Cedar River after twenty-six years and discovered he had a daughter. Marissa’s mom had since passed away and Marissa had lived in New York, returning a couple of times a year to see her aunt and her best friend, Liz—Grady’s first wife. Yeah, complicated didn’t half cover it. Rex had stayed in town, gotten a job on the ranch and hoped he’d get a chance to connect with his daughter once in a while. Of course when Grady and Marissa had fallen in love, it had added a whole other level of complexity to the mix. But everything seemed to be working out. Marissa and Rex were getting to know one another, Grady’s daughters were delighted by the idea of having a new mom, and his brother was head over heels in love with a woman who clearly adored him and his children.

  Yeah...some people really did get a happy-ever-after.

  Brant ignored the twitch in his gut and met his brother by the stable doors.

  “Good of you to drop by,” Grady said and clapped him on the shoulder. “The girls were complaining they haven’t seen you for a while. You bailed on Saturday lunch at Mom’s.”

  Brant shrugged. “I had stuff to do.”

  And he hadn’t wanted to answer the inevitable barrage of questions he’d get from his mother about a certain brunette.

  “Brooke’s inside watching Tina,” Grady said. “Coffee’s on. I’ll be a few minutes here.”

  Brant nodded, left his brother to his work and headed for the house.

  He never ceased to be amazed by the sense of peace he felt whenever he walked into the ranch house. It was wide and sprawling, with verandas all the way around and shuttered windows. There was a love seat on the front porch area that he was pretty sure had been there for an eternity. Out the back was a pool and patio that Grady had put in a few years earlier.

  The front door was open and he headed down the hall. His cousin Brooke was in the kitchen, chatting to Grady’s youngest daughter, Tina. Brooke Laughton lived about as solitary a life as he did. She owned a small ranch out of town and had once been the queen of the rodeo circuit. That was before her parents were killed, her brother ran off and her fiancé left her for another woman. He liked Brooke, though—she was candid and easy to get along with.

  As soon as the toddler spotted him she dropped the sippy cup in her hands and raced across the room. Brant scooped her up and held her close. She was a precious, loving child, and he adored her and both her sisters.

  “Wow,” Brooke said and smiled. “That was quite a welcome.”

  “I can be charming when I want to be.”

  She laughed and looked at the child clinging to him. “You know, that’s a good look on you.”

  Brant shook his head. “Don’t you start, too. I get that enough from Mom.”

  Brooke shrugged. “Just saying.”

  He dismissed his cousin’s words. Mostly. But as he poured himself a mug of coffee and sat at the table while Tina proceeded to stack a pile of stuffed toys around him, he let the idea linger for a moment. Having a child was the biggest commitment a person could make. And yet he’d watched his brother do it seemingly effortlessly for years and a part of him had envied that ability. But every time he tried to see that future for himself the image always appeared blurred...as if he wasn’t ready. Sometimes he wondered if he ever would be.

  And then, deep down, a feeling suddenly stirred, a restless thought that quickly turned into something else...a picture...an idea. And if he closed his eyes for a second he could see it clearly...a woman and a child, both with dark curly hair and deep green eyes.

  “Brant?”

  His cousin’s voice jerked him back into the present and he quickly dismissed the image in his head.

  “How are things at the ranch?” he asked casually.

  Brooke managed a smile. “Okay, I guess. I have creditors snapping at my heels and the land rezoning issue is still a problem. But I’m still there.”

  Brant knew his cousin had some serious financial concerns. “If there’s anything I can—”

  “There’s not,” she said quickly and then grinned. “So...you and Lucy, huh?”

  “What?”

  She shrugged lightly. “I hear things.”

  “You mean from Mom. I wouldn’t believe everything you—”

  “From Kayla, actually,” Brooke said matter-of-factly. “She said you were there last week having dinner. Besides, Lucy is my friend...”

  “And?”

  Brooke’s forehead wrinkled a little. “And don’t break her heart, okay?”

  Discomfiture spiraled up his spine. “I have no intention of doing any such thing.”

  “I hope not.” His cousin half grinned. “Although you may have missed your shot.”

  “What?”

  “Your shot,” she echoed. “With Lucy. I spoke to her last night and she said she had a coffee date with Kieran O’Sullivan today. He’s back in town for the wedding this weekend...you know how he’s a friend of Marissa’s. Anyway, he called Lucy last night and asked her out. I mean, it makes sense, I suppose, since they’re both doctors so they’ll have a lot in common. And they worked together at that hospital in Sioux Falls a few years back.”

  Kieran O’Sullivan. Great.

  Not only did he have to think about the fact she was on a date, she was on that date with one of the Parkers’ enemies. Well...maybe that was a stretch. Kieran was okay, considering he came from that family. They’d gone to school and been on the football team together. But a date.

  The very idea twisted at his insides. But he didn’
t dare show it. “She’s an adult. She can see who she wants.”

  Brooke laughed. “Gosh, you’re a rotten liar. You’re about as crazy as a bear in a trap just thinking about it.” His cousin put up a hand. “But I won’t say anything more about it. You’re gonna have to figure this one out for yourself.”

  “What’s he figuring out?”

  Grady’s voice from the doorway made them both turn.

  “Lucy,” Brooke supplied, still grinning.

  His brother walked into the room. “Ah, the pretty green-eyed doctor with the heart of gold. Is he falling in love with her or something?”

  “Looks like it,” Brooke said and chuckled.

  Brant jumped to his feet. “Would you two stop talking about me as though I’m not in the room? I am not falling in love with Lucy Monero,” he insisted. “We’re just friends.”

  “You looked pretty cozy together the other day at the hospital,” Grady said then looked at Brooke. “They were holding hands. It was very sweet.”

  Brant’s blood boiled. “We were not holding hands.”

  “Sure you were,” Grady said and grinned as he winked toward their cousin.

  “Sometimes you can be a real pain in the—” His words were immediately cut off when he remembered there was a child in the room. “I have to go. I’ll see you both Thursday.”

  He bailed quickly, angry and so wound up he barely made it to his truck without tripping over his own feet. Sometimes families were nothing but trouble. He drove down the driveway and hit the main road into town.

  By the time he’d settled his temper he’d pulled up at the back of the Loose Moose. And he got to work. It was still early, barely noon, and by three o’clock he’d finished building the new booths at the front of the tavern and was ready to start painting.

  Is he falling in love with her or something? His brother’s words kept slamming around in his head as he worked.

  No. Absolutely not.

  He was not falling in love. He didn’t know how to. Lust, for sure. He wanted her like crazy. But love... That was out of the question. It was about sex, that’s all. He wanted to make love to her. And, sure, he liked her. How could he not? She was smart and funny and kind and he enjoyed her company. But that was all it was. Lust and a little like thrown into the mix.

  Not love.

  That would be plain stupid.

  * * *

  Lucy enjoyed her coffee date with Kieran O’Sullivan. She liked Kieran and they’d always worked well together at the hospital in Sioux Falls. He was handsome and charming and had just enough of the O’Sullivan arrogance and confidence to make him good company. Of course, he’d never so much as made a blip on her radar. And they’d often joked about how they’d be perfect for one another—except for the fact they weren’t attracted to each other in the least.

  She left the café after accepting a chaste kiss on the cheek from her date and headed home. Once she was inside she fed the cat, changed into her pajamas, pulled the curtains closed to block out the light and dived into bed. She managed a few hours’ sleep and by the time she roused it was past four o’clock. She ate a sandwich, had a cup of tea and spent an hour on her laptop paying bills and budgeting for the next month. She started her shift at seven and was just about to leave half an hour before when her cell beeped to indicate she had a text message.

  Lucy grabbed the phone and checked the screen.

  How was your date?

  She sucked in a breath. Right. Suddenly, Brant Parker was Mr. Curious? She waited a few minutes and replied.

  It was good. I had a soy latte and pecan cookie.

  A minute passed and the phone beeped again.

  Are you seeing him again?

  Lucy stared at the screen. He had some nerve, that’s for sure.

  Maybe. Do you have a problem with that?

  She waited for a minute, well aware that her provocative question would niggle him. Well, he deserves a little niggling. When a few more minutes passed and she didn’t get a response, Lucy grabbed her bag, put on her shoes and headed out. It was snowing again and she covered her head with her coat as she raced to her car. She was just about to shove the key in the ignition when her cell beeped. She fumbled through her bag and pulled out her phone.

  I think I do.

  Lucy grinned foolishly.

  I am seriously falling for this guy.

  But she wasn’t about to start imagining a few texts meant anything. Lucy fought the urge to write something in return and instead tossed the phone back into her tote. Then she drove into town and headed for the hospital.

  It was a quiet but long night in the ER and when she got home at six the following morning she fell into bed after a quick shower and slept until noon. It usually took a couple of days for her body clock to kick in when she started a block of night shifts and this rotation proved to be more difficult than usual.

  On Tuesday as she was getting ready to leave for work when her cell pealed.

  It was a message from Brant.

  How’s work?

  For a moment she considered ignoring him, but temptation got the better of her. She mulled over her response for several minutes and then replied.

  Not busy. Which is good. Great to see you’re keeping away from the place, too.

  She grabbed her jacket and keys, and finished locking the house up. And waited for a reply.

  Motorcycles and icy roads don’t mix. Told you I wasn’t reckless.

  Lucy petted the cat, got into her coat, switched off the lights and headed outside. When she was inside her car she sent another message.

  I guess you’re not such a bad boy after all.

  Ten seconds later he replied.

  Lucia, I’m good. I promise you.

  Even to her naive eyes the innuendo couldn’t be missed and her body turned hot all over. She had so little experience flirting—if that’s what they were doing—and didn’t know how to handle the feelings running riot throughout her system. Of course she knew she wanted him. That one kiss had ignited her libido and she wanted to feel it again...and more. She wanted passion and sweat and heat and all the things she imagined were shared between two people who were lovers.

  Because she wanted Brant Parker as her lover...no doubt about it. Only, she wasn’t sure if that’s what he wanted, too. Oh, he’d certainly kissed her that night in his apartment as if he was interested. But he’d also sent her packing. His hot then cold approach was confusing. And annoying. And unacceptable, she decided with a surge of confidence and gumption.

  So by the time Wednesday evening came around and she was dressing for work, Lucy was almost back to being furious at him for behaving like such an impossible jerk.

  Until her phone rang. She recognized the number and said his name almost on a sigh. “Brant...hello.”

  He was silent for a moment, and then spoke. “Lucia... I was wondering something... Do you think anyone would notice if I skipped the best man speech on Saturday?”

  Lucy smiled to herself as the sound of his deep voice wound through her blood. She knew he’d never let his brother down like that.

  “Yes,” she said, laughing softly. “And you’re an idiot for thinking it.”

  He chuckled. “Ain’t that the truth.”

  Lucy dug deep. Making it too easy for him wasn’t on her agenda. “Did you want something?”

  She heard his hesitation. “No... I mean... I just wanted to say...that I think... I actually think I’m missing something.”

  Lucy’s nerve endings twitched. Talking was much more intimate than texting and she could feel her nerves fraying. She took a deep breath. “Missing something in the speech you mean?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “Then what do you mean?”

  She heard him draw in a hard brea
th. “I miss... I think I miss...you. I mean, I think I miss talking to you.”

  God, he was impossible. “You think?”

  There was more silence. “It’s not...easy for me to say.”

  No...nothing was easy when it came to Brant.

  She sucked in a breath, galvanized her nerves and spoke. “You’re talking to me now.”

  Silence stretched again. “I guess I just wanted to see how you were.”

  “I’m fine. But I’m getting ready for work so–”

  “Okay,” he said quickly. “I’ll let you go. Goodbye, Lucy.”

  She inhaled heavily. “Goodbye, Brant.” She held the phone close to her ear. “And Brant...if you want to talk you know where I am.”

  By the time she got to work and swiped in, she was as coiled as a spring. Brant had a way of invading her thoughts like no one else. But she couldn’t let anyone see that or allow her personal issues to impact her job. So she sucked in a few steadying breaths and got on with her shift.

  She was about to take her first break around eight o’clock when Kayla unexpectedly turned up. Lucy met her by the nurse’s station and gave her a hug.

  “What brings you here?” she asked.

  “I had a late meeting and was driving past and thought I’d stop by on the chance you might want to grab a coffee and have a chat.”

  A few minutes later they were in the staff lunch room, sipping coffee and tea.

  “Don’t forget my mother insists you stop by on Friday and have some Thanksgiving leftovers. She’s pretty miffed you’re not coming over again...you know how much my folks adore you.”

  Lucy was touched by Kayla’s kindness. “I have to work a double shift. But I’ll do my best to stop by, I promise. So, how are things?” she asked.

  Kayla shrugged. “Same as usual. How’s it going with Hot Stuff?”

  “Would you stop calling him that?”

  “I’ve been calling him that since the ninth grade,” her friend reminded her. “I probably won’t stop now. Is it true you were holding hands at the hospital last week?”