Lucky In Love (Silver Bay Book 3)

by Amelia Judd

  Ethan’s features hardened as he turned his attention to her ex. “Claire’s a great leader. Only a weak man has a problem following a strong woman.”

  “That’s so forward thinking of you.” Gemma’s eyes melted into pools of liquid chocolate as she placed her hand over her heart. “I love it!” she whisper-yelled with rushed enthusiasm. “You two have crazy, amazing chemistry.”

  “I’m trying to convince her of that very thing.” Only a breath away, Ethan turned to lock a smoldering gaze on Claire while he kept his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

  Claire didn’t know if the hot, hungry look was for Gemma and Jack’s benefit or if it was real. Either way, its intoxicating effect, combined with his defense of her, was making her head spin. She licked her dry lips and swallowed hard.

  Ethan’s eyes dropped to her mouth, and his arm tightened around her.

  “Whoa,” Gemma murmured. “Does Claire have a pet name for you?”

  Ethan drew in a deep breath and tore his gaze away to look at Gemma. “Sorry, I lost my focus. It happens a lot when Claire’s around. What did you ask me?”

  Gemma’s wide-eyed gaze darted between them. “I asked what she calls you.”

  A boyish grin split his face. “Lucky. She calls me Lucky, and I have to say”—he winked—“the name fits.”

  “OMG. Look at me.” Gemma held up a hand. “I’m shaking from just watching you together.”

  “We’re not together. We’re just here to talk about soccer,” Claire insisted to Gemma, Jack, Ethan, and maybe even herself.

  “Soccer? Yeah, right.” Gemma giggled. “Jack has never looked at me like that when we’re talking about soccer.” She clapped her hands again. “This is so awesome! You’re dating Ethan DuBois! Tell me all about it!”

  “Who’s dating Ethan DuBois?” a familiar, very curious female voice asked from behind Claire.

  She fought the groan building in her throat. Had she actually thought tonight would be easy? She should have realized Silver Bay was too small for her dinner with Ethan to go unnoticed.

  “Hi, Kat.” Claire sighed. “How long have you been lurking behind me?”

  “I don’t lurk. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.” The petite powerhouse stepped around to the end of their booth. “Big guy here”—Kat jerked her thumb at her tall, blond, built-like-Thor husband—“is too large to lurk.”

  “Hey, Logan.” Claire greeted her brother-in-law with a grateful smile. He was her best chance at keeping Kat from saying anything too outrageous.

  “Gotta admit,” Kat said, eyeing the four of them in turn, “this is one frickin’ bizarre-ass double date. Hi, Ethan. It’s been a while.”

  Jack snorted. “It’s hardly a double date. Gemma is saying hello to Claire, and now it’s time for us to leave.” He motioned for Gemma to get up.

  “But I haven’t met Kat’s husband yet,” she protested.

  “I’m sorry. How rude of me,” Kat said, not sounding the least bit apologetic. She wrapped an arm around her husband’s waist. “Logan, this is Gemma and Jackass.”

  They quickly exchanged greetings. Claire noted that Jack still looked ticked about the nickname Kat had insisted on calling him since the divorce. And how did Kat know Ethan?

  “I’ve seen you play soccer,” Logan said to Ethan. “You’re good.”

  “Thanks. Australian?” Ethan asked, referring to Logan’s accent.

  “Yip,” Logan confirmed, looking pleased to have his nationality recognized so quickly.

  “I’ve played with a few Aussies in the past. Great guys. Lots of fun. Tough as hell.”

  “Sounds ’bout right. So how do you know Kat?”

  Exactly what Claire wanted to know.

  “We went to high school together.” Ethan winked at Kat. “I used to have a major crush on her.”

  Kat laughed. “Seriously? You were so busy playing soccer I’m shocked you had time to notice me.”

  “It would’ve been harder not to notice you.”

  Ethan’s expression and tone were light and playful. Even so, Claire felt an unexpected twinge of jealousy twist her belly. Judging by the low sound of warning emanating from the back of Logan’s throat, he’d felt the same twinge.

  Ethan’s gaze shifted briefly to Logan, then back to Kat. “Congratulations on your marriage by the way. You two look very happy together.”

  “We have a son, too,” Kat said. “Four months old.”

  “As fun as this trip down memory lane is, Gemma and I have to go,” Jack drawled.

  “Sounds good. Bye,” Claire added, hoping to end this disastrous soccer date as soon as humanly possible.

  “No way are we leaving now,” Gemma said, shooting Jack a you’re-totally-crazy look. “Claire is going to tell us more about her and Ethan.” She turned back to Claire. “How long have you been going out?”

  “They’re not dating,” Jack said to Gemma. “He’s only in town short term. Everybody knows his retirement is a ploy for more money. He’ll be gone before the end of the year. And even if a professional athlete was interested in Claire, she’s too pragmatic to start dating someone who’s leaving soon.”

  “Any man with a pulse would be interested in Claire,” Ethan growled. “And my retirement isn’t a ploy.”

  Gemma’s brown eyes filled with sympathy. “I heard you’re taking time off to get over your painful breakup with Quinn Knight.”

  “Who?” Jack, Kat, and Claire asked in unison.

  Gemma rolled her eyes. “Am I the only one who reads People magazine? Quinn’s a pop star who’s touring right now to promote her new album, Scandal. Ethan was spotted pulling her panties out of his pocket.”

  Claire felt her eyebrows hit her hairline. “Sounds like an interesting story.”

  Ethan held up his hands in a gesture of innocence. “Hey, I was just visiting an old teammate in LA. We were at the same club one night. She introduced herself and about five minutes into the conversation told me to check my pocket.”

  “Never mind.” Claire threw her hand up to halt all progress. “I don’t want to know the details.”

  “Somebody snapped a picture right when I pulled the frilly pink fabric from my shirt pocket like a frigging magician.”

  Kat snorted in laughter. “Come on, DuBois, you want us to believe you really didn’t know her panties were in your pocket?”

  “I had no idea. All I can figure is she slipped them in when she leaned forward to whisper in my ear. Trust me, I’m not into clingy, attention-seeking woman.”

  “I don’t understand the logistics of that maneuver,” Claire snapped. “How in the world did she get her panties off without anyone noticing?”

  “The bathroom?” Ethan shrugged. “Or maybe she carries spares around in her purse to hand out like a calling card.”

  “Definitely makes an impression,” Logan said, sounding a heck of a lot more amused by the story than Claire felt.

  “Yeah, a trashy one,” Kat said, elbowing Logan in the gut. “So,” she purred, turning back to Claire, “Ethan DuBois is the young, unemployed stud you told us about. I guess that’s what you meant when you said we’d understand when we saw him. Gotta admit, you surprised me. I didn’t realize Ethan had been back in town that long. How’d you meet?”

  In an instant, five sets of very curious eyes focused on Claire. She looked at Ethan. He stared back, appearing as interested in what she planned to say as everyone else. She raised her eyebrows in silent question. Ethan gave her a slight shrug and a crooked smile, silently saying he’d follow her lead.

  Oh, what the hell. After her little announcement at lunch the other day and this disastrous soccer date, everyone would think they were going out anyway. She had a better chance of managing the situation if she took control now.

  Feigning nonchalance, Claire leveled her little sis with a smug stare. “Ethan and I met in a bar a couple of weeks ago. We’ve seen each other a few times since then.”

  Amusement flashed in Kat’s eyes. “In a bar? I�
��m impressed.” She cocked an eyebrow. “So are you two dating?”

  “Yes. I guess there’s no hiding it now,” Ethan said.

  Claire could actually feel him smiling behind her. She resisted an eye roll and fought back a wave of unease, wondering again why he seemed so pleased to play the role of pretend boyfriend.

  “Interesting.” Kat’s expression made it clear she knew darn well that would make Claire ineligible for the auction.

  “Just to be safe, you should probably move me to a different role in your fundraiser,” Claire offered helpfully.

  “Nice try, sis, but we’ll keep you on the list for now. A lot could change between now and October.”

  “What list?” Gemma piped in, looking oblivious to the veiled battle between sisters.

  “Claire’s offered to take part in the bachelor and bachelorette auction I’ve organized for the charity I run, SAS, in mid-October.” Kat turned her attention to Ethan. “You’d be a valuable addition to our lineup. What chance do I have of talking you into offering your services for the evening?”

  “Not gonna happen.” Ethan shook his head. “I did one of those a few years back. It didn’t end well. But I’m happy to donate whatever amount you think a date with me would sell for.”

  Kat’s eyes lit with approval. “Excellent. That should fund our operation for at least a month.”

  “Happy to help,” Ethan replied.

  “Wait. What?” Claire gasped. “You didn’t tell me I could buy my way out.”

  “You can’t. That golden-girl reputation of yours is priceless when it comes to locking in other volunteers. There’s only one path that leads out of this auction for you. But I think you’ve already figured that out, haven’t ya?” Kat winked and clicked her tongue.

  “All right, tiger. Let’s go home. You’ve caused enough ruckus for one evening.” Logan slid his hand to Kat’s lower back.

  “Really?” Kat asked, eyeing Logan up and down. “I can think of a few more ways to cause a ruckus before the night is over.”

  “Even more reason to get you home,” he murmured to his wife. “Cheers,” he said as way of goodbye to the rest of them and hustled Kat toward the door.

  “We’re going too.” Jack sounded annoyed. “Or would you rather spend the entire evening with my ex-wife?”

  “Fine,” Gemma relented with an eye roll, sliding from the booth. “Bye, Claire. And it was really nice meeting you, Ethan.” She tossed the words over her shoulder as Jack steered her away.

  Claire watched their hasty departure. Hoping to delay the inevitable, she continued to stare at the door after they’d gone. She felt Ethan’s eyes on her. She sensed his curiosity and his amusement. He must have a hundred questions.

  She didn’t want to answer any of them.

  For the second time that evening, Claire felt the uncharacteristic desire to make a run for it. Assuming Ethan even tried to catch her, she might be able to beat him to the door. She’d always been fast, and mortification gave her an edge. But his long, muscled legs and athletic, agile body played in his favor. When she threw her heels and skinny jeans into the equation, she started to feel like the gazelle in one of those morbid wildlife shows.

  Resigned to her fate, she blew out a hefty sigh and cocked her head toward his. “Any chance we can act like the last fifteen minutes never happened?”

  “Nope.” He grinned. “Looks like I’m your boyfriend for the next couple of months.”

  She ground her teeth and resisted rolling her eyes at her own idiocy. “Fine. I accept your offer to help me. Let’s wait a couple of weeks and go to a movie.”

  “That’s too long of a wait and too private a setting to work. We should make it clear we’re dating at the team pool party at my house next Saturday.”

  “One of the moms dating the hot, young coach?” Her voice cracked with strain. “That’s sure to get Silver Bay talking.” She cringed.

  “It’ll be fun. Trust me.” His Cheshire cat grin didn’t inspire much trust.

  “Parents on the team might complain that Ty will get special treatment if we’re dating. It could cause problems for you.”

  “I can handle the parents on the team,” Ethan said.

  “What about your mom?” Claire asked, curious to see his reaction. “Will she be at the pool party? You mentioned it’s her house.”

  His jaw tensed. “New house. A gift from me she hasn’t quite warmed up to yet.”

  “Translation—your mom refuses to move into the house you bought for her.” She feigned an innocent expression. “Or have I misunderstood what’s going on between you two?”

  Frustration marred his features. “The house is great. Everything she could ever want.” He shook his head. “Maybe it needs to be painted or something.”

  Claire eyed him skeptically. Odds were good whatever issue Ethan’s mom had with the house went deeper than the color of the walls. “Why don’t you invite her to the party?”

  He went brows up. “You want to meet my mother?”

  “You’re helping me. I’ll help you,” Claire offered, jumping at the chance to balance out the power structure between them. “I’ll see if I can figure out what her concerns are about the house.”

  “Okay. I’ll ask her.” He shrugged and took a drink from his beer. “Mom loves kids, so having the team there might actually get her through the front door.”

  “Wait. What?” Claire gave her head a quick shake, assuming she’d missed something. “Your mom has never been inside the house you bought for her?”

  “She can be … stubborn.” He more sighed than said the words, his disheartened tone tugging at Claire’s heart.

  She gently bumped his shoulder with hers. “Buck up, Lucky. I’m good at fixing problems. Maybe I can help with yours.”

  Chapter 7

  “THERE’S someone here to see you. Want me to get rid of him?”

  Claire looked up from her computer. Martha Gibbs, her father’s executive assistant, stood in her doorway, alert and ready to defend. With her ample bosom and a sturdy German frame, Martha could snap interlopers like a twig.

  It was Wednesday afternoon and Claire had been studying numbers for the last hour. Her mind felt like a heap of mathematical mush. “That’s okay. I can see him now. I could use a break from spreadsheets.” She closed her laptop and reached her hands over her head to stretch her cramped muscles.

  “Okay,” Martha said with sharp interest in her perceptive brown eyes. “I’ll send him back.”

  Martha had been at Bennett Industries since graduating from community college twenty-five years ago. Her work ethic—learned from growing up on a dairy farm—had set her apart and launched her to the position of Mr. Bennett’s executive assistant within five years. She was smart, efficient, and intimidating. Claire liked her a lot.

  Claire glanced at her watch, slipped on her heels, and rose from her desk. She’d told Bernie from Human Resources to stop by her office at the end of the day to discuss a compensation issue they were having with a new employee. He must have decided to swing by early.

  In need of caffeine, she moved to the elaborate wet bar along the office wall and leaned over to retrieve the pitcher of iced tea from the refrigerator.

  Strong, confident footsteps strode down the hall and stopped at her open office door. As Claire straightened, the air pressure shifted and her nipples tightened. Even with her back to the door, she knew her visitor definitely was not Bernie from Human Resources. Not only did Bernie shuffle wherever he went, he lacked the ability to affect a barometer or her nipples.

  “Corner office. I’m impressed.”

  Every sensitive nerve on the back of her neck came alive at the sound of the deep timbre in Ethan’s voice. She closed her eyes, inhaled slowly, and fought the urge to squirm as awareness coursed through her. Opening her eyes, she poured a glass of tea and turned to face him.

  “It’s my dad’s office, not mine” she said. “I work in here when he’s out since it’s better equipped for mee
tings.” She gestured toward both the wet bar and the large conference table on the opposite side of the room.

  “How often is he out of the office?”

  “Depends on the week.” Her vague reply came more from habit than from the desire to keep her dad’s frequent absenteeism a secret from Ethan.

  For the past few years, Richard Bennett had made a show of coming to the office every morning at nine. He had a cup of coffee, chatted with his favorite employees, got an update from Claire on any important matters, and hit the road most days by ten o’clock. He did check emails throughout the day, and promptly forwarded them to her to handle.

  “So where’s your office?” Ethan raised an eyebrow in question.

  “Oh. Well, I guess I don’t technically have one.” Claire tucked her hair behind one ear. “No matter. This one is big enough for both of us.”

  Ethan scanned the large room, taking in the conference table, the oversized walnut desk for one-on-one meetings, and sitting area with a love seat and two armchairs for casual conversations.

  He turned back to her, good-natured humor in his eyes. “It’s nice you two can manage in such a tight space.”

  “It’s a real hardship.” She gestured towards the casual sitting area. “Can I get you a drink?”

  “I’ll have whatever you’re having.” Ethan nodded to her glass before taking a seat in one of the armchairs by the wet bar.

  “You got it.” She poured another iced tea, handed it to him, and sat down on the love seat, trying to ignore the fact that her legs were only inches from his. “I talked to Ty about the ODP program if that’s why you stopped by. He wants to go for it, so I registered him for tryouts. Thanks for suggesting it. He’s really excited.”

  “Happy to help,” Ethan said, sniffing his drink with a dubious expression on his too-handsome face.

  “Iced tea,” she said with a laugh. “Not scotch.”

  He grinned at her. “Damn. The idea of you trying to get me drunk has its merits.”

  She rolled her eyes and bit back a grin. “Was there anything else you wanted, Ethan?”