Cheater (Curious Liaisons 1)

Lucas: I’m in hell.

I grinned and set my phone down, then went about sending in the next girl. “Molly?” I called her name. “Lucas Thorn will see you now.”

She glared at me.

And I nearly skipped toward the door after her. “Lucas, your next appointment is here.”

“Thanks,” he said through clenched teeth.

I waved and then went back to t

he desk and grabbed a piece of gummy candy just as the elevator doors opened and the flight attendants walked in.

“You guys are early, but if you’ll just take a seat right over there, Lucas will be right with you.”

They eyed me warily.

And they should have.

Because I was cleaning house. Lucas thought all he needed to do was call the girls and let them know he was settling down. But I knew girls, and I didn’t want him having that temptation in his life. So not only did he get a new phone with a new number, but he also set up meetings with each of the girls he had cheated with.

And apologized.

Ladies and gentlemen, Lucas Thorn—cheater of the year, man whore of the month—has found his heart! How about a round of applause?

“Why are you clapping?” one of the two girls asked. “Why is she clapping?”

“Sorry.” I grinned. “I just have a lot of company spirit, and it’s Secretary Appreciation Day.” Lie, total lie, but whatever. Let them stare down the other woman.

The one who singlehandedly stole Lucas Thorn’s heart.

And refused to give it back.

And just because I was feeling awesome, I offered them candy.

Naturally, they declined because, calories, which just meant more for me and my new spirit-animal bobblehead panda—compliments of my boyfriend.

I patted the head; it bobbled at me.

I had told Lucas I would quit being his intern, and naturally I said he should request a nice old lady to assist him. Someone who was bored with retirement—not that I didn’t trust him. I just knew the effect he had on women.

Really, it was like his superpower.

The door to his office opened. Molly left a sobbing mess. I held out the box of tissues while Lucas yelled from his desk, “Next!”

The flight attendants didn’t look happy.

Then again, who would be happy about being dumped?

I couldn’t wipe the grin from my face, and it would have probably stayed there had Austin not texted me.

Austin: He’s a monster!

Me: Who?

Austin: THATCH! A cheating, low life, ball-sucking bastard, and if I have to see him one more time, I’m going to strangle him alive.

Me: Drinks later?

Austin: No. Class. Sorry.

I sighed and dropped my phone. Stupid Thatch and his stupid cheating and inability to keep his pecker in his pants.

The door to Lucas’s office burst open, and out walked the flight attendants. They were classy. No tears. Instead, they looked at me, each with a respectful smile.

Lucas leaned his muscled frame against the side of my desk. Slowly, I raised my eyes to his. “Yes, sir?”

He grinned. “It’s done.”

“All of the girls? Even the substitutes?”

“Do you realize if you smiled any bigger, your face would actually crack near your ears?”

“Smile? What smile?”

He tipped my chin toward him. “I love you, Avery Black.”

“I love you too.”

He was just about to kiss me when I rolled my chair backward. “What?”

“Do you love me enough to find out why the hell Thatch would break Austin’s heart and cheat on her?”

“He did what?” Lucas said, and then let out a heavy sigh. “Thatch may be a player, but he doesn’t cheat.”

“He did. On her.”

“On purpose?” Lucas had the balls to ask.

“YOU DON’T CHEAT BY ACCIDENT!”

“Whoa.” He held up his hands and backed away slowly. “Yes, whatever you say. Look, I’ll call him, order you some lunch, make sure to draw you a bubble bath back at home, and let you have remote time.”

The door to his office closed.

What just happened?

My phone went off.

Lucas: I love you. When you love someone, you let them win—not every battle but at least the ones that matter. Calling Thatch now. There has to be a reason, not that I’m defending what he did or didn’t do. Now, your only job—if you choose to accept it—is to make reservations for dinner tonight, for our first real date.

I grinned down at my phone.

Me: I say where it all started.

Lucas: I couldn’t agree more.