AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She’s dancing to some Taylor Swift song and she’s absolutely stunning. I’m struck motionless, mesmerized by the way her body moves with the beat. Hypnotized by the sway of her hips, the curve of her body, and the way she runs her hands through her hair, giving me flashbacks of when I did the same.
With her lips pulled into a smile, she’s playful, happy, andfree. A version of Lucy I wish I’d seen more of.
Leaning against the doorframe, I watch like a creep until the song ends and “Perfect,” by Ed Sheeran comes on next. Lucy freezes, snapping me out of my daze, as her head falls into her hands on the table, giving me the perfect view of her ass. An ass I now desperately want to slide between. My shorts tighten, and I have to clench my fists to stop myself from moving toward her and doing just that.This fucking woman.What I wouldn’t give to have her naked again, spread out before me, begging me to take her.Fuck!
Scanning the halls, I quickly adjust myself in my shorts before my gaze moves back in the room, trying to focus on something else, anything else, but it’s pointless. I’m drawn to her in more ways that I’d like to admit. I’m fucking addicted. Have been since the first time our lips touched. And like always, my eyes seek her out, but this time when I see her, I reallyseeher and I’m no longer worried aboutmyfeelings. She’s not hunched over to catch her breath like I first thought. She’s taking deep breaths and quivering on the exhale, clearly lost in thought. I want to go to her. I want to engulf her in my arms and protect her from the world. But I don’t. I’d rather not get caught up in another emotional roller coaster that comes with caring for Lucy Mathers, or Lucy Kelly as it may be.
I’m about to sneak away when she suddenly stands tall and darts across the room, stopping the song in its tracks. The opening notes of a few more songs begin but she skips them all until she finds “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” by Nirvana and visibly relaxes before starting to dance once more.
I release a held breath, push off the door, and walk away, suspecting she needs this moment to herself. I’ll come back after to check on Silvers.
***
The rest of the day runs relatively smoothly. The boys start to get into a groove, and I find myself yelling less.Slightly less.Some of the younger receivers even step up in Silvers’s absence, obviously wanting to prove themselves while he’s out. And while that’s somewhat of a relief, I still need him to be game ready as soon as possible if we have any chance of winning. He’s one of our best.
I’m on my way to my truck after departing Lucy’s office for the third time today and once again, I didn’t want to leave. Especially knowing she was going to Aaron’s house. I don’t know why, but that guy rubs me the wrong way. He’s too happy and…Ah shit!I’m fucking jealous. It’s got nothing to do with Aaron at all. I’m jealous because that jerk-off and Lucy have such an easy relationship without a complicated past, while I flip between hating her and wanting to pull her into a goddam hug, forgetting everything that’s happened. Something I’m actually trying to work through.
I’m almost to my truck door, pissed off at the realization I’ve just come to, when I feel a small tug on the end of my shirt. Turning around, I find the little intruder who busted into my office last week.Katie.
“Remember me?” she asks with an expectant grin. She’s all dressed up, as though she’s heading to a party, and I’ve gotta say, she’s cute. Her long strawberry blonde hair falls in ringlets over her shoulder, and she’s gripping a little handbag that hangs across her body. She almost looks familiar, but I can’t place it.
I squat down until we’re eye level and nod. “Katie, right? How could I forget you and your beautiful name?”
Katie beams up at me, and I can’t stop my return smile.Smile.Fuck, when was the last time that happened?
“My mom named me after alovely ladywith a big heart.” Katie sings the last part, clearly proud of her moniker. My heart clenches and I swallow a lump in my throat as she smiles brightly. This little girl has no idea how much she’s affecting me.
“My grandmother’s name was Katie,” I admit. “And she’sexactlylike you described.”
Katie bounces on her toes in excitement, as a man on the phone behind her—presumably her dad—gives me a funny look. Not that I blame him since his daughteristalking to a stranger.
I’m distracted by his glare, so it takes me a moment to process Katie’s next question, but when I do, my heart almost breaks. “Can I meet her?Please.”
Shit!A tight feeling swarms my chest as a shiver runs through me. I’m about to answer, or at least I’m about to change the subject, when Katie’s dad calls out. “Katie, come on. We’ve got to meet your mom near the door.”
Her smile widens and she runs toward him, jumping into his arms before throwing me a quick wave over her shoulder.
Slowly lifting myself from the dirt, I head to my truck and slide in, all while trying hard not to let my feelings take over. My head falls to the backrest and I close my eyes with a sigh. I can’t think of a single reason I would ever have introduced Katie to my gran. I don’t even know her. But fuck it would be nice to think that I could.
Despite telling Lucy that I hoped not to see her the next day, it’s now the next day and I’m purposely seeking her out. For no reason. It’s eight fifteen in the morning, so it’s unlikely she’ll have any new information for me, but since I lay awake for hours last night with visions of her running through my mind, I know I won’t be able to concentrate unless I stop by. So here I am.
Rapping my knuckles against her door, I wait approximately two seconds before pushing it open, “Lucy, I just…” I trail off when I find her lost in a daze. She’s staring out the window, completely in her head, having not even heard my knock. It would probably be comical, if her face wasn’t pulled into a grimace and her eyes weren’t wide with panic.
“Lucy, what’s wrong?” I move into the room without waiting for her to answer and join her side. It’s not until I lightly touch her arm that she flinches and jumps away from me, bringing me back to when we first got to know each other.
“Fuck, sorry. I just wanted to see if you were okay?”
Lucy’s brows furrow and she frowns. Her gaze is still unfocused as she rubs her arms like she’s cold, only it’s really fucking warm today. Her current state is actually scary, especially after having to deal with Grayson for the last few days.
“Lucy. What’s going on?”
Her office phone rings and she jumps again, the only difference being that this time she jumps toward me, not away, tucking herself into my chest, with her arms locked tight around her body. A feeling of rage hits me. She’s scared. She’s fucking scared. But of who? “Lucy, I want to help, but I need to know what’s wrong.”
Her face snaps to mine and her eyes widen before she steps away, shaking her head as she huffs out a laugh, her face flushing a light shade of pink. “God, sorry. I had a late night at Aaron’s and I’m tired. I obviously drank too much. Maybe I’m still drunk.” Her shoulders lift in a shrug as my brows pull together. She doesn’t look hungover or drunk. Tired, maybe, but her eyes are clear and she looks pretty well put together. Still, I’m not about to question her on it and cause further embarrassment, so I nod and accept her excuse. That being said, I’m not leaving until I know she’s okay.
Her phone rings again, and she glares at it for a second before making her way over. Her hand shakes as she picks up the receiver, and my chest tightens with worry.
“Lucy speaking.”
