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Lucy ran away with their hearts—his and Rex’s—at a very young age. Maybe that’s why she finally came home. Perhaps she had every intention of giving them hers, too. She sure hadn’t come back for that farm across the hill or the mansion situated in the center of all that rolling acreage. Oh no, Luke knew Lucy better than she knew herself. If she’d returned to Tennessee there was only one reason, or more correctly, two.
She was there for Rex and Luke.
Mrs. Carpenter left the kitchen humming something along the lines of “Back Where You Belong.” Rex continued the tasks of an amateur plumber, tweaking one pipe and then another until the dripping water was somewhat contained. Rising to his feet, he turned on the faucet and washed his hands.
“Lucy may take a lot of pleasure in telling us to go to hell,” Rex said, wheeling around to face his brother. His worn expression would’ve been alarming if Luke didn’t understand exactly how he felt.
“Mrs. Carpenter won’t shut up until we extend that invitation and you know it.”
“I’m not worried about her. It’s Lucy I’m thinking about here. I can’t go back and make up for the pain we caused her. We hurt her. We damaged her in a way she said she’d never forget, and then she left. She didn’t say good-bye. She didn’t write, call, or e-mail. I’d like to think she came back here for me and you, but I reckon if that were the case, it wouldn’t have taken her half a decade to get around to it.”
“She came back because she inherited a thousand-acre ranch,” Luke reminded him. “If I know Lucy, she probably plans on turning the place into headquarters for her racing team. That’s what the old man planned to do.”
“Exactly.”
“Like hell. She had better reasons to come home.”
“We’d both like to think so.”
“She could’ve put that place up for sale. Her company is based in Texas. The only reason she moved here is because she plans to live out her grandfather’s dream.” A beat later, he added, “Lucky for you and me, the old man always wanted Lucy here with us.”
Rex frowned. “She may pursue her granddad’s goals for that racing team, but I doubt she cares to reunite just because Mr. Malone wanted her with us.”
“Then care to tell me why she’s back? She could’ve sent her people in here to handle everything for her. God knows she has the kind of fortune that allows her to do that sort of thing. There’s a pretty good chance she’s ready to let bygones be bygones. It would’ve been easier for her if she’d stayed in Texas. She’s here for us. Ain’t a question in my mind.”
“I hope so.”
“Do you wanna find out?”
“I reckon so,” Rex replied, reaching for a dishtowel and then drying his hands. “Might as well get this over with. Who knows, maybe Lucy is ready for a little Southern hospitality.”
Luke grinned. “I can think of several ways I’d like to celebrate her homecoming.”
Rex shook his head. “Don’t put the wagon before the tractor. She’s a Malone. They hold grudges. We’ll be lucky if she lets us in, let alone agrees to dinner.”
“I don’t know about you, but I was sort of hoping she’d suggest skipping supper and maybe offer a tempting dessert.”
“You really don’t remember how our last day with Lucy started and ended, do you?” Rex asked.
“Sure I do. There were a lot of tears—hers mostly, but we shed a couple, too. But that was then. I can’t change the past or apologize for acting like any other man might. Lucy should overlook our flaws. We were young fellas with hard dicks. Every inexperienced man is entitled to his share of mistakes. Surely to heaven, Lucy can forgive and forget.”
“There’s only one way to find out,” Rex said. “Let’s go ask her if she’d like to keep us company tonight.”
“Might as well. We’ll be able to tell right off the bat whether or not she’s glad to see us.”
Chapter Two
“The two of you have a lot of nerve showing up here. Did you ask Marilyn if it would be okay if you stopped by? Oh wait a second, my mistake. She’s the one who asks for permission when you guys role play, right? You’ll have to overlook me. I haven’t brushed up on S&M 101.” The door slammed so hard behind her, it should’ve fallen from the hinges.
Luke growled. The vocal expression coupled with his firmly set jaw and mess of blond hair made him look just as Lucy remembered him—carnal, sexy, and completely irresistible. “And here I thought I’d come over and find a mature young woman. I see some things never change.”
“Backatcha,” she remarked, only she was thinking in terms of appearances. Good God, these two aged better than Swiss.
“Nice to see you, too, Lucy,” Rex said, leaning over and kissing her cheek. His light blue eyes washed over her like a turbulent tide, working up and down, side to side.
The temptation to act like a child and wipe down the area his lips met was too great. She lifted her hand and started to swipe, but Luke pecked the other side and drew her into a hug before she had a chance to outwardly insult a McDavid sign of affection.
When Luke released her, he said, “You look great, hon.”
