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  “It is until Grissett tries something else.”

  My heart pinched at that thought. That something else was going to be me. If Grissett’s camp knew about my history, they never would have contacted Emily. She was small potatoes compared to the bombshell I could provide them.

  CHAPTER 14

  ~ Drake ~

  Sleep evaded me that night as my mind replayed everything that transpired. I knew Lucy got the morning paper, so I gingerly moved and tried not to wake her when I heard it hit the front door close to dawn.

  I quickly removed the rubber band and unrolled the newspaper. My fingers couldn’t turn the pages fast enough as I whipped through it, looking for familiar faces. Thankfully, there wasn’t a picture of Emily and me anywhere.

  I blew out a long sigh of relief. That didn’t mean it wouldn’t appear online. Although Lucy and I liked to get our news the old-fashioned way, others lived for social media and online gossip sites.

  Grissett was such an asshole; all he wanted was discredit me with a scandal to increase his chances of winning in November. I’d racked my brain most of the night thinking about why he chose Emily, and wondering how he knew her. But the big question was why she would want to be caught kissing her ex-boyfriend for all to see while wearing a diamond on her left hand. It didn’t make sense. Unless, of course, they spun the story to make me look like a cheater and untrustworthy, but my gut told me there was more to it. I was missing something.

  I made us a pot of coffee and sat at the table as it brewed. While I waited, my mind replayed everything Emily had said to me last night. It wasn’t just the money-shot comment, but she’d also mentioned how good I looked at the Nationals game, so that meant she saw my picture with Lucy.

  That wasn’t the only thing she said that gave me pause. No, it was the Time magazine comment. Emily asked me how my campaign was going, which shocked me because the only thing she liked about the entire political arena was the attention she got, and I wasn’t even well-known when we were dating.

  But when Emily said that she and I would look like a real power couple on the cover of Time, that surprised me. It was always about her, which was why we didn’t last. Plus, I’d found out Emily was a conniving bitch, so that didn’t help our relationship either.

  My deep thoughts were interrupted by the coffeemaker alerting me it was time to start my day.

  When I walked back into Lucy’s bedroom with a pair of steaming mugs, she was still sleeping. Her beautiful auburn hair was fanned on the pillow. I was a very lucky man to have her in my life. The more time we spent together and the more we talked, the more convinced I was that I had fallen in love with her.

  She stirred in bed, and her entire body extended into a long stretch. She reached for the side of the bed I’d slept on, but when I wasn’t there, she jackknifed and sat up.

  “I’m right here.” I walked into the room and sat next to her on the bed as I placed our mugs on the nightstand. “Good morning.”

  “I thought you were gone. I had a horrible dream.” She put her arms around me and hugged me, burying her face in my chest.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “No. You’re here, and everything is okay.”

  “I got your paper. There isn’t a photo.”

  Lucy placed her hand over her heart. “Thank God.”

  “One more week, and you’re all mine. I can’t wait for you to meet Dane and spend time with the family.”

  She looked over and her eyes brightened as she saw the mug of coffee that was waiting for her. After she picked up her cup and handed me mine, she took a deep whiff of the steam and moaned.

  My body’s reaction to her was something I was getting used to, but the hardness in my pants had other ideas.

  “Tell me about your brother,” she said before taking a tentative sip.

  I chuckled. “He calls himself the black sheep of the family.”

  “Why?”

  “He’s the only one who left the area, and doesn’t really have a home because he travels so much. He just sublets as he goes. To be honest, I figured his reputation would get me into trouble. My darling little brother is quite the womanizer and has broken a lot of hearts.”

  Lucy let out a little snort. “Have you seen your family? You all look like you could shatter a few hearts.”

  I laughed. “I can’t say that hasn’t happened on occasion, but that was mainly my brothers. I was too much of a nerd.”

  “Hmm, for some reason I don’t believe that.” She sipped her coffee and smiled.

  All I could do was laugh since it was a bit of a white lie. I might have broken a heart or two. “I can tell you I’d never want to break yours.”

  “That’s good to know.” She smiled and gave me a kiss. “Thank you for the coffee. It’s the best way to start my day.”

  Not even close. I took our mugs and set them down, and then made love to my girl. That was the best way to start my day.

  • • •

  Ten days later, we were finally on our way to North Carolina. The days were getting warmer, and Lucy and I were getting closer. I’d never felt so comfortable and relaxed with a woman before. We’d only been seeing each other for six weeks, but I felt as if I’d known her my entire life.

  We left early in the morning and were cruising along I-95 at a good pace. At this rate, we would be there in less than five hours. I clicked on satellite radio and “American Woman” came on. My thumbs tapped the steering wheel as I glanced at Lucy.

  “I love this song.”

  She smiled and nonchalantly said, “This is my stripper song.”

  Not sure I’d heard her correctly, I said, “I’m sorry, your what?”

  “What?”

  “Did you say stripper song?”

  When I glanced over at Lucy, she was doing her best to stifle a smile. She bit her bottom lip and her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink.

  “Um, yeah. I mean, I’m not a stripper nor have I ever been, but if I were one, this would be my song.”

  The mere thought of her stripping onstage in front of horny men was an image I didn’t want in my head. On the other hand, I’d gladly let her strip for me.

  “So, your parents’ house at the beach,” she said, deftly changing the subject. “Do we each get a room there? Is it big?”

  “It has eight bedrooms.” Did she want her own room? “If you’re more comfortable not sharing, I understand.”

  “Nope. I’m all about sharing and conservation.”

  “Conservation? What are you conserving by sharing a room with me?”

  “Water, space, and time, to name a few.”

  “Okay, maybe I’m still trying to process the stripper comment, but how do you save water and time?” I knew where she was going with space.

  “If we don’t sleep together, then another room will need to be prepared. Which means more linens to wash, and that uses water. Someone will need to do the work, and that takes time. So if we share a room, we conserve.”

  She smiled at me and popped a Swedish Fish in her mouth from the package she’d brought with her.

  “That’s some logic you’ve got there, but I’ll go with it.”

  “That’s me, Ms. Logical.” She giggled.

  This was an entirely different side of Lucy. She seemed relaxed, which was exactly what I wanted. I had big plans for this weekend.

  I did everything I could not to tell her right now I was in love with her; I wanted to save it for this weekend. I’d reserved a private bungalow for Sunday night, and planned to have it all set up for the most romantic night a woman could dream of.

  “We should be at the club soon.”

  “So, does everyone in your family golf?”

  “Not like Dane, but yes. Have you ever played?”

  “I played miniature golf when I was younger, but that’s it.”

  “Well, just remember that scoring is the opposite of other sports. Golfers want the lowest score, not the highest.”

  “
Yeah, that always confused me, but I think I get it. They need their ball in the hole in less strokes than the other guys.” Then she looked at me and batted her eyes. “How many strokes does it take for your ball to get in the hole?”

  We both laughed for a moment, and I cleared my throat. “Okay, no more golf or stripper talk until we’re out of a moving vehicle.”

  “Fine. What should we talk about?”

  “We can talk about you.”

  That was the end of the laughter, which made me very sorry I’d mentioned it. Luckily, we’d pulled up to the country club where Dane was participating in a charity event. It was the last day of the tournament and still early in the afternoon, so I just needed to find out what hole he was on. I parked the car and before we got out, Lucy placed her hand on my forearm.

  “I do want to talk, but not in the car. It’s a really long story, and I just don’t want to start until I can finish it.”

  The atmosphere in the car went from light and easy to thick and uncomfortable. It was as if a black cloud hung over us, and I didn’t like that feeling at all. When I slid out of the car, I went to her side to open the door but she beat me to it.

  I gently tugged on her arm. “Always remember, I’m on your side. I’ll protect you from whatever or whomever bothers you.” I kissed the top of her head and tried to get that light and easy feel between us again. “Now, let’s go and see how my brother’s balls are doing.”

  She smiled up at me. “Thank you.”

  We walked toward the large white tent to pick up our passes and were informed that Dane had just made the turn, so we headed for the tenth hole.

  “It’s so pretty here,” Lucy said as she scanned the course.

  She was right. The grass was so green it looked artificial, and the shrubs were flawlessly manicured. The sky above us was a brilliant shade of blue, which made for a perfect day for golf.

  As we approached the tenth hole, Dane was on the tee box.

  I leaned over to Lucy and nodded toward him. “That’s Dane.” He had on black slacks and a gray golf shirt. His jet-black hair fanned from under his Titleist cap.

  I laced my fingers with hers and maneuvered us so we could see his shot. The ping of a perfectly hit shot rang out, and we watched it sail down the middle of the fairway. When I looked at Lucy, she was squinting.

  On her tiptoes, she craned her neck as she whispered, “Where did it go? Was it good?” Her nose crinkled as she shielded her eyes from the sun with her free hand.

  I squeezed her hand. “Yes, it was a great shot.”

  Dane strolled down the fairway, carrying his own bag. He was so calm and relaxed. What a life my brother had, being able to travel the world while doing what he loved. Like the rest of my family, I wished him well, hoping he made the pros so he could earn a decent living.

  We ambled down the fairway to the green and waited for them to hit their next shots. Four golfers played together, and Dane was last since his shot went the farthest.

  He swung, and his ball traveled in a high arc to land about four inches away from the cup. Lucy and I applauded along with the rest of the gallery. Dane ended up with a birdie, which made me proud of my brother.

  We followed him around the rest of the course and finally made our way to the final hole, number eighteen. The entire afternoon, Lucy never let go of my hand until it was time to clap or cheer. She was so relaxed and carefree, and I loved this side of her. She looked adorable in a little pink skirt that showed off her dreamily shaped legs, and a white V-necked top that accentuated her breasts. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail.

  My brother was going to love her.

  I glanced down to find Lucy beaming. “I’m so glad you’re my girlfriend.” I pulled our joined hands to my lips and kissed hers.

  “Me too.”

  Dane ended up placing second, and we met him after he finished posting his scores. He spotted us as soon as he walked out of the players’ tent.

  “Hey, big brother.” He set his bag down and took off his cap, stowing it in one of the pockets of his bag before he gave me a brief hug. Then he turned to Lucy.

  “Aw, you brought me a gift. Thanks!”

  Before I knew it, he had Lucy in his arms. She giggled when he dipped her and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

  “Okay, okay. You can let my girlfriend go now.”

  Lucy blushed as I pulled her to my side.

  “Damn, possessive much?” Dane shot Lucy a wink, and I shook my head.

  Typical Dane.

  “Lucy, this is my younger and not-so-shy brother Dane. Dane, this is my girlfriend, Lucy.”

  “Good to meet you, Lucy.” He maneuvered close to her ear, but spoke loud enough for me to hear. “If you ever get bored with this old man, call me.”

  “I don’t see that happening,” she said sweetly with a big smile, “but thank you anyway.”

  That’s my girl.

  I kissed the top of her head. “Let’s get out of here.” As we made our way to the parking lot, I said, “You did great today, Dane. I’m proud of you.”

  “Thanks, man, and thanks for coming and bringing my next girlfriend.”

  He chuckled, but I put him in a headlock and gave him a noogie like when we were kids. Lucy started laughing, and I finally let him go with a playful shove. Dane rubbed his head and rolled his eyes.

  “See you both at the house tomorrow.”

  On the way to my parents’ place, I was glad to see Lucy looked at ease. I gave her a sideways glance and said, “Excuse my brother.”

  She waved a hand in the air. “I think he’s adorable.”

  “Yeah, he’s a cutie, that’s for sure.” Sarcasm dripped from each word, but my brother was undeniably a good-looking man and definitely a chick magnet. I was surprised he didn’t have golf groupies—or maybe he did.

  “I envy your family,” Lucy said, her words tinged with a hint of sadness.

  “We aren’t perfect.”

  “Maybe not, but you have and love each other.” As I glanced at her curiously, she added, “That’s more than some people have.”

  She was right; sometimes we took those in our lives for granted. Naturally, no one ever thought they did, but then time passed, things happened, and before you knew it, you forgot to say the three simple words you’d been meaning to say: “I love you.” Some people seemed terrified to say those words, but when you said them to someone you didn’t want to be without, it wasn’t scary at all. It was simple.

  I planned to tell Lucy this weekend, and I prayed it wasn’t too soon, but it was how I felt. I’d said those words in my head every time I’d kissed her—and hopefully she heard me.

  CHAPTER 15

  ~ Lucy ~

  Wow! I craned my neck to look at the Prescotts’ beach house as we pulled up to it. It was larger than some of the other oceanfront houses on the street, but not at all ostentatious. The swing on the wraparound porch practically called out my name, inviting me to sit down and relax.

  When we got out of the car, Drake slung his arm around my shoulder. “Welcome to our home away from home.”

  He popped the trunk and grabbed our bags. With my hand in his, we walked up the wood steps leading to the front door that creaked when we opened it. “I’m so glad you’re here with me. It looks like we’re the only ones here.” His eyes sparkled as they met mine.

  “Thank you for inviting me.”

  Drake showed me around the downstairs, and then we went upstairs and took a long hallway to the end. When he swung open the door, I was sure my chin hit the floor, because the bedroom was absolutely gorgeous. In the center of the bedroom was a king-sized bed with a tufted headboard, covered in luxurious bed linens I couldn’t wait to sink into, surrounded by cream-colored walls adorned with silver-framed abstract pictures in soft colors. Other furnishings looked as if they were antiques, including the rocking chair that sat in the corner, but it was the small bronze chandelier hanging in the center of the ceiling that set this bedroom apart from any oth
er I’d seen.

  “This is my favorite room in this house.” He tugged me forward. “Let me show you around.”

  That was apparently code for let me strip you naked and get you in the shower because that was exactly what happened. Before I knew it, my T-shirt was off and Drake’s mouth was on my breasts. I dropped my head back and gripped his hair. The warmth of his tongue caressing my nipple through the lace cup of my bra drove me crazy.

  “Take it off.” His guttural tone made my panties damp, and I was glad he reached back and turned the shower on.

  I unfastened my bra and dropped it as he stepped back to appraise me.

  “Now the rest. I want to see all of you.”

  “I will if you will.”

  “So, we’re playing tit for tat, are we?” His dimple appeared, and I couldn’t get out of my clothes fast enough.

  “Well . . .”

  His hands grabbed my bare hips. “Just remember, you started it.”

  Steam rose from the glass-enclosed shower, creating a sheen of sweat on my body. Anticipation of what he meant by that aroused me so quickly, I was nearly ready to orgasm before he even touched me.

  I pulled the shower door open and stepped inside. Drake removed his clothes and came in behind me, urging me forward and away from the hot stream of water. Just as I was about to turn, his hands clamped down on my shoulders.

  “Lean forward and brace yourself.”

  It was as if I was in a hypnotic trance. I never questioned him; I just did as he asked. The tile was cold under my palms and I shivered a little since the water barely touched me. All I could feel was the heat radiating from his body into mine.

  When his erection grazed my ass, I wiggled it a bit, and he gave my hip a gentle tap. “Not yet, Ms. Washburn.”

  My chest tightened, not knowing what he had planned, so I waited for his next move. Naturally, Drake took his time. I didn’t know how he was so patient, considering how eager I was to get this show on the road, but it was driving me crazy. Maybe that was his plan all along. I honestly didn’t know, but it was working because I was slick between my legs, and it wasn’t because of the shower.