Page 49 of Lucky Mother Pucker

But now I’m realizing I probably look like a psycho.

I rub the back of my neck and take a step back. “I’m sorry.”

She blinks at me. “Why are you sorry?”

“That was kind of intense, right?”

She shakes her head. “No, I…” She bites her bottom lip. Then she grabs my hand and leads me through the crowd to the back of the club. We’re in a darkened hallway near the bathrooms. It’s a little quieter back here.

“No one’s ever defended me like that,” she says.

My chest aches at the surprise in her tone. I hate to think of how many times Lucy’s had to deal with guys like that. Not just in this job, but in her everyday life. She’s a small woman. She’s young and attractive. Creepy guys are probably all over her constantly.

That rage from minutes ago spikes through me once more. So many men are such pieces of shit.

She doesn’t deserve to deal with this crap. No woman does.

She reaches out with her free hand and gives my arm a soft squeeze. “Thanks, Leo. You’re a really good guy.”

“You don’t need to thank me, Lucy. Any decent person would have stepped in.”

“Yeah, but a lot of times, they don’t. People see a woman getting groped or harassed, and they don’t do anything about it. But you did.”

Intensity flickers in her gaze as she looks at me. She looks down at the ground like she’s shy all of a sudden. “I’m sorry for getting mad at you earlier. For calling you controlling and bossy. You’re not. You were just trying to help.”

I start to say it’s okay, but she shakes her head.

“No, I need to say this. I…I’m not used to people doing nice things for me without expecting anything in return.” Pain flashes in her big blue eyes. She blinks a few times, and it fades. “Sometimes it’s easier to assume the worst in people because for so long, every time I hoped for the best, it blew up in my face.”

Her words hit me like a punch. How many times has she been let down by the people she trusted? How many times has she been screwed over?

She hesitates for a second. “Right after my stepdad kicked me out of the house, I went on Craigslist to try and find a cheap place to live. A couple of times, I answered ads where someone was looking for a roommate. The guys always seemed nice at first, but then, right when I was ready to move in, they’d say I’d have to sleep with them to keep the rent affordable.”

She hugs her arms around herself. Rage hurtles through me. Jesus.

No wonder she has her guard up. No wonder she got upset when I stormed in here, insulting her job and demanding she get another one.

Guilt throttles me. I’m an asshole.

“I’m so sorry, Lucy. Those things I said about you working here? That was out of line.”

She straightens up and shrugs. “I was out of line for calling you a hockey golden boy.”

“You’re not wrong. I don’t work because my family has money. I’m a spoiled brat.”

A small smile pulls at her lips. “You’re not a brat.”

For a long moment, we stand there, the air between us thick with something I can’t put words to.

I just met Lucy, but I feel protective of her. This thing between us…it’s different.

Yeah, she’s a new friend, but it’s deeper than that.

Because you’re attracted to her.

I shove aside that thought, even though it’s true. Yeah, Lucy is beautiful. Yeah, I’m attracted to her.

But that’s not why I’m doing any of this for her.