Lucy and The Lieutenant. Helen Lacey

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СКАЧАТЬ he moved, if he so much as lowered his defenses in any way, Lucy would have planted herself against him and begged for his kiss. She wanted it. Longed for it. But he continued to look at her, into her, making her achingly aware of the intimacy of the small space they shared.

      “Even for me?” he intoned, his deep voice as intense as a caress. “I do know how to have a good time, despite what you think.”

      Lucy’s bravado spiked. “Really?”

      He inhaled heavily. “What is it you want, Dr. Monero?”

      The million-dollar question. Bravado was fine when it wasn’t challenged. But under scrutiny, Lucy quickly became unsettled. “I’m not... I don’t...”

      “You want something. Is it me?” he asked bluntly. “Is that what you want?”

      Color smacked her cheeks. “I just want—”

      “Why?” he asked, cutting her off. “Why me? You could have anyone you—”

      “Chemistry,” she said quickly, dying inside. “Attraction.”

      “Sex?”

      Lucy stilled. She didn’t want to think her reaction to him was merely physical. But since she did find him more attractive than she’d ever found any other man, perhaps she was blinded by those feelings? Maybe her daydreams about getting to know him, being around him and spending time with him were exactly that. Dreams. And foolish remnants of an old teenaged infatuation. She’d spent college and medical school wrapped in a bubble—wary of involvement with anyone because of what had happened to her roommate. But once she was back in Cedar River—more confident and older and able to meet his gaze head-on—Lucy had believed she would somehow be able to capture his attention.

      But that hadn’t happened. He’d ignored her. Despite her smiles and friendly attention.

      And the more he ignored her, the more she wanted him. His indifference became fuel for her teenaged fantasies and starved libido. So maybe it was just sex and she was simply too inexperienced to recognize it for what it was.

      “What’s wrong with that, anyway?” she shot back as heat climbed over her skin.

      His gaze narrowed. “What’s wrong with sex? Nothing...if that’s all you’re after.” He reached out and touched her hair, trapped a few strands between his fingertips. It was the first time he’d touched her and it was electric. “But you don’t strike me as the casual-sex kind of girl, Doc Monero. In fact, I’d bet my boots you are the white-picket-fence, happy-ever-after kind.”

      God, if he only knew, he’d probably run a mile.

      “That’s quite a judgment. And what are you? Only casual, no happy-ever-after?”

      “Close enough,” he said and returned his hands to the wheel.

      “Back at the tavern you said you...liked me...so which is it?”

      “Neither. Both. You’re wasting your time with me. I’m not marriage material. So, good night.”

      Humiliation coursed through her veins and Lucy grabbed her bag and placed it in her lap. She got the message loud and clear. He was awful. Just awful. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Are you going to walk me to my door?”

      “This isn’t a date,” he said quietly.

      He was such a jerk, and he was right about one thing: she was seriously wasting her time being attracted to him. Lucy set her teeth together and opened the door. “Thanks for the lift. I’ll get my car towed in the morning. Good night.”

      “Good night...Lucy.”

      She got out, shut the door and stomped up the path and to the front door. While she was opening the door she realized he was still parked by the curb. So maybe he did have some chivalry in him. Ha—but not enough. As she got inside and peeked through the lace curtains to watch him finally drive away, Lucy decided she was going to forget all about him and spend her nights dreaming of someone else. Anyone else.

      And the sooner she started the better.

      * * *

      Brant had been visiting his mother’s home for lunch nearly every Saturday since he’d returned from his last tour. Colleen insisted they have a family catch-up and he didn’t mind. He loved his mom, even though she drove him nuts with her attempts to interfere in his personal life. He knew there were only good intentions in her meddling, so he usually laughed it off and ignored her. But today—the morning after the whole Lucy-Monero-and-her-broken-down-car thing—Colleen was onto him the moment he stepped foot into her kitchen.

      “I went into town early to get eggs and milk and saw Lucy’s car outside the tavern,” she said, her wide-eyed gaze all speculation and curiosity.

      Brant walked around the timber countertop, grabbed a mug from the cupboard and poured coffee. “Her car broke down. I gave her a lift home.”

      And acted like a total horse’s ass.

      “She didn’t spend the night?”

      Color crept up his neck. His mother looked disappointed. Boy, sometimes he wished he had one of those parents who didn’t want to talk about every single thing. “No, Mom, she didn’t.”

      Colleen smiled. “You know, it wouldn’t hurt you to encourage her a little. She’s a nice girl. Smart. Pretty. Sweet. And she has a kind spirit. I think she’d be a good match for you.”

      Brant sighed. “Are we really going to do this every Saturday?”

      She grinned. “Every Saturday? I don’t think I mentioned it last weekend.”

      “Oh, yeah, you did.” Brant sugared his coffee and sat at the table. “I’m not in the market for a relationship right now,” he said for the umpteenth time. “I need time to—”

      “I know that’s what you think,” she said gently, cutting him off. “But I’m concerned about you.”

      “I know you’re worried about me, Mom, but I’m okay,” he assured her.

      “You went through a lot over there,” she said, her eyes glittering. “More than any of us will probably ever know. You’re my son and I’m always going to be looking out for you, regardless of how old you are. When you have a child of your own you will understand what I mean.”

      “She’s right, you know.”

      They both looked toward the doorway. His brother, Grady, stood on the threshold.

      Brant frowned as his brother came into the room and sat. “You said you wouldn’t encourage her,” Brant reminded him.

      Grady shrugged. “When she’s right, she’s right. I don’t think it would matter how old my girls are, I’ll always be on hand to make sure they’re all right.”

      “See,” Colleen said and smiled. “At least one of my sons had the good sense to listen to me.”

      Brant groaned. “Just because СКАЧАТЬ