Drawn To You (Taking Chances #3)

by Liwen Ho

“We’re not dating. He’s a friend.”

  “A friend?” Melanie nodded knowingly. “What kind of friend is he?”

  “An amazing one,” Sam bragged. “The kind that’s sweet enough to bail me out of debt, feed me dinner every night, and kisses really well.”

  Ashlynn gasped. “You guys have kissed?”

  “Yup.” She recalled the way Lucas’s mouth met hers, hesitantly at first, just like their first kiss a decade ago. But when the kiss deepened with more heat and pressure, she could tell that the boy she had fallen for had grown into a confident and passionate man. And he was still in love with her.

  “Sam, I hope you don’t kiss all your male friends,” Melanie sighed. “The way you describe him makes him sounds like—what’s that saying people use? A sweet daddy?”

  Ashlynn winced. “I think you mean sugar daddy?”

  “Yes, a sugar daddy. Have you wondered why he treats you so well?”

  Sam straightened in her chair, gripping the armrests so tightly that the metal bands of her chunky statement rings pressed into her skin. Her sister had some nerve! Was it so hard to imagine that a man could appreciate her for who she was on the inside and not just for her looks? Certainly she didn’t rely on her appearance or charms that much, did she? “Why wouldn’t he be nice to me? We go way back and his daughter’s my student. Friends help each other out. It’s as simple as that.” Seeing the baby stirring in Ashlynn’s arms, she lowered her volume. “Lucas is not my sugar daddy. I can’t believe you’d even suggest that.”

  “I don’t know what to think. The man lost his wife not too long ago. Maybe he’s lonely. Have you talked about your intentions? About the future?”

  Sam gritted her teeth. So much for enjoying the moment. Why did Mel have to spoil her good mood? “We kissed for the first time tonight. There’s not much to analyze. It was the right moment and we both wanted to. You’re thinking too much.”

  “You should think more. Relationships only work when both sides are on one page. I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

  “I know, I know,” Sam nodded. Childbirth wasn’t the only reason for the weariness in her sister’s bloodshot eyes. Melanie had been the only one she confided in about her heartbreak in Paris. She knew she was trying to prevent her from falling for the wrong guy again. But that mistake had been seven years ago and she had learned her lesson. For starters, there was no other woman in the picture this time. And Lucas was a better man than Jacques ever was. “Lucas is different. He’s dependable and trustworthy. He’s a great dad.”

  Ashlynn smiled. “You like him a lot, don’t you?”

  “Yeah. A lot more than I care to admit.”

  A piercing cry interrupted their conversation. Ashlynn rose to rock the baby squirming in her arms.

  Melanie sat up. “It’s feeding time. Here, I’ll take her.”

  Sam reached for the pair of crutches leaning against the wall behind her and struggled to a standing position. “That’s my cue to leave.”

  “I was just going to ask for a volunteer to change her diaper.”

  “What can I say? I’ve got amazing timing and a bum foot, so I’m gonna have to take a rain check. Anyway, Lucas needs to drive me home to get my spare keys and take me back to his place to get my car.”

  Melanie shook her head in disbelief. “You locked yourself out of your car again?”

  “It’s been an eventful night.” Sam leaned over to catch one last whiff of baby scent. “Bye, sweetie. I’ll come visit when you guys are home.”

  “Be careful driving, Sam. And don’t forget to keep your foot elevated. Not at the same time, of course.”

  “Yes, Doctor.”

  Ashlynn held the door open for Sam. “I’ll pray for you and your friend. I have faith God can work things out for you.”

  “Thanks, Ash. I’m glad someone does.”

  - - -

  “Watch your head.” Lucas waited for Sam to slide into the passenger seat of his car before shutting the door. He took her crutches and placed them in the trunk, then walked to the driver’s side. Taking his place behind the wheel, he turned to Sam. “Are you comfortable?”

  “As good as I can be. I can’t wait to go home and crash. At least I have the whole weekend to rest up.” Leaning back in her seat, she rested her bare foot on the dashboard. “This isn’t illegal, is it?”

  Lucas swallowed hard as the hem of Sam’s dress inched dangerously up her leg. It was becoming more clear that he couldn’t think straight in her presence, which explained how he had ended up kissing her earlier. He didn’t regret the kiss, but he was afraid of what it had awakened in him. He said a quick prayer and dropped his gaze. “You really shouldn’t,” he insisted for Sam’s sake as much as his own. “It’s not illegal, but it’s not safe either. If the airbag deployed, you’d be badly hurt.”

  “Oh, good point. I didn’t think of that.” Yawning, Sam put her leg down. “Could you turn on the heat? I get cold when I’m tired and right now, I’ve got goose bumps all over my body.”

  Lucas reached into the backseat for one of his Milpitas P.D. sweatshirts and tossed it to her. “Here, this should help.” If it didn’t help her, it would at least help him. The less attractive she looked, the better.

  “Thanks.” Sam slipped the sweatshirt over her head and removed the elastic tie holding her hair up. “Ah, much better.”

  Fortunately, the car’s interior light shut off the next second, blanketing them in darkness. He started the engine and turned up the heater. He plugged in the address she had given him into the GPS mounted on the dashboard and exited the hospital parking lot. “Let’s get you home.”

  They had been driving for a few miles when Lucas noticed how quiet it was. Aside from the soft hum of the radio, it was unusually silent on Sam’s side of the car. “How’s your ankle?”

  The sound of light snoring answered him.

  Lucas stopped at an intersection and glanced to his right. In the glow of the streetlight, he saw Sam snuggled into her seat with her head turned toward him. Her long lashes skimmed her cheeks and her full lips were slightly parted. Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders. His breath faltered as he took in the view. A woman like Sam could have anyone she wanted, but for some reason she wanted him.

  Beep! Beep, beep!

  A car horn blared behind them, causing Lucas to jump. He looked up and noticed the green light. How did I miss that? The signal quickly turned yellow, but he stepped on the gas anyway to avoid holding up the cars behind him. He crossed the intersection as the light changed again, and immediately regretted his decision. In his rear view mirror, he saw the flashing lights first, then heard the siren.

  “You’re kidding me.” Never in his life had he gotten a moving violation; he wasn’t about to taint his record now. What kind of example would he be setting as a police officer? What was worse, they were only a few miles from his own station. What a nightmare it’d be if one of his own pulled him over. He’d never live that down.

  He pulled his car to the curb and shut off the engine. He ran his hands through his hair, uncertain of how to handle the situation. The only one skilled at getting out of this mess was sleeping soundly next to him. He nudged her shoulder. “Sammie? Sam! Wake up. I need you.”

  Sam stirred and opened her eyes. “What? Are we home?”

  “Not yet. We have a little situation on our hands. One I’m not familiar with.”

  “What kind of situation?” She glanced around the car, then leaned forward to look into the side mirror. “Is that who I think it is? You got pulled over! What did you do?”

  Lucas switched on the light panel above them. The grin on Sam’s face matched her giddy tone. “Try not to be so happy, will you? I didn’t do anything illegal.”

  “Says the cop who just got pulled over.”

  “I was halfway through the intersection before the light turned red, I’m sure of it.” The desperation in his voice sounded foreign to his own ears.

  A look of concern cros
sed her face and she reached over to touch his arm. “Hey, stay calm. If you’re innocent, you don’t have anything to worry about. If you’re not, just follow my lead.” She winked, then turned toward the open window.

  “Good evening,” a male voice greeted them. “License and registration, please.”

  “Good evening, Officer.” Sam took the paperwork Lucas handed her and passed it to the cop. “Here you go. License and registration.” Leaning out the window, she remarked, “My, what a striking watch that is. It looks like it was made for you.”

  “It’s a beauty, ain’t it?” The officer bent down to reveal a balding head. “An anniversary gift from my wife.”

  “Oh, how sweet. How long have you been married?”

  “Fifteen years last month.”

  “That’s amazing. I’d love to know your secret. My boyfriend and I could use all the help we can get. We get along most of the time, but every now and then we just drive each other crazy.” She turned to Lucas and remarked, “Isn’t that right, babe?”

  Slumping down in his seat, Lucas squeezed out an uncomfortable smile. As soon as he had heard the officer’s voice, he knew there was no easy way out of this situation, even with Sam’s help.

  Flashing him an impatient glare, Sam grabbed his hand and held it between both of hers. “I’ll have you know, Officer, that my sweetheart’s an excellent driver when I’m not around to distract him. He’s a boy in blue like you”—she pointed to the sweatshirt she was wearing—“a proud member of the Milpitas P.D.”

  Lucas groaned. Oh no. He might as well put his hands up and surrender now.

  “Is that so, Mr., uh …” The officer shone his flashlight at the driver’s license, then peered into the car window past Sam’s head. “Wait a minute. Stickler, is that you?”

  Sam’s hair whipped against her cheeks as she looked from one man to the other. “What the—? You guys know each other?”

  Lucas dropped the hand covering his eyes. “Hey, Oliver.”

  “It is you!” Oliver doubled over in laughter and slapped his hand against the roof of the car. “Wait till I tell everyone. I can’t believe I’m the lucky one.”

  Sighing, Lucas turned to Sam. “Meet my former Field Training Officer, Oliver Dunham. He’s been waiting five years for this moment.”

  “This moment?”

  “Whoever catches Lucas breaking a rule wins a pot of money we’ve been collecting around the station,” Oliver explained. “It’s up to $180 now. Boy, oh boy, the wife and I are going to have a mouth-watering steak and seafood dinner, thanks to you.”

  “Ha! So I’m not the only one who thinks you’re uptight,” Sam snickered. “You have the best coworkers. It’s so good to meet you, Oliver.” She let go of Lucas’s hand to shake the older man’s. “I’m Sam, by the way.”

  “Why, thank you, dear. It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. You must be the reason why he didn’t notice the light change back there. He had his eyes on the pretty woman next to him instead of the road.” He raised his voice and directed his next statement at Lucas. “I only pulled you over, man, to make sure you hadn’t fallen asleep.”

  Lucas leaned one elbow on the center console and faced Oliver. There was hope yet. “I was right! I didn’t break any laws. I wouldn’t make that dinner reservation just yet.”

  Oliver rubbed his chin for a moment. “Well, let’s not overlook the fact that you held up traffic at a green light, then rushed into the intersection when it was yellow. That’s two counts of hazardous driving. If I remember correctly, that’s code 21 … 214 …”

  “Codes 21451 and 21452,” Lucas grimaced. “Great. There goes my clean record.”

  Sam quirked an eyebrow. “You’ve never gotten a ticket before?”

  “I’ve never been pulled over until today.”

  “You’re amazing.” Somehow her tone didn’t reflect the true meaning of those words.

  “Not amazing enough if I’m getting ticketed.”

  “Now wait, hold on here,” Oliver began, “what kind of friend do you think I am? It wouldn’t be right for me to put a damper on your date considering how little you get out. Tell you what, since this is your first offense and whatnot, I’m gonna let you go with a warning.”

  Lucas shook his head. “Oliver, you don’t have to do that. I was at fault. I deserve the citation.”

  “Call it a freebie in the name of love.”

  Sam put her hand on Lucas’s arm before he could respond. “Come on, it would be rude to refuse his generosity. It’s in the name of love, after all.” She flashed a smile at the officer. “We appreciate it very much, Oliver. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Oliver handed the paperwork back to Sam. “Thank you for putting a smile back on my boy’s face. Have a good night,” he added before walking away.

  “But—”

  “Come on, Stickler. You heard the man.” Sam leaned back in her seat and grinned. “We’re free to go.”

  Lucas placed his hands on the steering wheel. In his side mirror, he watched Oliver pull away from the curb and wave at them as he drove past. He also started his car and headed onto the road. The next minutes were spent in silence as he replayed their interaction with Oliver. He felt both amazed and disturbed at how easily he had gotten out of the situation. Or more accurately, how Sam had gotten him out of it. All the red flags from earlier that evening suddenly flooded his mind. “How do you get away with that?”

  “That? That was nothing. You should’ve seen me last year when I got pulled over on the way to my parents’ restaurant. The cop ended up following me there for dinner. My mother gave him the royal treatment, including free refills on soda. It worked out so well, he gave me his number by the end of the night.”

  The ease with which Sam spoke irked him. She made that rookie cop sound like easy prey, someone she could use and dispose of at her convenience. “Did you go out with him?”

  “Naw, he was cute, but too young. He still comes to eat at the restaurant though. He loves the chow mien and milk tea.”

  “Hm,” he mumbled under his breath, “I forgot you like them old.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Nothing.” He cleared his throat. “You know, Oliver’s a good guy. You shouldn’t have lied to him.”

  “I didn’t—whatever. Do I need to remind you that you’re the one who asked me for help? I only said what I said to get you out of a ticket.” Crossing her arms, she huffed, “You’re welcome, by the way.”

  Lucas couldn’t make out her face in the darkness, but her voice told him enough. “I appreciate your intentions. I guess I just don’t understand how you do it. I mean, don’t you ever feel bad about getting what you want by using—”

  “Using what?” Sam cut in, her volume rising. “My wit? My smarts?”

  Rubbing the back of his neck, he blew out a long breath. This wasn’t worth getting into a fight over. He knew Sam well enough to know they could talk for hours and still not see eye to eye on matters. Now that they were business partners, he couldn’t risk letting his personal opinions affect their working relationship. Which in that moment he decided was all they could ever have. “Never mind. Let’s not argue.”

  “No, spit it out, Lucas. What do you really think of me? If you’re going to judge me, you might as well do it to my face.”

  “Forget I said anything.” Checking the GPS’s directions, he pulled into a small apartment complex as it instructed and parked in a visitor’s spot. “Wait here.” Stepping out of the car, he removed the crutches from the trunk, then headed to the passenger side. “Come on, let’s get you inside.”

  Sam reached for the crutches and stood up, balancing herself on one foot. “I got it,” she snarled. With her purse hanging from her forearm, she hobbled up the sidewalk to the corner apartment.

  Lucas followed closely behind. “Take it easy, this isn’t a race. Here, let me get the key for you.”

  “Fine.” Sam nodded toward her purse. “It’s in the outside pocket.”

&nbs
p; He found the key and opened the door.

  Once inside, Sam slipped off the house slippers that Lucas had lent her and hopped over to a red loveseat. “Thanks for the ride. I’ll get my car tomorrow. Just leave the keys on the table.”

  Lucas stood speechless as he examined her living room. The space was small, but all the furniture appeared modern and new. To his right sat an oversized zebra print upholstered chair in the shape of a high heel shoe. A large LCD screen TV took up one wall and a furry white rug lay in the middle of the hardwood floor. Despite some magazines, food wrappers and mugs scattered on the coffee table, the room resembled the cover of a furniture store catalogue. A very expensive store that someone needing a ten-thousand-dollar loan shouldn’t be able to afford. “Nice place.”

  Sam brightened for a moment. “Thanks. I had fun decorating it.”

  “How long have you lived here?”

  “About five years. I moved in when I got back from Paris.”

  “And the furniture? When did you get them?”

  She lifted her swollen foot onto the couch and placed it on top of a pillow with a black and white photo of the Eiffel Tower. “What is this, an inquisition?”

  “I’m curious how you were able to afford such nice things,” Lucas shrugged. “This sure doesn’t look like the home of a struggling business owner.” He knew he would likely regret his next statement, but he said it anyway. “So, how many rich, old men did you have to kiss to pay for all this?”

  Sam’s face turned a bright crimson shade that matched the sofa. “Get out. Now.”

  Lucas had never stared down the barrel of a gun before, but he imagined that scenario would be less intimidating than the one he was in now. He quickly came to his senses and left the apartment—and Sam’s line of fire.

  EIGHT

  “Can I ring it, Daddy?”

  “Sure, go ahead. Just once.”

  Lucy gingerly placed her index finger on the doorbell and pressed it. Her hazel eyes widened in delight when the sound of knocking and a comedic male voice calling out, “Hey, there’s someone at the door!” followed. “Can I do it again? Please?”