“Will do,” Luc said then headed on into the project house.
He winked at Meghan on his way in, pleased when she winked back. Yeah, she hadn’t told him her feelings yet, but things were going well. It wasn’t awkward working together, and now that Steve had been fired, no one on the job site had an issue with Luc and Meghan being together. At least they hadn’t overtly shown their displeasure.
He nodded at a few of the guys inside and went back to checking boxes and voltage. Since the house wasn’t one they’d built from scratch, his job had been harder than usual. Add into that the fact that Steve and Stan had fucked him over and Luc was glad this job was almost at an end. Soon they’d be able to start on the next one and move on.
An hour later, Luc rolled back to his heels and studied the house from the outside. “I think we’re ready to turn on the full breakers for the punch out.”
Decker punched his shoulder, a grin on his face. “I know this is your favorite part.”
Luc shook his head. “No, my favorite part is the beginning when it’s a blank canvas. But now? Now ranks pretty up high up there.”
He went back inside and turned on the main breaker, pleased when the overhead light fixture turned on. A job well done.
The loud explosion outside rocked him to the bones.
The scream that followed shook him to his core.
“Meghan!”
He snapped off the power, just in case, and then ran outside. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw smoke and fire billowing from the meter on the side of the house. However, his attention was for the woman on the ground in front of him.
“Baby?” He skidded across the newly planted grass and gripped her shoulders. “Are you hurt?” He looked over his shoulder. “Call an ambulance.”
“I’m fine, Luc.” She latched onto his arms, her face pale and a bit dirty, but he couldn’t see any blood. “The force of the explosion knocked me down. I screamed because it surprised me. But I’m not hurt.” She moved to cup his face. “Really. I’m fine.”
“Luc! Is Meghan okay?” Wes ran over to them, panic on his normally calm face. “Shit, little sister, let me call an ambulance.”
Meghan shook them off and stood up. Or at least tried to. He gripped her waist and held her against him. He didn’t trust himself to allow her to walk on her own right then. His pulse thudded in his ears, and his body shook.
“I’m fine. Unless someone else is actually hurt, I don’t need an ambulance. Now did you take care of the fire?”
Wes nodded, and Luc turned to look at what had caused the problem in the first place. “Fuck. Is that the meter?”
“Yeah, it looks like it overloaded and blew. Decker has the fire out, and we’re going to go take a look.” Wes met Luc’s eyes. “I know you checked all the breakers and boxes beforehand, but how the hell did it overload like that?”
Luc raised his chin, his heart not slowing. Meghan squeezed his hip, centering him. “It shouldn’t have. Fuck. Let me go take a look.”
He kissed the top of Meghan’s head, not caring who saw, then stomped over to the meter on the side of the house. Someone had used a fire extinguisher on the damn thing, but the side of the house didn’t look damaged. If anything, they’d gotten to it quickly enough that only the meter would need to be replaced. Unless, of course, he’d fucked up the wiring of the entire house, causing the meter to overheat and explode like it had.
Luc knew for a fact he hadn’t done that. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and he cursed. Fuck, if someone had tampered with the wiring, or anything else, they could have killed someone.
He narrowed his eyes at the partially melted meter, his gaze zeroing on a piece of copper tubing that sure has fuck shouldn’t have been there.
“Holy hell.”
“What?” Decker bit out.
Luc shook his head and pointed. “It’s too hot for me to touch, and frankly, you’re going to want to leave it here and call the cops so they have evidence. Someone stuck a fucking piece of copper tubing across the lugs on the meter. It’s phase to phase so the damn thing short-circuited. When I turned on the power to the whole house, it was too much, and the meter exploded. It made more of a sound than is normally warranted, but that is why it did what it did.” Luc fisted his hands on his side. “Someone did this on propose.”
Decker let out a string of obscenities that would make a sailor proud. “Steve.”
“Steve’s my best bet unless there’s someone else out there with a vendetta against me.”
“You didn’t get him fired. He did that himself,” Wes bit out beside him.
Small hands pressed against his back, and Luc leaned against Meghan ever so slightly. She could have been killed because of that fucking bastard. He struggled to rein in his temper. He’d scared Meghan the last time this had happened, and though they’d made progress, he wasn’t about to do it again.
“Fuck,” Luc muttered.
“I’m calling the cops,” Wes said as he pulled away. “Keep people out of the area. This shit is messed up.”
“If it’s any consolation, I don’t think I’m going to need to replace anything except the meter on this,” Luc said, his voice subdued. “It shouldn’t set us back too much unless the authorities need us to.”
Wes shook his head. “I built in time for emergencies. We’ll be fine.”
Luc hoped he was right because, fuck, this sucked. By the time the cops left, their day had been wasted, and Luc just wanted to go home and drink a beer. The whole thing nagged at him, and he wanted to shower and try to get smell of bitter defeat out of his skin.
“I called Maya, and she has the kids for the night,” Meghan said softly. “I’m coming home with you.”
He raised a brow at her tone. Gone was the timid Meghan who’d backed away when he got angry at someone else. This was the Meghan that sniped at him when her truck wouldn’t start and he got too close. He fucking loved this Meghan. Of course, he loved all shades of her.
“You sure you just don’t want to go home and sleep off the day? It’s been a hell of a day.”
She rolled her eyes and stood on her tiptoes in front of him. “Yeah, it’s been a suck-ass day. Hence why I’m coming home with you. Someone tried to sabotage my family’s project house and zeroed in on your work. It pissed me the hell off, and now I want to go home with you and make sure you know it’s not your fault. If I have to get naked and sweaty to do it, well…” She let out a dramatic sigh and fluttered her eyelashes. “Well, I guess that’s just something I’ll have to do.”
His cock went rock hard, and he snorted at the innocent look on her face. “I think the naked and sweaty can be arranged.”
She smiled full-out then reached around and slapped his ass. “Now get into your truck and get home. I’ll follow you.”
He leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss. “Thank you,” he whispered.
Her head tilted, and she scrunched her brows. “For what? I haven’t even done anything yet.”
“But you’re going to, and you’re here. It’s all I can ask for.” Oh, he could ask for a hell of a lot more, but he wouldn’t quite then. Not yet.
She kissed his chin then pulled away. “I’ll see you soon. Drive safe.”
He watched her go and shook his head. She might not have said the words yet, but he damn sure felt them in each move, each caress. He’d wait for however long it took for her to find it in her heart to see what they had. He only hoped it wouldn’t take too long.
By the time he pulled up to his place, Meghan had already parked and gone inside. He’d given her a key the week before, and he had one for her place. It only made sense considering they’d been dating for long enough and had been friends for far longer. It was just one step closer to him having everything he wanted.
When he walked in, he swallowed his tongue.
Meghan wore his leather jacket.
Only his leather jacket.
The damn thing covered her breasts and reached the top o
f her legs, but fuck, she looked so edible. When she moved toward him, the flashes of skin between the slightly open folds of the coat made him groan.
“You were fast,” he croaked.
“You drove slow. Gave me enough time to pull this off.” She reached up and cupped his face. “I want you to push work from your mind. Steve will be taken care of, and the project house is in great shape. You’re not in trouble, and we’re moving on. Tonight is just about you and me.”
He traced the soft skin between her breasts, his gaze on hers. “You sure do know how to take care of me.”
She licked her lips. “It’s easy to do.” She blinked up at him, and he let out a breath. “I love you, Luc. I’m so sorry I didn’t say it before. I’ve felt it, but I was too scared to do anything about it. I’m sorry I hurt you when I didn’t say it back, but I’m saying it now. I love you with all of my heart, all of my soul. You’re my future, my past, and my present. I’ll never forget the feeling of knowing you love me, and I never want to.”
Luc swallowed hard, not believing the words coming from her mouth. Holy hell. He hadn’t expected this, hadn’t expected her.
“You’re everything, Meghan,” he whispered. “I fucking love you so much. When you were on the ground today?” He swallowed hard. “It was like part of my heart had been pulled out and I was left a shadow of a man. Even if only for a moment.”
She shook her head. “I was fine. I am fine. I want a future with you, Luc. I don’t know what that means in every detail, but I’m done being afraid of what I feel, of what could happen. I know I can get through anything because you’re on my side. You always have been, and it took me far too long to realize that.”
He cupped her face, his hands shaking. “I love you, Meghan Montgomery.”
“I love you too, Luc Dodd.” She reached up and kissed his chin. “Now fuck me, make love to me, show me everything you have because I can’t wait to find out everything I can about you, soul and all.”
“Anything you want, Meghan. Anything.” He crushed his mouth to hers, his body shaking. “The leather jacket on you is fucking hot, sugar.”
“It’s yours.” She laughed as he slid his hands under the leather to cup her ass, spreading her cheeks.
“You can wear my clothes any time you want.” He latched onto her neck, sucking, biting, savoring.
He walked toward the hallway then groaned. “I don’t think I can wait.” He undid his jeans and shook them off his hips. “Hop on, sugar.”
“Hop on? Seriously?” She opened her mouth to laugh then groaned when he slammed into her in one thrust.
He fucked her hard against the wall, his body shaking and holding hers up. He had one of her knees practically up at her shoulders and the other leg wrapped around his waist. He pistoned in and out of her sweet cunt as he bit and sucked on her lips.
“I fucking love you, Meghan.”
“Love you more,” she panted.
She winked at him then slid one hand between them. He thought at first she was going for her clit, but then he sucked in a breath as she squeezed the base of his cock, moving her hand with each of his thrusts.
“Come, Luc. Fuck me harder and make me come with you.”
He licked his lips and moved faster. “As you wish.” Her eyes rolled as he slammed into her one more time, and they came together. His knees shook, and he slowly lowered them both to the floor. “Holy fuck, woman, I can’t move.”
She patted his shoulder lazily. “You better get moving soon. I want to suck your cock in the living room, and then I want you to eat me out on the table. We have a lot of space to cover and not a lot of time.”
He groaned at the images those words brought to mind and cupped her ass, his finger playing with her hole. “I’m going to fuck you here one day.”
“Good.”
“How did I become so lucky?” he asked, holding her close.
“You waited for me to see,” she whispered. “You waited.”
He’d have waited a hell of a lot longer, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he rolled her over and slid into her from behind on the floor. They made love slowly then moved to each room of the house until they were both spent, out of breath, and in need of nourishment.
He fucking loved his Meghan and would always crave her. The fact that she loved him too? Icing on the best cake ever. Fucking icing.
Chapter Seventeen
Meghan gripped Luc’s hand, sweat rolling down her back. She could do this. She could do anything with Luc by her side. In fact, she could do anything on her own as well. Having him there made her only that much more sure.
Of course, today wasn’t a normal day.
No, today they were meeting in chambers with her lawyer, Richard, his lawyer, and the judge who would hear their case. If things went well for Richard, they’d go to the next step in the proceedings. If they went well for her, she’d go home to her babies and have Richard out of her life for good this time.
Of course, there were countless possibilities, and she had dwelled on each and every one of them. She honestly had no idea how today was going to go considering Richard had the money to back his plans, and she had only her honesty and evidence she’d been the sole caregiver for her children long before Richard had walked out that front door, bags in hand and a sneer on his face.
Luc squeezed her hand again, and leaned toward her. He brushed his lips over her temple, and she let out a breath. Tension still radiated through her, but his presence made it bearable.
“I’m still not sure why Richard asked me, no, demanded I come,” Luc said softly.
She turned toward him and fixed his tie. “Because he knows you’re in my life now, and he’s going to try to use that against us. What he doesn’t know is that you’re much more than just a part of my life. You’re also a part of Cliff’s and Sasha’s.”
Luc smiled down at her but didn’t kiss her. Considering where they were, she didn’t blame him.
He stiffened and looked behind her when the elevator dinged. She turned around, her chin high, knowing who would be there.
Richard looked the same as always, his hair smoothed back, his jaw set. On his arm, a tall blonde looked down at Meghan and Luc, her eyes narrowing.
So this was Ambrosia. Her children’s stepmother. She and Richard had married the previous month without letting Meghan or the children know. It had hurt her babies, she was sure of it, but they’d shrugged it off. The fact that Cliff and Sasha had to shrug off anything made her angry. However, this wasn’t the time for anger. This was the time for cool and collected facts that would show her to be the mother her babies needed and kick Richard to the curb for good. There was no way this woman would get her paws on Meghan’s children. If Ambrosia truly wanted children, it didn’t matter what childbirth would do to her body. Meghan’s stretch marks were a badge of honor, and Luc kissed them nightly.
She’d gain more stretch marks to have Luc’s children, but that was a subject for another day.
“Meghan, Luc.” Richard’s voice slid right over her. The sneering tone didn’t make her feel worthless this time. Instead, it made her feel only a little pity for the man who’d done his best to break her and failed.
Richard might have thought she was broken, but she’d only bent.
She wouldn’t bend anymore.
“Warren vs. Montgomery-Warren?” a clerk said from an open doorway.
Meghan would have to get rid of the Warren part at some point. Her children might be forced to have the name, but she hated it. Though having the same last name as Cliff and Sasha helped out in legal things and traveling. She let out a sigh. Great, now her mind was going off on tangents.
Time to get a move on and protect her children.
Meghan rolled her shoulders and turned away from Richard, not bothering to be civil and acknowledge his presence. They were here today because Richard felt the need to try and destroy her life. She’d fight with everything she had and more.
Fuck him and the blonde bitch h
e rode in on.
She held back a wince at that mental image. So not the time.
The two parties sat on opposite sides of a long table. Meghan pulled at the bottom of her dress, her hands shaking. Luc, who sat on her right, tugged at her hand, and she stopped fidgeting. She met his gaze, and the strength she’d worked so hard to resurrect slid over her. Yes, she could do this.
Her lawyer—a shark who had once worked with Griffin on a novel—cleared her throat and nodded at the opposing party. Meghan honestly didn’t want to do this. If things went sour, then she’d be forced to bring Sasha and Cliff in. She wouldn’t be able to protect them as much as she had so far.
“We’re here in the custody matter of Cliff and Sasha Warren,” the judge, an older black woman, said slowly. She put on her reading glasses and nodded over the papers in front of her. The lines at the edges of her mouth deepened as her lips thinned.
“I’m not quite sure how this case ended up on my docket,” she said, her voice strong.
“Judge Hastings—” the opposing council began.
“No, it’s my turn to speak,” Judge Hastings cut in. “I understand you asked for Judge Bower for this case, but he was unavailable.”
Meghan blinked, her back going ramrod straight. What did this mean? Had Richard wanted Bower because he had the man in his pocket? She risked a glance at her ex-husband and held back any visible emotional reaction. Richard looked downright pissed.
What was going on?
“I am not quite sure how this case has gone as far as it has, but now that I have it, I’m making the final decision,” Hastings continued. “Richard Warren has no case. He signed off full custodial rights during the divorce proceedings and now is coming in with a change of heart. Instead of clearly stating why he wanted the children in his care, he sent out page after page of why the current custodial parent was not good enough. Not once did he mention that he wanted the children at all.”
Anger burned through Meghan’s veins. How dare that bastard paint her as an unfit mother? He wasn’t a father. He’d never been a father. It took more than a sperm donation to be part of that. He’d done his best to discredit her and add in drama and fear she didn’t need. She hoped to God the judge saw that fully.
Harder Than Words Page 20