Tossed Into Love (Fluke My Life 3)

I’ve wanted her for a long fucking time, but I’ve done jack shit about it besides push her away. Now I need to see if I can somehow undo that damage. At that thought, I smile. I have always loved a good challenge—and I know that Libby is going to be just that.

I open the door to the office, then lock it behind me and go to the back of the shop, where Libby is making pizzas with Hector.

Meeting Hector’s gaze, I nod toward him. “I got this if you want to help Marco.”

I watch his eyes go to Libby. He looks at her with a question in his eyes.

“It’s okay,” she tells him.

My jaw clenches as he lifts his chin and then moves to the opposite side of Libby. Like it’s happened every time I’ve worked with her, we fall right into sync.

Her sister Mackenzie told me that Libby was a hard worker, but I didn’t believe her. All I saw were Libby’s expensive clothes and her perfectly styled hair and makeup. I thought she was just like my ex, that all she cared about was money. I was wrong about her. There is no way in hell my ex would ever have stepped in to help out like Libby has. If she had been forced to help, she would have complained the entire time. I’ve never heard Libby complain—not even once. She’s never complained about washing dishes, busing tables, or making pies. She doesn’t say that she’s tired, but I know she must be from working two jobs most days. Instead, she’s always smiling, always happy. As if she wouldn’t rather be anywhere else than right here, working and getting her hands dirty. Looking at her profile and the frown I put on her face, I fight the urge to sigh. Yeah, I was wrong about her. Now I need to prove to her that I’m not the jerk I’ve shown myself to be more than once. I have my work cut out for me. If someone ever treated me the way I’ve treated her, they would see my back—and nothing else ever again. I just hope she’s not as bitter and fucked-up as I am.

The first time I saw her at the shop, she was with her sisters. They were sitting at one of the booths in the back. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I noticed that she had been having the same problem with looking at me. I had been about to make my approach and introduce myself to her when I overheard her talking to her sisters about some designer bag she wanted. Hearing that was like a bucket of cold water hitting me in the face. After that, I shoved her right in the same box as my ex. Looking at her once more now, I just hope that I can find a way to convince her to forgive me.

I see a smile light up her face, and I’m surprised when she suddenly stops what she’s doing and slides a half-made pizza to Hector to finish.

“Be right back,” she tells him as she spins around. “Lucas! Madeline!” she shouts happily as she hurries past the counter. A little girl of probably four or five throws herself into Libby’s arms and giggles while a man who’s my age or maybe a few years older stands back, watching them embrace with a smile on his face. The moment the little girl lets go, Libby’s eyes go to the guy. Her expression fills with a sweetness I haven’t seen before. She wraps her arms around his waist. Jealousy, hot and ugly, turns my stomach and warms my blood as I watch them.

“You okay, amigo?” Hector questions.

I pull my gaze off Libby to look at him.

“I’m good.”

“You sure?” He drops his eyes to my hands, and I realize the ball of dough I have in my grasp has been mangled by my clenched fists.

I shake my hands and narrow my eyes at Hector and Marco, who are both smirking at me.

“What?” Neither of them says anything, and both of them get back to work. Pressing out another crust, I look over my shoulder at Libby. She’s coming back behind the counter, and the man and girl are walking out the door with a pizza that they must have called in for pickup.

“Who was that?” I ask when our eyes meet and her step falters.

“That’s Fawn’s fiancé’s brother and his daughter.”

Her words catch me off guard, and I stare at her for a long moment. I’ve known both of her sisters for years, but until recently I didn’t even know that either of them was dating anyone serious.

“Fawn’s engaged?” I ask.

Her startled eyes dart from the pizza she’s dusting with cheese to meet mine.

“She got engaged at Christmas.”