Lucky for Her

by Stephanie Taylor

  The problem was the reunion was that evening, and he had yet to agree.

  As for their relationship, it couldn’t have been better. She’d never thought that she could actually love a man the way she loved Lucky. Yes, it had been a slow start for them both, nearly four months of simply co-existing; but in the end, she realized he had done this for her benefit. Oh so slowly, he’d weaved himself into her life with the simple touches, a kiss here and there, a possessive arm around her shoulders. Looking back, she knew it had been deliberate and that made her fall in love with him even more.

  Lucky had put his needs aside to make sure she didn’t feel pressured.

  But since their mutual decision to make the marriage more traditional, they’d certainly made up for lost time. Lana had confided in her father and sister that she loved him. The discovery had come as a bit of a surprise to her, but looking back she wasn’t sure why she hadn’t seen it coming.

  To say her family was happy for her was an understatement. Her father claimed he had known all along, and Ally insisted that the moment he had asked her about the baby furniture she was a supporter of what was to come.

  Lana felt good about her decision to move forward with Lucky. When he looked at her with all the love in his heart shining in his eyes, she knew that she’d never experienced true love until now. James had never once taken the time to be what Lucky was.

  That was the best part, too. Lucky hadn’t said those three words even once, but she was confident he loved her.

  And when Lucky kissed her, it was slow and deliberate. Her body warmed just thinking of his languid kisses and trailing touch. Sometimes, they would watch the baby move and kick at night after those slow kisses. Lucky was amazed at the life inside of her and often told her so.

  Her hands moved to her stomach and touched the baby. They’d decided to name her after her mother.

  Lily Grace.

  It had taken some coaxing from Lucky to name James’ child after her mother, but in the end, she decided that even if the baby came out the spitting image of her ex-husband, the baby would in no way be like him. She would make sure of it.

  The front door opened and Lucky walked through. “Hey, beautiful,” he called.

  “Hey.”

  “Contemplating the meaning of life in here in the dark?”

  Lana chuckled. Lucky flipped a switch and flooded the room in light. “No, I was just spending some quality time with Lily.”

  “She moving around?” He settled in at her feet after a quick kiss and began rubbing them. These days, her feet resembled yachts instead of actual body parts. And she put a whole new meaning to cankles.

  “I’m convinced she’s trying to navigate her way out.”

  “Only nine more weeks.”

  Lana grinned, loving him even more for being excited about the birth of their baby. And it was theirs. Even if the genetics said otherwise, the baby was going to be an O’Donnell.

  “So, about the reunion…”

  His hands stilled on her feet, and he huffed. “Why is this so important to you? I don’t want to see those people. Half of them I see every time I go to the grocery store.”

  “And that’s not so bad, now is it?”

  “Why do you think I ask you to do the shopping?”

  Lana swatted his shoulder, and he grinned.

  “Seriously. Come with me. It’ll be really nice to introduce you as my husband.”

  “We’ve been married for over four months, babe, they know I’m your husband.”

  “Some won’t. The other half moved out of town. So I’ll get to introduce you to some of them for the first time. I want to see their faces when they realize who you are.”

  “You want to gloat,” he said accusingly. Then, he chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll gloat right beside you.”

  Lana sat up. “So you’ll go with me.”

  “I never said that.”

  “But you just said…”

  “No, Lana. No reunion. That represents the worst time in my life.”

  She lowered her lids and cocked an eyebrow.

  “No, you’re not going to persuade me that way.”

  “Yes, I am. Right now.”

  “As much as I want that, my answer will still be no. So I’m just telling you right now, I’m using your willingness to persuade me to get what I want.”

  “That’s okay. But I’m going to hound you until you say yes. I’m female. I’m good at nagging.”

  “You cheat, woman.”

  “Nope. You’re aware of what I’m doing.”

  “Even so, the answer is still no.”

  “We’ll see about that.”

  Lana crawled into his lap and kissed him, leaving no room for argument about who was going to win. She loved feeling sexy with him, and he told her exactly what he was thinking even though they hadn’t made love yet. He left no room for argument with his graphic detail. A lot of what he said caused her to blush, but in the end, his touch was tender, and he walked away just when Lana was gearing up for more.

  Lucky pulled back from a thorough kiss.

  “Does it mean that much to you?” he asked, brushing her hair away from her shoulder and trailing his thumb over her jaw.

  “I really want you to go, yes.”

  “What time does it start?”

  Lana gave him her brightest smile. “We have an hour before we have to leave.”

  “I better get laid after this. This is going to be humiliating.”

  “No it won’t, and don’t worry, you’ll be getting your reward for many nights to come.”

  “Can I have that in writing?”

  She kissed him, showing her intentions after the reunion. He responded with growl of frustration and finally pushed her away playfully.

  “This is going to cost you.”

  “I know. I look forward to it.”

  Rolling his eyes and pushing her to the side, he rose to his feet with a mighty huff.

  “I can’t believe I agreed to this,” he muttered and stalked away.

  “You’ll have fun!” she called with a smile.

  “Whatever.”

  *****

  The reunion was decorated exactly the way her prom had been ten years earlier and even held in the same location. The tension in Lucky’s shoulders increased. No one was dressed like they were going to the prom, so why was it decorated that way? It had to be a sick joke.

  “Relax,” Lana whispered against his ear, her intoxicating perfume serving to distract him.

  “I’m fine,” he assured her with a quick smile. He cleared his throat.

  “Is that why you’re about to squeeze the life out of my hand?”

  “Am not.”

  Once fully inside the gymnasium, they were met with loud, pumping music. The sound and even the smell transported him back in time. His heart pounded. A little over ten years ago, he’d walked through these doors, looking for Lana at her senior prom. He’d convinced himself that despite her rejection, he would still come and make sure she was okay.

  James had headed him off at the door.

  “You think coming here in your fat suit is going to make her look at you as any more than a pig?”

  “Maybe not tonight,” he’d said. “But eventually she’ll see who the better person is. She deserves more than a jock with mush for brains.”

  “Oh, Fat Jack thinks he’s going to win? Go ahead, ask her to dance.” He’d extended his arm and pointed in Lana’s direction. “But just so you know, we’re back together. She even agreed to marry me after graduation.”

  Lucky hadn’t been able to keep his jaw from going slack. James had found it hilarious and laughed so hard he was bent at the waist. A few others in his entourage laughed with him.

  “Poor Fat Jack is devastated! Look at that face! He actually thought he had a chance!” The more James had laughed, the more he realized what a mistake it had been to come. Lana was a big girl and if she was stupid enough to marry a guy like him, she deserved the sparkl
ing life she was bound to have.

  So he’d left the prom without even seeing Lana.

  “Lucky,” Lana said while tugging on his arm.

  “I…I can’t do this,” he said brokenly. He didn’t care if he looked like an idiot. The memories were too strong. Turning, he walked back out into the night, dodging a few people on the way out.

  “Lucky!” Lana called after him, but he just wanted to get back in his truck and go home. Lana headed him off and stood between him and the car door.

  “Move, Lana. I can’t do this.”

  “You said you would do it for me! And you said that you saw half these people when you go to the grocery store. C’mon, I’d venture to say most of them have grown up.”

  “Even so, just the smell…” He knew he looked weak and pathetic, but all he could think about was the night he’d walked into the gym decked out in his best suit looking to be Lana’s knight in shining armor. Yet, he’d still walked away the loser.

  Lana stood on her tiptoes and molded their bodies together, embracing him so tightly he struggled to breathe. It felt so good to know she was there with him now.

  He held her and distracted himself with her scent, allowing his hands to roam her body. Want was too tame a word for how he felt toward her. And the possibility that the wait between them might finally be over tonight spurred him into a different mindset about the so-called reunion going on behind him.

  Suddenly, Lana went stiff. Thinking he’d overstepped his boundaries again, he moved to pull away, but her arms tightened around his neck.

  “Please tell me you wore your gun,” she mumbled, her voice full of panic.

  “Always,” he said. “What-”

  “Well, looky what we have here,” came a deep, slurred voice behind him. Lucky tensed. He would know that voice anywhere.

  James.

  “What are you doing here?” Lana asked. He was proud of her strong voice but he could feel her body shaking. Slowly, Lucky turned around and positioned himself between James and Lana. He didn’t want the man seeing her so heavily pregnant. He might have been a jock, but he could probably still do simple math.

  “Well, I’m certainly not making out in the parking lot with my latest fling. Really, Lana.” James gave her a sympathetic pout. “Are you missing me so much that you had to go and find a replacement?”

  Lana snapped her fingers and pointed at him. “You know what? That must be it. I thought I could move on, but I just missed your fist so much.”

  Lucky bit back a curse but kept his eyes trained on James. One hand was on Lana’s hip to keep track of her and the other was on his concealed gun. He sent up a prayer of thanks he hadn’t left it behind like he’d considered doing.

  “Dude, seriously,” James aimed at him. “This girl is nuts. You don’t want anything to do with her.”

  Lucky kept his mouth shut because he wasn’t sure he trusted himself not to draw his gun and put the guy out of his misery.

  Before Lucky could stop her, Lana wiggled free and placed herself in plain view. He watched James’ eyes go from shock to suspicion. Just great.

  “James, I’d like you to meet my husband, Lucky. Lucky, meet my ex-husband, James.”

  Neither of them spoke.

  “You’re pregnant?” James finally demanded.

  Lana realized a little too late what she’d done and her hand flew protectively to her stomach, but she seemed at a loss for words. Lucky decided his input was probably needed.

  “Lana’s pretty hot in bed, dude. Sorry things didn’t work out for you two, but Merry Christmas to me. Didn’t mean to get her knocked up so quick, but we were on fire.” Lucky didn’t want his words to offend Lana, but the more he put it in layman’s terms with James, the more likely he was to believe it. He didn’t want to wax poetic about how much he cared about her and wanted to be everything James wasn’t. Something told him he wouldn’t appreciate it.

  “So she roped you into the saddle, huh? Just be careful. She’s money hungry. I had to cut her off before she bled me dry. Once she finds out you’re not going to buy her shiny new things, she’ll be out the door.”

  Lucky braced himself. “I’ll wait to find that out on my own. Lana, you ready to go?”

  Lana just stood there, chin level with the ground, staring at James.

  “No, Lucky. I’d like to go back to the reunion. No reason why we can’t all enjoy it together.”

  Lucky couldn’t believe her. But she gave him a brave smile, one that sat a little too bright on her mouth. Taking his hand, she pulled him in the direction of the gym.

  “He doesn’t know who you are,” Lana muttered. “Let’s just go back and pretend that never happened.”

  Lucky hung back until James disappeared inside.

  “Lana, this is crazy. I can’t be in the same room with him knowing what he did to you. I can’t be in the same room without wanting to kill him, which probably wouldn’t be good for my reputation. Let’s just go home.”

  “No. He wins if that happens. And I…”

  “What?”

  “I planned something special for you.”

  “For me? Tonight?”

  “Yes. Did you notice how it was decorated?”

  “Like your senior prom?”

  “Yes. I asked them to.”

  “Why?”

  “Lucky.” Her palm pressed against his cheek. “I want to go back and do it the way I should have. Will you go to the prom with me?”

  Stunned, Lucky’s heart soared, and he felt the heat in his cheeks when his eyes misted. “Wow. I don’t know what to say.”

  “Just say yes. We’ll go in there and dance together. It’ll be our own special night.”

  “You didn’t have to do all this.”

  “Yes, I did. Even back then, I knew I should have gone to the prom with you. But I was blinded by so many other things that didn’t matter.”

  “You mean because I was fat?”

  “No, about James. I was the cheerleader; he was the football star. I thought that was just the way things were supposed to be. My mom died before she could tell me what I needed in a man. But now I know.”

  “Which is what?” Lucky felt compelled to ask.

  “You’re still the same sweet Jack I met in high school. You might be thinner, but the man inside is still the caring, compassionate man who wanted me to be happy. And still wants me to be happy. I don’t need shiny new things to know what’s important in a relationship.”

  Lucky couldn’t believe his ears so he kept quiet, just in case.

  Obviously flustered, she took a deep breath and tried again.

  “You could weigh a hundred pounds or a thousand pounds and you’d still be the same person inside. Beauty on the outside is just temporary, Lucky. I’m always going to love who you are on the inside.”

  Again, Lucky was rendered speechless. As he looked into her earnest eyes, he was pretty sure he knew what she was getting at, but he didn’t want to say anything to ruin the moment.

  “What are you saying, Lana?”

  A lone tear trailed down her cheek.

  “I’m saying that I love you, Lucky. I love everything about you. And for the first time in my life, I’m not afraid to say it.”

  For a moment, Lucky battled the lump in his throat and fought to keep his emotions in check. He hauled Lana against him roughly in a tight embrace and buried his nose in her sweet smelling hair.

  Four months ago, he’d set out to make her love him and get revenge on her for all the painful years he’d suffered. Revenge should have been sweet, but instead, his plan had backfired.

  “I love you, too, Lana,” he whispered.

  Tenderly, their lips touched and Lucky knew he’d finally come home. He loved his wife and would always love her. Now he had been given the greatest gift of all: Her love.

  Pulling away, Lana smiled up at him with a sparkle in her eyes.

  “Let’s go dance.”

  Mesmerized by her beauty, he allowed her to pul
l him inside. Once there, the lights dimmed and a song he recognized from high school began to play. The dance floor cleared as he took her in his arms and held her close. It was the way he’d envisioned their wedding dance might have been if they’d had a real wedding.

  The world faded away and it was just the two of them. Lucky didn’t think about James being in the room, he didn’t think about his past. He was solely focused on his future with the woman in his arms and the happiness they both deserved.

  Her hands toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck, causing goose bumps to pebble his arms. Just her touch affected him. Lucky kissed the tip of her nose and smiled at her. His chest felt like it was going to burst, and it took him a while to realize it was happiness. Pure, simple happiness.

  A few minutes later, when the song ended, the president of their senior class, Renee Applebaum, came on the stage and encouraged everyone to applaud.

  “Isn’t this the fairy tale ending for two of our beloved classmates?”

  A chorus of agreements met Lucky’s ears, and he grinned.

  “Lana gave me a note to read to Lucky and I’d like to read that now.”

  Lucky squinted at Lana. She kissed his cheek and smiled.

  “Ten years ago,” Renee began. “I was asked to go to the prom by Jackson O’Donnell. At the time, I was blinded by what I thought was love for another man and refused his invitation. Tonight, I wanted to recreate that evening so long ago and give Jack and me the memory we should have made back then. Over the last four months, I’ve come to love Lucky more than I’ve ever loved anyone else. What began as a mutual agreement to give our baby a proper upbringing has turned into a dream come true. I love you, Lucky. Signed Lana Roche O’Donnell.”

  When Renee read ‘I love you, Lucky,’ Lana said the words against his ear, melting his heart and freeing the ghosts of long ago. As he looked around, he saw several women dabbing at their eyes. Looking down at his wife, he didn’t know what he had done to deserve her love, but he wasn’t about to question it, only cherish it.