Falling For Lucas (Falling Book 6)

by Tracy Lorraine

  I finish up cleaning a mountain of bottles and put them in the steriliser before going to find out what’s going on. It’s suspiciously quiet upstairs, where Lucas should be getting Natalie and Nathan ready for bed.

  I walk through our house and it makes me smile, like always. We moved in a few weeks ago, and I love it. I also love not being in a hotel. I insisted that we had to be in for the six-month mark, because I was not starting weaning in a hotel penthouse with no kitchen. It just wasn’t happening.

  I make my way upstairs and I stop in the doorway of the nursery. Lucas has his back to me. He’s got a baby in each arm as he sways from side to side singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. My heart melts. This man, who was so freaked out about the idea of becoming a parent that he ran away, is the most incredible dad. He puts them both first in everything he does.

  As I stand and watch, I continue to fall deeper in love with him, just like I do every day.

  When I got that promotion to clean his suite back in Cheltenham just over a year ago, I never could have imagined that he would become not only the love of my life, but the father of my kids. It just shows that you really have no idea what life holds for you.

  I continue to stand there silently as Lucas puts each of them into their cots. Although he showed no sign of knowing he was being watched, he must have known because when he turns around, he has a smile on his face. The closer he gets to me, the darker his eyes get.

  “They’re out for the count. Let’s make the most of it.”

  I try to keep the surprised squeal in when he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder. We just get to the doorway to our bedroom when a loud knocking sounds from downstairs.

  “Leave it,” Lucas growls. “If it’s important, they can ring or come back.”

  “Okay,” I agree. But only seconds later, there’s more banging, along with my name being called.

  Lucas lets out a huge breath before turning us around and heading downstairs. I’m still over his shoulder and staring at his fine arse when he pulls the front door open.

  “Shit, what happened?” he asks in shock, making me fight to get down and see what’s going on.

  When I do, my heart drops. There are two guys stood in our porch. One I vaguely recognise from somewhere, although I have no idea where, and the other, who is leaning against the first for support and is covered in dried blood and the beginnings of some serious bruising, is Taylor.

  “Shit, Taylor. What happened to him?” I ask as Lucas takes his other side and helps to get him in. “I know you,” I say to the other guy once we have Taylor on the sofa, “But I can’t place you.”

  “I’m Caleb, Beth’s brother. Taylor lives with me.”

  Continue reading Taylor’s story in Falling For Caleb. DOWNLOAD NOW

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  Acknowledgments

  I hope you all enjoyed Lilly and Lucas’ story. I’m a little bit in love with Lucas and I’m sad to say goodbye to them. It’s only for now though, because just like all the others, they will make appearances in future books in the series.

  Where do I start with everyone who has helped bring Lilly’s story to life?

  Michelle, thank you so much for beta reading Lilly when none of my sentences made sense and you had to guess every other word. I really appreciate your honest feedback, even when you think you’re being little harsh.

  Evelyn at Pinpoint Editing, thank you for working your magic on Lilly and making her as perfect as possible. And thank you for the time you have put in to not only Lilly, but all the other books in the series these last couple of months.

  Thank you to Colleen at Itsy Bitsy Book Bits for always going out of your way to help me. I really appreciate everything you do to help get my books out there. Your reviewers, as always, are incredible and write the most amazing reviews.

  Nicole, I don’t know how to thank you enough for everything you’ve done the last few months. Your support, encouragement and advice are priceless. I almost feel like I know what I’m doing now. Well, I have some sort of a plan of action at least!

  As always, a huge thank you to my husband and little girl who allow me time to do what I need to do. I love you both so much.

  Deanna, my biggest stalker! What would I do without you? You fill up my notifications every day with your pimping of my books. I can’t thank you enough for all the time you put in to help me. It’s only been a couple of weeks but our new blog—Laid-back Book Bitches for those of you who don’t know already— is doing amazingly well and it’s all because of you. I knew you could do it. We have exciting things ahead of us and I can’t wait to see where it takes us.

  And last but not least, Lindsay. This one is for you, and not just because of the random medical questions I threw at you to ensure Lilly’s story was realistic. From the day I told you about my secret writing career, you have been behind me 100%. I can’t thank you enough for supporting me and loving my stories and characters almost as much as me. I promise to keep them coming for as long as I can. It’s been fourteen years since we met, but it only feels like yesterday we were trying to sell curtains to people who didn’t think we knew what we were talking about. We’ve both been through so much since then and I’m so glad to have had you by my side all the way. Whatever life throws at us next—the good, the bed and the ugly—we’ll get through it together.

  Taylor’s is next in the series so you can find out what he’s been up—or not as the case may be—to with Caleb.

  About the Author

  Tracy Lorraine is a M/F and M/M contemporary romance author. Tracy has just turned thirty and lives in a cute Cotswold village in England with her husband, baby girl and lovable but slightly crazy dog. Having always been a bookaholic with her head stuck in her Kindle, Tracy decided to try her hand at a story idea she dreamt up and hasn’t looked back since.

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  Keep up to date with Tracy’s books at

  www.tracylorraine.com

  Also by Tracy Lorraine

  Falling Series

  Falling for Ryan: Part One #1

  Falling for Ryan: Part Two #2

  Falling for Jax #3

  Falling for Daniel (An Falling Series Novella)

  Falling for Ruben #4

  Falling for Fin #5

  Falling for Lucas #6

  Falling for Caleb #7

  Falling for Declan #8

  Falling For Liam #9 Coming Jan 2019

  Chasing Series

  Chasing Logan

  Ruined Series

  Ruined Plans #1

  Ruined by Lies #2

  Ruined Promises #3

  Never Forget Series

  Never Forget Him #1

  Never Forget Us #2

  Everywhere & Nowhere #3

  The Cocktail Girls

  His Manhattan

  The Halloween Honeys

  His Sorority Sweetheart

  Second Helpings

  Cheeky Trifle

  Falling for Nicole

  Prologue

  Nicole

  If you’d asked me previously what the day of my mum’s funeral would be like, I never would have described today. Yes, it was sad—devastating, actually—but after everything she’d been through, there was something…refreshing about it. I know people won’t understand me when I say the biggest thing I’ve felt all day has been relief.

  My mum was my best friend. She’s been there for me every single day, and supported me through everything. The last thing I ever wanted was for her to leave me, but watching what that disease did to her over the past few years has killed me. She was the most kind and caring woman. She didn’t deserve any of it
.

  The relief is for her, not me.

  She doesn’t have to suffer anymore. The treatment, the sickness, the pain…it’s all gone. She can find some peace at last. I like to think she’ll find her parents up there and they’ll be together once again.

  I look out the window, up at the dark, star-filled sky as I fiddle with her charm bracelet that’s been around my wrist since the day I lost her. It’s full of our memories together, and as painful as it is at times to remember those days, it also brings me a huge amount of comfort. I wouldn’t change anything about life with my mum. Of course, I wish we’d had longer together—who wouldn’t?—but we had a good life. She made sure of that.

  Everyone says that as one door closes, another opens…So I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when my best friend Lilly’s waters broke during the wake. Out of death comes life, and not long after saying our final goodbyes to Mum, we were saying hello to two tiny little bundles of joy. Natalie and Nathan arrived a little unexpectedly; Lilly was adamant they’d stay put a few more weeks.

  Lilly had dropped in a few hints that she and Lucas were thinking of naming their daughter after my mum, but hearing them announce it once we were allowed in after their birth cut me up. Mum would have been so in love with them. She never made a secret of her excitement about being a grandmother one day. It guts me that she’ll never get to experience it now.

  I sit in the passenger seat of arguably the most expensive car I’ve ever seen, let alone sat in. It’s obvious that the driver has taken its owner’s advice on board, because he’s driving remarkably slowly and cautiously. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all.

  “I’m never having kids,” is suddenly announced from beside me.

  I drag my eyes from the stars and look at Declan’s dark profile. He’s Lilly’s twin brother, and the one person in the world I don’t want to be anywhere near, let alone stuck in a car with.

  “The whole thing was beautiful. It’s incredible that our bodies are capable of such things.” My mind wanders back to assisting Lilly before Lucas arrived. It really was the most amazing experience—one I didn’t realise I wanted to go through myself, but seeing childbirth first hand brought thoughts of my future to the forefront.

  “Beautiful? I never want to see anyone in that much pain ever again. It was horrendous. I never want a woman to go through that because I was careless enough to knock her up.”

  I’d seen a different side to Declan in the past few hours as his concern for his sister overtook his need to be an arsehole, but it seems he’s starting to transform back to his usual, charming self.

  “Whatever,” I mutter. “Left here.”

  He looks around as we pull on to my street. I’m under no illusion that the place I live is a shithole. It was all Mum could afford when we moved up here. We had plans of going somewhere nicer once I was working, but all that went to the wall when she was diagnosed with breast cancer while I was at college. Plans for university, good jobs and a nicer house evaporated with that one hospital appointment.

  I let out a sigh as Declan continues driving past the run down terraced houses that showcase a range of abandoned items in the small front gardens.

  “Here’s good.”

  Bringing the car to a stop a few doors down from my house, he pulls the handbrake but leaves the engine running. I hate myself for the words that are about to fall from my lips, but as much as I might not like Declan, I’m not an arsehole. Unlike him.

  “Would you like to come in? Get a few hours’ sleep?”

  I feel his stare turn to me but I refuse to look at him.

  “You inviting me in for coffee, Ginge?”

  I swallow down the groan that wants to escape my lips at the use of his nickname for me. “No, arsehole. I was inviting you in so you don’t have to spend the night in this car. I thought you might prefer a bed to the backseat—”

  “Backseat, bed, I’ll take whatever I can get.”

  The amusement in his voice makes me look at him. “Do you know what? Fuck you, Declan. Sleep out here in the cold. I hope you fucking freeze to death.”

  I fling the car door open and snatch my bag from the floor. Anger runs rampant through my body and white noise fills my ears.

  I fucking hate him.

  It takes me three attempts to get my key in the lock. I’m not only angry but also exhausted, and those combined allow for my emotions to begin getting the better of me. A lump forms in my throat and my eyes start to sting.

  I’ve just turned the lock when I feel him. His heat warms my back and I spin on the spot, looking up at him with narrowed eyes.

  “What?” I snap.

  “Is that invitation still open?”

  He continues staring into my eyes, and his arm comes up. My heart races as my imagination runs wild about what he’s about to do, but when I hear the door click open, I realise he’s just finishing the job I started.

  “I didn’t think you wanted me to stay out in the cold.” The arrogant smirk on his face snaps me from my trance and I step back into the hallway.

  He walks in after me and it feels like he’s a lion about to pounce on his prey. Tingles shoot between my thighs as I continue retreating from his piercing blue eyes. I despise my traitorous body in those few minutes. I hate this guy standing in front of me. I shouldn’t be feeling myself getting wet the longer he pins me with his darkening stare.

  Falling for Nicole

  Chapter 1

  Nicole

  I stand waiting for Bailey, my chocolate cockerpoo puppy, to relieve himself on Lilly’s front lawn, and look around. She really has landed on her feet with Lucas. The house is stunning, but it’s nothing compared to the view of the bay in front of me. I have a huge desire to put off knocking a while longer and go for an evening stroll along the beach instead.

  Telling myself that I’ve put this off long enough, I square my shoulders and come to a stop on their doorstep. I haven’t allowed myself to think about what I’m doing the whole journey down here in fear I’d change my mind and turn around. But what’s the point? Lilly is the only family I have, and I’m fed up of being alone.

  My hand trembles with my uncertainty as I lift it to knock the door, the fear of starting a new life beginning to get the better of me. Lilly might be the only person I have, and I do want to be close to her, to see her twins grow, but I’m also aware that means I’ll be around him once again. Declan made my childhood and early teens a living nightmare. His constant teasing and name-calling were relentless.

  “OH MY GOD!” Lilly squeals when she pulls the door open. “NICOLE.” I think it’s safe to say she’s pleased to see me. I’m forcefully pulled to her before she wraps her arms around me tightly. The shock of the sudden movement means I drop Bailey’s lead, and he dashes off into Lilly’s house.

  “It’s so good to see you, Nic. I’ve been so worried about you.”

  Guilt washes through me. I know I’ve shut myself down since Mum died, but I couldn’t see any other way to get through it. It was almost as if my life ended that day, too. The sole purpose of my existence was to look after her. I’d given up my education, my job and my music. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat, but when it was all over, I was left with nothing but the small, run down house we lived in, a few pieces of furniture, and an empty bank account. I was utterly lost.

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper. I’m ashamed that the only thing I was capable of was hiding.

  “Don’t be stupid. I understand. But I’m so glad you’re here now. Please tell me you’re taking me up on my offer of staying.” When she pulls back from me her eyes are sad and I’m reminded that I’m not the only one to have lost someone important to me. It was only a few short years ago that Lilly and Declan lost their older sister in a car accident. Her face immediately lights up when she sees my car. “Oh my god, you are!”

  Everything I own is crammed into my little Fiat. There’s no hiding my plans.

  “I’m so happy. You’re going to love it here.” Sh
e embraces me again before pulling me into the house, telling me about how they’re in the middle of celebrating Lucas’ birthday.

  I’ve never felt so unsure of myself as the moment everyone in Lilly’s dining room turns to look at me. I’m under no illusion that I look a mess, but the sad expressions on their faces only remind me of how I’ve lived the past few months.

  I tug on the bottom of my oversized jumper, starting to feel more and more uncomfortable and self-conscious as everyone’s attention stays on me.

  Lilly starts introducing the people I don’t recognise, and I give a weak smile to Taylor, her old roommate, and Lucas, her husband.

  It’s not until the room turns silent that I realise everyone’s no longer staring at me but instead at an empty place setting.

  “Where’s Dec gone?”

  My heart starts to pound as images of the last time I saw him flash through my mind. The feelings he ignited in me as he stared down at me in my hallway, urging me to do something, rush through me.

  “No idea; he was there a minute ago,” someone says.

  Does he hate me that much?

  Lilly ushers me to another vacant seat at their humongous table before serving me a plateful of curry.

  A few questions are thrown my way, but thankfully Lilly redirects the conversation away from me as I sit and push a few pieces of chicken around the plate.