It’s as if a realization hits him that Sage is a person. “I’m sorry I did this. I- I need to go.”
I try to stop him, but he tugs away. As we are approaching the front door, we are met by Sage and Lox coming in. Everyone stops and stares at each other.
Lox stands in front of Sage. “What are you doing here?”
Lucas puts his hands up in defense. “I’m leaving, man. Sorry.” As he walks past, he stares at Sage and solemnly shakes his head.
I run out the door. “Lucas. Stop.”
Before I can stop him, he pulls away from the curb.
Walking back into the house, Lox is standing in the doorway. “I got Slick to go hang out in his room for a minute. What in the hell was all of that about?” He looks at my face. “Wait, what happened to your damn lip? I’m going to kill that mother fucker.”
I put my hands up to his chest. “No, stop. Things just got a little intense. I busted his nose in return, it’s all fair.”
Sly and Huck come through my front door about that time.
Huck steps in front of me. “What’s going on? What happened to your lip?”
I shake my head, “It’s not what you think.”
Sly pulls me into the crook of his arm. “Come on and sit down. Explain what’s going on.”
I sit down and tell them about what happened. Huck shakes his head. “He still shouldn’t have laid a hand on you.”
“Look, I know that. I’m just saying he wasn’t himself. He looked lost and so many more emotions. Lucas is an asshole, but he was never abusive toward someone else. Sure, he’d thrown tantrums. He’d break shit and throw shit, but he never hit me. I’m worried about him. He feels like he has no one.” I shake my head. “I told him that when you act like you’re the only person in the world, that’s what happens.” I clasp my hands together. “He looked unstable, I’m not sure if he was drunk or high. I offered to feed him, I offered to get him a cab.”
Lox puts his hands on mine. “Sweetie, you shouldn’t worry about him. He doesn’t deserve it.”
I wipe my face. “Okay. I’m going to go talk to Sage.”
Sly stands up. “Wait, don’t go talk to him like this. Why don’t you go take a break? Check on that lip. I’ll go talk with Slick. If you go in there upset, he’ll get upset. Huck can finish up getting supper ready.”
I nod and go into my bedroom with Lox behind me. After we walk in the bathroom, I turn around and collapse into his chest.
He just holds me and soothes me. Lox being the man he is, just takes care of me.
It hits me hard as he’s holding me. Lox is the kind of guy that only shows up in romance novels and fairy tales. He’s that guy that comes through to rescue you and to let you know that somehow, dreams do come true. In this moment, I’m sure he’s the one.
~*~*~
Standing in the kitchen watching Lox cook breakfast, I slip my arms around his waist. “Thank you for last night.”
He turns around in my arms and kisses me. “I don’t think I‘ve ever been thanked for sex, but I’ll take it.”
I smack his chest. “I mean for all of the support last night and helping with Sage.”
He holds both sides of my face. “You never have to thank me for something I’d like to do for the rest of my life.”
The sweet moment is interrupted by his phone ringing. He answers it. “Yeah.” “Okay.” “Thanks.”
“What was that about?” He grabs the remote. “Lox, what’s going on?”
He turns the TV on. “That was Sly. There’s something on the news about Lucas.”
“In breaking news today, Jacksonville Panthers’ quarterback, Lucas Smith, was arrested last night on reckless driving and DUI charges. He’s already awaiting trial on a solicitation case. Apparently after taken into police custody, he attempted to commit suicide. He was moved to a local hospital and we are awaiting further news on this story.”
My hands fly to my mouth. “Oh my God.” I grab my phone. “I need to call my parents.” I start shaking. “I-. Oh God-. He drove away from here.”
He puts his arms on my shoulders. “Baby, this isn’t on you.”
“Um, can you watch Sage today? K-keep him away from the TV. I need to find out what’s going on.”
“Okay. Why don’t I go with you and we’ll get Jade to watch Slick.”
“Jade left for a school trip today.” I shake my head, walking to my room to get dressed.
“Okay, I’ll call Mom or the guys. Somebody will come of over here and stay with him.”
I nod. “Okay.”
An hour later, I’ve talked to Mrs. Smith, they rushed back as soon as Megan called them. They’re going to sedate him for forty-eight hours so I decide to wait on going to the hospital.
A couple of days later, Megan calls and asks us to come to the hospital. She explained that she’s still filing for a divorce and that things were over long before they came here. She understands that part of what happened when they were in Louisiana could have been fueled by the problems he’s having, but after getting counseling herself, she sees that it’s not going to work. She needs to learn to love herself before she can let someone else love her.
Once we arrive, we are led to a waiting room. A little while later, a doctor comes in to talk about Lucas’s condition. He had some kind of break down. The doctors have talked to the DA’s office and everything with the charges will be put on hold until he’s better fit to stand trial. They’re putting him a psychiatric facility where he’ll be undergoing treatment for his problems.
“Sloan, honey?” I turn to see Mrs. Smith.
“Ma’am?” I inquire.
“Lucas would like to see you and Lox, please,” she says with her hands clasped together.
I nod and look to Lox. “Yeah.”
Once we step in Lucas’s room, I see the bandages on his wrists and the restraints tethering him to the bed.
I cover my mouth, trying to restrain the cry that comes out. Lox holds my hand.
“Sloan, please don’t cry for me. I’ve made you cry enough in this lifetime. I did the same thing to Megan. I’ve been on a self-destructive path for a long time. I’m going to this program, and after that I’m probably going to jail. I’m going to take this seriously, try to figure all of this shit out in my head. I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”
I put my hand on his. “You just get better. All the way, not just physically.”
He nods. “Lox, I don’t deserve to ask you for favors, but I’m going to ask anyway. Please take care of them. They deserve someone like you.”
Lox nods. “I will. I have every intention of doing it for the rest of my life,” he says has we walk to the door.
EPILOGUE
LOX
Three months later
“What do you mean he wants to see Sage?” I sit my fork down.
She puts a bite of her steak in her mouth, chews and then swallows. “Just that he would like the chance to meet him. He’s almost at the end of his treatment, it’s part of the process. Chances are he’s going to do some time when he’s out. It’ll probably be a minimum security place, but he’ll still be going away. Things have went well with his parents being in Sage’s life. I feel like Lucas needs this as much as Sage does.” She puts her hand on mine. “Look, no one will replace you in Sage’s life. You’re more of a father figure than Lucas will ever be, I just don’t want to have any regrets about it later. I want Sage to know I’ve done my part. Trust me, he’s assured me he’s not ready to be his daddy. He’d just like to get to know him a little.”
I take a deep breath. “I understand, Slick is your son. It just worries me. I don’t want him using him as some kind of pawn.”
“I know. That’s one of the many reasons I love you, but I feel like this is something we need to do.” She gives me her soft smile. “Don’t ever think that I don’t value your opinion on Sage. I know he’s my son, but you’re a big part of his life.”
Hearing her tell me she loves me is everything
I need in life. I wasn’t expecting this tonight. I wasn’t expecting her to drop this Lucas bomb on me. We’re out at Jackson’s Steakhouse for her birthday dinner, or so she thinks. The guys and Slick are setting up a surprise party for her at the gym. Tonight is special.
She looks over at me as we pull into the gym parking lot on our way home. Our way home. Let’s hope. “What are we doing here?”
“I just need to go inside for a minute to check on something. Come with me. I don’t want you to stay out here.”
She nods. “Okay.”
As we walk in, I flip the lights. “I don’t know what’s wrong with the lights. Let me go check the power box.”
“Okay. I’ll walk with you.” I take her hand and she follows me.
As soon as we enter the main room of the gym, the lights come on and everyone yells, “SURPRISE!”
Her hands fly to her mouth. “Oh! You guys.”
She goes around hugging everyone. Her parents even came over because I have something special in store for her.
“Hey, come over here. I have a gift for you.”
She smiles. “Okay, but you’ve already given me enough. Tonight has been great.”
I pull her in front of me. “Well, I know one more thing that would make it even better.”
She whispers. “We can’t do that right now, we have too many people here. I knew I shouldn’t have let you do that to me in Marco’s office that night.”
I laugh. “That’s not what I want to do, but maybe later,” I say with a wink.
I drop down in front of her. “Sloan, we’ve known each other for five months and three days. I can’t imagine anyone else I want to spend time with.” I hear Huck calling me an asshole. “I want to give you and Sage all that you deserve in life. I want to be an honorable man. I want to be a great father to Sage and a great husband to you. Sloan Foster, will you marry me?”
She nods. “Yes!” She wipes the tears from her face. “Yes, I will.”
Her parents hug us both, along with my mom. Meredith steps up. “You guys have fun this weekend. Sage is coming home with us.”
I thank them and so does Sloan. “I just want you to know that I talked to Slick about this before I asked you. I don’t want you to think I just sprung this on him.”
“What did he say?”
I grin. “He told me that I was already like his dad and that he didn’t want us to give him a sister.”
She laughs, “That sounds like him.” Kissing me, she smiles and whispers, “I love you.”
SLOAN
My phone rings, waking me up from my sex induced coma. “Hello?”
“Sloan?” Kara whispers into my phone.
“Kara? Why are you whispering?”
“I need you to come get me.”
“Where are you at?”
“I’m at my house, but I need to get out of here. I need to get away from Drake. Now. I’m hiding behind my couch, when I see you pull up, I’ll come out.” She’s still whispering.
I jump up from my bed. “Okay, I’m coming. Stay on the phone with me.”
“I can’t, he might wake up and hear me.” She whispers as she hangs up.
Lox shoots up from the bed. “What’s wrong? Is it Sage?”
“No. It’s Kara. She needs me to come get her from her house. Drake is there and she was whispering.”
He snatches his jeans off the chair, pulling them on. “I’m coming with you.”
Running out to my SUV, we take off and drive over to Kara’s. Lox slams his hands on the steering wheel. “Fuck! I was afraid of this.”
As we pull up to the curb, I jump out of the car. As I step on her stoop, Kara opens the door and slips out, right into my arms. When I see her face, I gasp. “Kara? Oh God!”
Keep an eye out for the next book in Marco’s MMA Boys Series.
(Sly and Kara)
For up to date release information follow me on my website. www.smdonaldson.com
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my readers. Without you I would not be having this awesome adventure. You have helped make my dreams come true and for that I’m truly blessed and grateful.
I need to give a big Thank You to Chelly Peeler. She’s not only my editor but my friend. She always listens to my random crazy thoughts. She loves my characters and understands my craziness. Thank you again.
To my husband, thank you for standing behind me for all of these years and always pushing me in your own way. To my son Bailey, thank you for trying to understand why mom is on her computer so much.
To my Mom for listening to my random story ideas and telling me to go for it. To my sisters, thank you for always supporting me. You guys always have my back. Daddy, I miss you every day and I know you’re watching over me.
A special thanks to Blair Sherrill my cover model for being Lox. You captured everything I was looking for.
Shelly Sale my photographer you’re awesome. You know the image I’m looking for before I do sometimes.
To Former Pro Boxer James Spider Webb a World Ranked Pro, NABC US Champion, US Olympic Alt and Armed Forces Champion. Thank you for giving me some insight into this world and for letting us use Premier Boxing and MMA for our photo shoot.
To my BETA readers you are awesome.
Thanks to all of the book bloggers out there who spend so much time helping us promote books and everyone who leaves a review, you are all awesome.
To my Author friends, thank you for being supportive and inspirational all at the same time.
About the Author
S.M. Donaldson is a born and raised Southern girl. She grew up in a small rural town on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the kind of place where everyone knows your business before you do, especially when your Daddy is a cop and your Mom works for the school system. She married one of her best friends at the age of 20 and has one son. She is a proud military wife, has always had a soft spot for a good story, and is known to have a potty mouth. At the age of 31, she decided there was no time like the present to attempt her first book. Sam’s Choice was born and she hasn’t stopped since. If you are looking for a good, steamy, Southern set romance with true Southern dialect, she’s your girl.
My Links:
www.smdonaldson.com
www.facebook.com/s.m.donaldson.author
www.goodreads.com/AuthorSMDonaldson
Twitter: @SMDonaldson1
Instagram: SMDONALDSON1981
Other titles by S.M. Donaldson
The Sam Series
Sam’s Choice
Sam’s Fight for Freedom
The Temptation Series
Lying with Temptation
Acting on Temptation
Fighting Temptation
The Secrets of Savannah Series
Secrets Behind Those Eyes
Secrets in The Lyrics
Secrets in Battle
Novellas
Just the Other Sister Series
(E-book only)
Seasons of Change Novella Series
Summer of Forgiveness
Falling for Autumn
Holiday with Holli
Marco’s MMA Boys
Letting Lox In
Lying With Temptation
For My Daddy
Lying With Temptation
(Temptation Series Book 1)
S.M. Donaldson
Copyright2013© by S.M. Donaldson
Edited by Sugar and Spice Editing
This book is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead are entirely coincidental.
Prologue
Senior Year Spring Break
~Gabby~
It’s the end of spring break, so Elle and I came to the lake for the day to lie out.
“Gabby, I just really don’t see what the big deal is,” Elle says as she sets down her wine cooler.
I take a drag off my ci
garette and put down my beer. “Elle, come on, you slept with her boyfriend…that’s the big deal.”
“Look, he came to me…he must not have been happy where he was at…I’m just glad you managed to keep that deranged girl from hitting me in the face.”
“Yeah, well, it really shouldn’t matter that he came after you…you still should’ve said no…Jeez, have some fucking self-respect Elle.”
“Whatever Gabby…self-respect is what you call sitting over here pining away over Reece White and holding on to that V-card like it’s some sort of precious gem or something.”
I bolt upright, stabbing my cigarette in the sand. “Fuck you Elle! Just because I don’t fall into the sack with every swinging dick that comes along…You know what? Never mind. ” I gather my things and head for the car. I can’t help but notice Reece. I guess I’ll stop and speak to him before I go. “Hey Reece.”
He brushes the side of my face. “Hey there my sweetie.” I smile and he touches my arm. I can feel the goose bumps. “Hey. Do you think I could get those physics notes from you? I kinda missed the last class before break.”
I smile. “Umm yeah, sure.”
He leans down and whispers in my ear. “Thanks doll. You’re the best.”
I almost melt. Wow I’m on freaking cloud nine. Elle can say I’m pining away all she wants to; I see us getting closer and closer. I could’ve floated away when his breath hit my ear.
As I drive home, I’m still so pissed at Elle. She thinks it was no big deal to sleep with someone else’s boyfriend. Really … Everyone asks why I keep trying to clean up her messes, why I’m even her friend.
She’s short - 5’2 - and tiny like a rail, where I’m 5’7 with curves. I’m not fat but next to her I look like the Jolly Green Giant. … But we’ve been friends since we were five years old. She drives me crazy though and if I have to get between her and one more pissed off girlfriend, I’m gonna lose it. I’m so glad she’s staying here and going to college. I love her but I’m ready for a break, and I think a few hundred miles and my being in another state will do just fine.
Letting Lox In Page 18