Loving Lucas Read Free Page B

a cop. “Stop using your superpowers on me.” When he’s close, I have to throw my head back to meet his eyes. Shameless as it is, I’m enjoying the banter.
    “Not superpowers, just good instincts.”
    “Well, quit using those, too.”
    He laughs. “You’d have me stripped down to bare bones if you had your way.”
    “Maybe stripped,” I say without thinking. I cover my mouth, shocked and ashamed by my own frankness. “Oh God, ignore that last comment.”
    His heated gaze sweeps over me, his lazy smile replaced by something sexier. My knees instantly weaken.
    “Do I detect sarcasm?” he asks. “Or don’t I want to know?”
    “Oh, you’d want to know.”
    That elicits a roar; his whole body is convulsing at my expense. “Are you always that spontaneous, Ms. Augustine? Because if you are, you should see the look on your face right now.”
    “Let’s just say I’ve always gotten into trouble for speaking my mind so freely.”
    “I rather admire it,” he admits. “But I also understand the hazard of being so honest. You’d make a shitty poker player.”
    “I’d make a shitty lots of things.”
    “Hey.” He snatches my hand, his thumb caressing my palm. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Didn’t your parents teach you self-respect?”
    “I don’t have parents,” I say, matter-of-fact. “You’re looking at a foster system kid, raised by the State of Texas.”
    His features soften. “Sorry, darlin’.”
    “Don’t be,” I say, finding my confidence again. “Taxpayers are funding my college tuition.”
    He studies me for a long moment in silence; somehow he manages to weave his fingers through mine. “You have delicate hands.”
    I nod. That’s always been one of the physical disadvantages holding me back from being a better racer—weak wrists. And my height. “I think big.”
    Our gazes meet. “I bet you do,” he says.

Chapter Three
    Karlie’s eyes are infinitely sad, and now I know why. I spent two weekends a month mentoring teenagers at Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in Lake Jackson. I know her type. I’ve attended dozens of high school graduations over the last few years, celebrating every time one of my kids manages to pull him or herself together enough to earn a diploma. The ones that continued on to college possessed certain advantages over kids from stable households. Perhaps an obsession with overachievement or a hunger to find their place in the world.
    It doesn’t matter. Since Karlie has revealed her past, I fully understand. It explains why she’d put up with an asshole like Connor. It also makes me despise him more. He’s a goddamned predator that took full advantage of a girl who didn’t have a   family to protect her. It also makes me rethink my present course of hooking up with her. Please be twenty-one . . .
    “Are you old enough to drink, Karlie?”
    She places her hand on her hip and gives me this look. “Would you issue a ticket if I weren’t?”
    I reach in my back pocket and pull out my handcuffs, dangling them in front of her. “That’s an arrestable offense.”
    Her eyes grow wider. “Do you carry those everywhere?”
    “Of course.”
    “And a sidearm?”
    “No.” I lift my shirt so she can see for herself. I’m not even wearing a holster. “I prefer talking a perp down instead of relying on brute force.”
    She retreats a step. “That’s good to know.”
    “But I’m always willing to give live demonstrations on how to cuff someone properly.” I’d love to wrestle her little body to the ground. She gives me a dumbstruck stare.
    “That’s not necessary.” Her lips twitch as she gazes at the metal wristlets, then at me.
    “A joke,” I clarify, then stash my handcuffs again. “You didn’t answer my question.”
    “Twenty-one last week.”
    I sigh with relief, grateful she’s legal—thrilled she’s a woman. “Happy belated birthday, Karlie.” I smile.
    “Thank you.” She relaxes again. “You shouldn’t showboat like