by Rivi Jacks
“Sofie, I tried calling you a few minutes ago,” Sawyer says.
“You did? Well, I’m here,” I say cheekily. I pat my coat pockets in search of my phone. Crap! “I guess I forgot my phone.” I look around the room as Taylor leads Maryanne toward the bar.
“Hey, Sofie,” Logan says, giving me one of his come-hither smiles.
I smile right back. “Hi, Logan.” He is so darn cute! Tall and slim with ice blue eyes peering out from a sweep of light brown bangs. He’s always been around, being one of Jake’s good friends, but being older he always treated me like the little sister, just like most of Jake’s friends. I’ve always considered him the most attractive of the bunch, though. I like his quiet, easygoing manner. When I first came back from California, he made it clear that he was interested, but he never asked me out. Ben’s wife, Lucy told me he was a heartbreaker. I guess it was probably a good thing he never asked me out, and it makes no difference now since I’m with Lucas.
“Diane called too. I was going to come looking if we didn’t reach you soon,” Jake says.
I smile at him. My uncle Jake always looks out for me. They all do. “Where is she?”
“Bathroom. Where’s Lucas?”
“He’s taking care of some business.” I lean down and hug Sam. “Nice cards.” He grins, turning slightly to look up at me.
“Aw, hell!” LaRue Turner says good-naturedly, throwing down his cards.
Sawyer throws his hand in too and stands. “Come on, Sofe, let’s get you a drink.”
“I was only kidding!” I tease as Sawyer pulls me away.
“Yeah, but you’ve made us all nervous now,” Terry Joe says. “Sam’s been cleaning us out.”
“Way to go, cuz!” I call back to Sam and catch his smile.
Sawyer and I join Taylor and Maryanne at the bar, where Diane has joined them for a shot of Tequila.
“Hey,” Diane says, “you made it. I tried calling you.”
“I forgot my phone.” How could I do that, now how is Lucas supposed to call me? I pull off my coat and hang it on the nearest chair. Diane smiles secretively when she sees my red turtleneck sweater. I give her a small smile, shaking my head in exasperation.
“Have you seen or talked to Emma Rae today?” I ask her.
“I stopped in at Murphy’s, and she was working, said she was pulling a double shift. The place was a madhouse. When are you supposed to go back?”
“Monday.” I hoped Murphy knew he could call if he needed me sooner.
The outside door opens and a guy I’ve never seen before walks in.
“Brian!” Sawyer calls to him as he steps around the bar to greet the newcomer.
“Who’s that?” Diane asks.
“I have no idea,” I tell her.
“Sawyer knows so many people,” she says.
He does, and I don’t know how he meets them all. He seems to know everybody and vice versa.
They join us at the bar and Sawyer makes introductions. When he introduces me, he says, “And this is my cousin Sofie.” Brian gives me a smile and reaches out to shake my hand, which I think is odd since he didn’t with the others. I don’t feel comfortable with people that I have no idea who they are touching me; even if Sawyer does know him. I hesitate before extending my hand and then pull it from his grip as he turns toward Sawyer when offered a beer, but he keeps his eyes mostly on me.
Maryanne’s eyes are on him in contemplation I notice. I give her a questioning look, but she just smiles. What the hell?
“Let’s go play a game of pool, ladies,” Diane says.
We head for the pool table, and it’s not long before Taylor, Sawyer, and the new guy follows us over.
Sawyer’s friend Brian comes to stand near me. No matter what side of the table I end up on after taking my shot, he’s there, trying to start up a conversation. I try to be polite and answer his questions, but I don’t do much more than that. He’s very persistent, and I notice Taylor taking it all in. I finally catch Sawyer’s eye and give him a look. He just grins at me.
I’m studying the table to make a difficult combo shot when I hear the outside door open. I keep my head down because I’m concentrating on the shot, but I give a quick glance across the room to see Christian and Nick talking to Sam, with Nick looking my way.
“So, what if I asked you out on a date?” Brian asks me.
I look over at him. Geez. I’m really uncomfortable with these types of situations. I look to Sawyer for help, but he and Taylor are standing near the poker table talking to Jake.
“I’m—involved with someone.” I started to say dating, but Lucas and I have never been on a proper date. We just have sex. Lots of sex. I feel my face heat with that thought.
“Am I making you blush?” he asks with a laugh.
I grit my teeth, annoyed with this guy now.
Diane clears her throat loudly, and I look up to see her staring hard at me. She widens her eyes and jerks her head as if she wants me to look at something. I frown at her expression and turn to look across the room. Lucas stands leaning against the bar facing our way—watching. There’s a disquieting gleam in his silver eyes.
How long has he been standing there? He must have come in with Nick and Christian, and I have no doubt he’s been listening to the conversation I’ve been having.
“Maryanne, play for me, please.”
“Sure.”
“Hey, where you going beautiful?” Brian asks as I hand Maryanne my cue stick. I don’t answer him.
My eyes stay locked with Lucas’ as I cross the room. I can tell he’s not a happy camper. Well, he can just get glad in the same pants he got mad in because I haven’t done anything wrong.
“Hi,” I say, giving him a slow smile. He looks delicious. He’s still wearing what he left the house in earlier. Black jeans, a white button-up shirt, and black leather jacket. He has dark scruff on his jawline too, which does something powerful to my libido. And the heat in his eyes makes me want to melt right on the spot.
“My sweet.” His deep voice slides over me. “It looks as if you’re having a good time.” The way he says this and the tone of his voice, implies I’m doing something wrong. “Who’s your friend?” He looks down his nose at me, and the surly tone of his voice makes me snicker. He raises his eyebrow in that arrogant way he has, and I almost bust out laughing.
I cross my arms over my chest. “I was having a good time, Lucas, after sitting home alone all day.”
“You weren’t alone, Sofie,” he says in a placating manner.
“You weren’t there,” I spout right back, and he raises his eyebrows in surprise.
He looks across the room before bringing his gaze back to mine. “I arrived back at the house about an hour ago to find you gone.”
“Well—what took you so long, didn’t you find my note?” I demand, looking up into his handsome face. I see his lips twitch.
“It would be good next time, my sweet, to tell me where to come and get you.”
I stand on tiptoe and lean into him. He puts his hands on my upper arms, pulling me closer. “Lucas,” I murmur, resting my hands on his chest. He smells so good. “I thought you were a better vampire than that.”
A slow, wicked smile pulls at the corners of his mouth. “You’d better be careful, little girl, or I’ll show you just how good of a vampire I am,” he threatens huskily.
His voice sends shivers across my skin, and I lick my dry lips, drawing his eyes to my mouth. I pull away from him and take hold of his large hand. “Would you like to sit down?”
He glances around the room again. “If you’re asking me what I would like to do—” He gives a little tug on my hand and pulls me back up against his body. Raising his hand to my neck, he curls it around my nape, his thumb going down inside my sweater to strok
e the pulse point on the side of my neck. His heated gaze slides over me, causing my breath to catch.
“I like this sweater,” he says.
“Well, it’s a good thing, because I’m going to be wearing this type of top for a week or so,” I tell him.
He snorts softly. “Let’s get the hell out of here,” he growls.
It’s still early, but I’m ready to be alone with him. “Okay,” I say breathlessly. “Let me tell my family good night.”
Lucas looks toward the end of the bar where Taylor now stands talking to Sawyer. “Taylor—drive Sofie’s car to the house when you and Maryanne are ready to leave.”
Taylor smiles and gives us a nod.
It’s good to know I’m not the only one he bosses around. “Thank you, Taylor,” I say as I hand him my keys.
He gives me one of his killer smiles. “You’re very welcome, Sofie.”
I glance up at Lucas to meet his gaze, and he smirks.
“Give me a call tomorrow, Sawyer, okay?” I say as I step over to give him a hug. Jake, Diane, and Maryanne walk up, and Jake says he and Diane are leaving too. As Lucas explains to Maryanne that he dropped her father off at the house, I look around the room for Sam and see Nick watching us. “Where’s Sam?” I ask Sawyer as Lucas helps me into my coat.
“I think he stepped outside for a moment,” he says.
“Sofie, don’t forget we’re all having lunch at Ben and Lucy’s on Sunday,” Jake reminds me.
“I’ll be there. See ya!”
Just as we open the door to leave, Sam is on his way in. He’s with Sawyer’s friend Brian.
“Hey we’re leaving,” I tell Sam as I give him a hug. “Give me a call tomorrow.”
I turn to find Lucas and Brian eyeballing each other.
“Sofie, it was really a pleasure meeting you.” Now Brian is eyeballing me.
Crap! “Nice to meet you too,” I murmur as I pull on Lucas’ hand that encircles my wrist, trying to pull him on out the door. He doesn’t budge so much as an inch though as he gives Brian a significant glare. Thank goodness for Sam. He nudges Brian forward out of our way, and I tug on Lucas’ hand again as I open the door. Thankfully he follows me out.
Chapter Five
Lucas takes off walking at a brisk pace, and I hurry to keep up. When we reach the Hummer, he turns suddenly, pushing me up against the door, pressing his hard body against mine. His mouth comes down hungrily to ravish my lips as I work my hands up under his jacket, pulling at his shirt, freeing it from his jeans so I can get my hands on his skin. Lucas tears his mouth from mine. “Sofie,” he moans with a gentle rumble and then growls, shuddering when I lightly rake my nails over his skin. It’s gratifying to know I can affect him like this.
Lucas lifts himself off me, keeping his hands on the Hummer on either side of my body, his eyes glittering silver from the starlight. I think he’s about to say something as he continues to look down into my face, his expression dark and intense, but all he says is, “Let’s go.” He steps back, pulling me with him so he can open my door.
As I buckle up, I feel his tension. I wonder why he’s upset. Does he think I was flirting with Sawyer’s friend?
When Lucas stops the Hummer before pulling out onto the road, he presses a button, and Van Morrison’s characteristic growl comes over the sound system.
I look over at him. “You like Van Morrison?”
He gives me a quick glance. “I do.” He turns his attention back to the road and then looks back at me. “Do you?”
“Yes, very much,” I murmur. Lucas reaches over to pick up my hand, bringing it to his mouth, kissing my knuckles.
“Something else we have in common,” he says.
What? What else do we have in common?
He glances at me with a smirk, pressing my hand against his chest.
“Are you mad that I went to the Shotgun Shack?”
He hesitates before answering. “No.” I can see his face clearly from the dash lights, and a smile softens his features. “Should I be?”
“No.”
“I would have been though if you hadn’t taken Taylor with you,” he says dryly. Raising my hand again he murmurs against the back of my fingers, “I was mad because you were flirting with that guy.”
I inhale deeply with his accusation. “I wasn’t flirting,” I say slowly.
“What do you call it then?”
I try to pull my hand from his, but he won’t let me. “Not flirting!”
“Good.” He gently bites the back of a knuckle, and I feel the effect all the way down to my toes. I bite my lip to conceal my response, but he turns to look at me, and I see the wicked gleam in his eyes.
I exhale in mild exasperation. He’s impossible.
We’re almost to his place when I think about his day. “How did things go with Dominic?”
“Long and drawn out, but he’s back at Impulse.”
I can’t help but think about what Maryanne told me about his father, and my heart hurts for him “I was worried.”
He glances at me. “Were you, my sweet?”
“Yes. Especially not hearing from you all day.”
“I’m sorry, Sofie. It was a stickier situation than I imagined. Someone desperately wants Dominic gone. Preferably to jail.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure. Yet.” I shiver at the menacing tone of his voice. I don’t think Lucas Santiago is someone you ever want to give a reason to have a problem with you. And after what Maryanne revealed about him earlier…
“I did try to call you, on our way home.”
“I’m sorry, I forgot my phone.”
“I discovered that when I called you from the house. I heard it ringing in the bedroom. It’s important that you remember your phone, Sofie. You have to be responsible and on your guard to stay safe.”
I give him a glare. “Are you trying your best to pick a fight with me?”
“Now, why would I do that when all I want is to see your smile and hear your laughter?” He grins, his white teeth flashing in the semi-dark. He kisses the back of my hand before releasing it to turn off the road. I narrow my eyes on him, and he grins at me again. As the gates swing wide, Lucas rolls down the driver’s side window as he pulls to a stop. A man I’ve never seen before strides over to the Hummer.
“How are things?” Lucas asks him. “Has Fletcher made it back yet?”
“Yes sir, about thirty minutes ago.”
“Good.” Lucas takes my hand again. “Sofie, this is Hayden. Hayden, Sofie Reece.”
Hayden bends down to look in the window. “Miss Reece,” he says politely. He’s tall. Real tall with long dark brown hair. I can’t see the color of his eyes, but they look dark too. He’s very handsome.
“Please call me Sofie.”
He gives me a quick nod. “Have a good night sir, Miss Reece.”
Lucas rolls up the window and drives on. I look back to see the gates close and Hayden walking back to the guardhouse. “He’s very—formal.”
“Hayden is very professional.”
“Why are all your men so good-looking, is that a requisite for the job?”
Lucas slows the Hummer near the top of the hill, looking over at me with raised brow. “Well now, since you are evidently interested in my good-looking men, I’ll make a point of only enlisting homely ones from now on.”
“Lucas,” I smile at him. “Don’t tease.”
“I’m not teasing, trust me,” he replies softly.
When he takes the fork in the driveway and drives past the house toward the arena, I look over at him.
“I have a surprise for you,” he says as he squeezes my hand.
“I like surprises. As long as they are good ones,” I say with a smile.
“I hope you will think this is a good one.”
We drive on around to the far side of the arena. I knew there was a road back this way, but the weather hasn’t been warm enough since I’ve been staying here for me to get out and explore. I wish it were daytime so I could see what is out here. I do notice a faint glow up ahead, and soon after we pass the arena, I get to see what is causing that glimmer of light. Sitting, just off the road in an open area of the woods, is a small cabin. There are tiny glittering lights strung up in the trees that surround the clearing and in the smaller trees around the cabin. It looks like a fairyland.
I look over at Lucas after he pulls off the road and puts the Hummer in park. “What… is this?”
He doesn’t say anything for a moment, and then he looks over at me. “A place—just for us.” I look back at the cabin.
“Sofie,” —my gaze returns to his— “it occurred to me that we have little private time. There are constant interruptions, unplanned parties, surprise guests, and” —he leans his head back against the seat as he watches me— “we need a place where no one else is allowed, where we can be by ourselves.”
I smile. I like that idea.
He reaches over and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear, brushing the back of his fingers over my cheek. “This is our cabin. No one else needs to know about it—well—Max and my men do, but they know this place is off limits. They are not to disturb us unless it’s an absolute emergency. They also know that no one else is allowed back here.”
“Just us?” I ask.
“Just us.”
I smile shyly at him. “I love it.”
I can tell he’s pleased with my response. “Let’s go inside then.” He helps me out of the Hummer and leads me up onto the covered deck that runs the length of the cabin. “Now, it’s not completely finished, and I also want you to know” —he turns toward me— “it’s designed to be a safe house.” I frown at the word. “It can be sealed, with you inside, and no one or—” He hesitates when my frown deepens. Maybe I’m looking at this all wrong, but I don’t think I like the idea of being sealed inside anything. “We’ll discuss that later,” he says upon seeing my expression.