Divided Interests (Southern Bride 3)

A look of utter sorrow moved across his face. “I’d like to think I wouldn’t. I might have gone down to the wire and come to my senses. It would have been the last thing that tied me to you. I don’t think I could or would have let it go.”

I let out a soft chuckle. “So, you’re sitting in a bar, drinking because you’re feeling like a worthless piece of shit who treated his family and friends like complete assholes.”

His eyes widened. “Did I say all of that?”

With a shake of my head, I replied, “I filled in the blanks for you.”

Lucas laughed. “Thanks for that.”

I gave a half-shrug. “No problem. Are you ready to leave? How much have you had to drink?”

“Three beers.”

My eyes widened in shock. “How long have you been here?”

“Since I left the house. Didn’t make it to my folks’ place.”

I looked over at Chuck in confusion. “Milo said Chuck called because you had been here all afternoon and…” My voice trailed off. “Milo.”

Lucas lifted the corner of his mouth in a half smile and my insides clenched with desire.

“Seems like everyone is trying to help us along the way,” I said.

Lucas pulled out a few twenty-dollar bills and tossed them onto the bar. “It seems like.”

“Want to go back and play in the attic again?” I asked as I slid off the bar stool.

Lifting his eyes to meet mine, a slow, sexy smile spread over his face. “Can we please make sure to lock the damn doors?”

I laughed and took his hand as we walked out of the bar together.

“’Night, you two!” Chuck called out after us.

“’Night, Chuck!” we both called back.

Glancing around the bar, I noticed a few people watching us leave. Hand-in-hand, two old lovers who seemed to be picking up where they left off.

“Rumors are going to spread like wildfire, you know that, right?” I asked as we walked over to my SUV.

“So, let them.”

I pressed my lips together and narrowed my gaze on him.

“What?” he asked with a bit of humor in his voice.

“You’re okay with what people are saying, or possibly saying? Good or bad? True or false?” I asked, watching him carefully.

Lucas moved closer to me, causing me to lean against my car.

“Sitting in a bar for hours, thinking about all the things I’ve done wrong the last ten years of my life, I can honestly say I don’t give two flying fucks what anyone says, what they think, or what they talk about. We aren’t in high school anymore, Paige.”

I swallowed hard as I stared into his beautiful green eyes. “What do you care about?”

“Finding that chest.”

My heart sank.

“Learning your body all over again.”

And my body came right back to life.

“Watching a sunset with you, seeing where life takes us next, and honestly not even caring, as long as I get to do it with you.”

“Lucas,” I whispered.

“I know, you said slow, and I’m going to try hard to go slow, but Paige, all I really want to do is kiss you.”

With a quick lick of my lips, I placed my hands on his broad chest and softly said, “Then kiss me.”

Lucas grinned from ear to ear and did just that.

Lucas

AFTER KISSING PAIGE in the parking lot of Chuck’s Place, I followed her back to the house. It was late and neither of us wanted to explore the attic. Truth be told, the idea of going up there at night sort of freaked me out.

I crawled into bed and spent an hour staring at the ceiling. The soft knock on my bedroom door had me lifting my head. “Paige?”

The door creaked as she peeked her head in. “Yeah, it’s me.”

“What’s wrong?” I asked, sitting up.

“I can’t sleep in that room.”

I smiled. “Do you want to sleep in here? With me?”

She darted across the bedroom and climbed onto my bed. I groaned internally because she had on her sexy little pajamas. Thank God her hair wasn’t in the damn pigtails.

Without hesitation, Paige climbed under the sheets, pulling them all the way up to her chin. We laid there in silence for a few minutes before I felt something on the bottom of the bed.

“Something is touching my foot,” I whispered.

“What?” Paige whisper-shouted.

Pop.

Pop.

Pop.

“Holy shit, it’s hitting my foot!” I said, sitting up quickly and reaching for the side light. When I turned it on, I stared at the little black-and-white beast at the bottom of my bed.

“It’s Oreo!” Paige said in delight. “Come here, sweet girl. I’m so sorry I just left you up there!”

Oreo walked across the bed, her tail swishing back and forth as she moved. At one point, I was positive she shot me a fuck you look as she curled up between me and Paige.

“The cat cannot sleep in my bed.”

“What? Why?” Paige asked in a mock shocked voice.