Lucky Chance Read Free

off as food. I take what we have on hand and turn it into something that’s at the very least somewhat enjoyable, but I’ve never wanted to compete on some cooking show, or be a chef. I’m only here because I’m under direct orders from my Sergeant Major.”
    “It won’t be so bad.”
    “Really?” He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Because I think it will be, or I wouldn’t have offered to become a target for shooting practice.”
    “What?”
    “When Graves told me about this new assignment my exact words were: Isn’t there something my time could be better spent on? A volunteer deployment? Crash test dummy? Target for shooting practice?”
    She sat there staring at him for a moment, waiting for him to tell her he was just joking, but something about the look in his eyes told her that he was dead serious. He’d rather do any of those things than this cooking competition. “I’m sorry you got dragged into this, but I had nothing to do with that. Your Sergeant Major is the one who recommended you to the brass, and they had the final choice. Don’t blame me because you’re saddled with me and these orders.”
    “I’m not upset about being stuck with you. That might be the one highlight of this situation.” He opened the door and slid out. “Coming?”
    Highlight. He couldn’t actually mean that he wanted to spend the next two weeks with her. What about the tension that was in the air because of the way they’d left things? Don’t be stupid. The tension isn’t from that. It’s from the desire burning in his gaze that heats the fires within me.
    He couldn’t possibly feel anything for her after more than a dozen years. Could he?

 
    Lucky leaned against the kitchen counter as he filled Ace in on his new orders, while his thoughts kept traveling back to Madison. She had refused to come in until Gwen had gone to retrieve her by force, if necessary, from the truck. Thankfully, it hadn’t come to that, and now the women were chatting in the living room, while Roulette slept in her bassinet, and the men were in the kitchen. It was almost like old times except his parents weren’t hiding somewhere in the house waiting to catch them in some compromising position—well, that and Roulette was here.
    If things hadn’t turned out the way they had so many years ago, maybe he’d have been married to Madison and living a life like Ace had with a wife and baby. Funny how things change. Only last night he was happy living the single life, enjoying his condo and freedom. Now, here he was questioning everything he thought he wanted. Though, there was one thing he knew he wanted, and that was to get her on her back. He wanted to make love to her again, to hear her scream his name in ecstasy. He missed the way she wrapped her legs around him as they made love, and how the simplest touches had her wiggling against him.
    “Lucky?”
    Ace’s tone brought him back to reality. “Huh, what were you saying?”
    “I told you I’d pick up your mail and check on your condo. Gwen and I will go over and take care of the refrigerator and stuff tomorrow. Anything else you need done?”
    He tried to think, but nothing came to mind. He had a simple life. There were no plants that needed to be watered, and all of his bills were automatically deducted from his checking account, so when he was deployed he didn’t have to worry about anything. “I don’t think so. I’d put a stop on the mail, but we’ve got to catch a plane in a few hours. I barely have time to go home and pack.”
    “No sweat.” Ace took a swig from the beer bottle. “Need a ride to the airport?”
    “Naw, thanks though. I’ll leave my truck there since my return flight doesn’t have me getting in until late.” He glanced at the clock on the stove. “I guess we should be going, I’ve still got to pack.”
    “Well, little brother, I’ll be rooting for you. I know you can do it. Go there and show them what a great chef you are, all self-taught and