Ace of Spades (Underground Affair Series Book 1) Read Free Page A

the table, while I call your father.”
    “Sure, Mom.”
    Lucy’s mom walked out of the kitchen and Lucy added the dressing, croutons and the salad tongs to the bowl and then headed to the dining room with the salad.
    Lucy’s mom walked past her and smiled. Then Lucy’s dad spoke, “Well, there’s my little Princess.”
    Lucy looked up and the smile on her face turned to one of embarrassment and confusion when she saw Ace standing at her dad’s side. She dropped the salad bowl and it crashed to the floor.
    Ace stood there frozen in place for a moment.
    “Lucy, are you alright?”
    Lucy looked up at her dad and nodded.
    “You know me, always been a klutz.”
    Todd kissed Lucy on the forehead and began to squat down to clean up the mess when Ace squatted down in front of him.
    “I got this, Chief.”
    “Chief?”
    “Lucy, this is Lt. Dean down here cleaning up your mess.”
    Ace looked up at Lucy.
    “Pleased to meet you, Lucy.”
    “I’m going to go grab the pail, I will be right back.”
    Lucy squatted down next to Ace and whispered, “Thank you for not saying anything.”
    “I did it for your father, not you.”
    “I don’t understand, if you’re a firefighter then why do you have to…you know?”
    “Stripping was something I did in college and still do occasionally. If you’re referring to the sex afterward, well that is something I also do when I find a woman I’m attracted to and I do it at no charge.”
    Lucy stared at Ace. After blinking a few times she finally spoke, “You mean, well you’re not…”
    “Lucy, get up from there before you hurt yourself.”
    Lucy stood up and put on her best smile for Tom.
    “I’m fine. I think maybe I’m just a little tired.”
    “Do you want to go home, Babe?”
    “Oh no, I made my daughter’s favorite for dinner, she isn’t going anywhere.”
    “Thanks, Mom.”
    “Mrs. Jenkins, no matter what you cook, it’s always delicious.”
    “Thank you, Tom.”
    Todd started to dish out the lasagna. Ace had gone into the kitchen to wash his hands. When he turned around Lucy was standing there.
    “I’m sorry, I thought.”
    “Yeah, I know what you thought of me.”
    “Ace, I…”
    “Excuse me.”
    Ace walked out of the kitchen while Lucy was mid-sentence.
    “Thank you for cleaning that up, Ace.”
    “You’re welcome, Sandy.”
    “Come sit over here next to Lucy.”
    Lucy’s brothers walked in and sat down.
    “Jake, Jon, this is Ace Dean.”
    Ace reached out his hand and shook both their hands.
    “Dad talks about you often. He said you’re a smart guy.”
    “Yeah, he also says you’re gonna get yourself killed one day because you have no fear.”
    “Jon!”
    “Sorry.”
    “No fear, Chief?”
    “You know damn well I’m right.”
    “Shit, you couldn’t pay me enough to run into a burning house.”
    “Tom.”
    “What, Lucy? I was just being honest.”
    “Sounds like Tom is afraid of a lot of things.”
    “Like what Jake?”
    “Like commitment. You’ve been with my sister for a few years now and I still don’t see a ring on her finger.”
    Lucy wanted to pass out. Ace was sitting there looking anywhere but at her. Tom and Jake were getting loud and the tension was mounting.
    “Well I will have you know that I asked Lucy to marry me this morning.”
    “WHAT?”
    “I’m sorry Mr. Jenkins, I know I should have spoken to you first but it was a spur of the moment kind of thing.”
    “Can we not talk about this now? Dinner is getting cold.”
    “We will talk about this now. Why didn’t you tell your mother and me that you got engaged?”
    Lucy looked down and then at Tom and then between her parents before she spoke.
    “We, well I, I asked Tom if we could wait a bit.”
    “Wait?”
    “Please, this is between Tom and me, can we just drop it for now?”
    “Maybe I should go?”
    Ace stood up to leave but Lucy reached out her hand and grabbed his wrist.
    “Please don’t go. I’m sorry the conversation got out of hand.”
    “Lucy