Unbeautifully Loved (Breathe Again) (14 page)

“You don’t have to do that Lukas. I’m sure it’ll be fine,” I lied.

He didn’t say anything, just squeezed my hand and brought it up to his mouth, brushing his lips across my knuckles.

My heart skipped a beat, again.

“Lukas.” I tried pulling my hand away only he wouldn’t let go

“Lex.” He countered, a smirk playing on his lips.

Damn him.

“Lukas, that kiss back there, it shouldn’t have happened. I’m not looking at getting involved with anyone. Clearly you want something from me but I just can’t be that for you.”

He didn’t say anything. I was expecting him to get mad, upset or something but he didn’t. Instead I felt his body shaking under my touch and I looked at him to see he was chuckling to himself, like I was missing out on the joke. Gently shaking his head he said, “Give it time Peaches.”

“Excuse me?” I asked, my voice higher than I meant.

He looked at me with a grin, “You’ll come around,” he stated, full out believing what he said.

“Come around?”

He couldn’t possibly think I’d come around to the idea of sleeping with him then having him toss me aside for his next victory. Could he?

“Yep, you’ll see.”

Jerk! No, we will
not
see!

He really sounded sure of himself, confident as if he was promising me it was going to happen. “Did you talk to Danny or Bobby?” I asked changing the topic.

He shook his head. “Fisher was in when I stopped by and Bobby wasn’t around. I’ll look after it before I take off.”

“You don’t like Colt?” I asked curious.

His hand tightened over mine. “Nope,” he said flat out.

I nodded turning my head to look back out the window. “Glad I’m not the only one,” I said low enough that I didn’t think Lukas could hear me.

We turned the corner, Fisher’s came into view and my stomach dropped. Still holding my hand and sensing my nervousness, Lukas softly rubbed his thumb across the top trying to comfort and relax me. It wasn’t helping and the fact I was going to have to tell Danny and Bobby what happened was another thing I did not wanna do.

We parked in front then headed inside. The bar was like it usually was at this time, empty with Bobby in his usual seat with a beer in his hands and red cap on his head. Danny was behind the bar, with his back turned to us and a woman with mocha colored skin in her late thirties walked towards us. She was around my height, maybe a little taller with less curves and beautiful. Her shiny dark hair sat just below her chin, perfectly suiting her while her soft light brown eyes were big, bright and kind.

“Detective Gunn, it’s been awhile. How you doin’ baby?” the lady’s soft sing song voice said, smiling as she approached us and gave Lukas a hug.

Lukas hugged her, not letting go of my hand. “Teri. I’m good, keeping busy.” They pulled away and still smiling, her eyes came to me.

“You must be Lexie, I’ve heard lot’s about you baby,” Teri said.

“Well, if it ain’t my favorite waitress,” Bobby’s booming voice cut in.

I turned my head in his direction to see he was half turned in his chair looking at Lukas and me. We walked up to the bar, with Teri walking behind the bar, standing next to Danny while Lukas and I stood next to Bobby.

“How you doin’, sweetheart?” Bobby asked taking a pull from his beer.

I couldn’t stop myself.

“I was attacked Saturday night after work.”

With those words everyone’s head whipped in my direction.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Shit.

“I’m sorry, come again?” Bobby’s voice growled, as his eyes moved between Lukas, Danny and I.

Lukas’ voice rumbled out, answering for me. “We’re pretty sure it’s the same guy whose attacked those other girls, same MO and shit, I showed up just in time.”

“
Fuckin’ hell,”
Bobby roared, turning to Danny. “Boy, what part of ‘walk her to the car and make sure she leaves safely’ did you not get? You better thank your lucky stars I left my bat at home today or you’d be on the ground so fast you wouldn’t know what the fuck hit you!”

“Ah shit,” Danny hissed through his teeth. “Lexie, I fucked up, I thought you were right behind me, I should have waited before taking off.”

“Danny don’t… it’s
okay –”

“The hell it is! I told him to do one thing and he fucked it up. You could have gotten seriously hurt Lexie, if Gunn here hadn’t shown up. That asshole would have done a lot worse, like he’s done before,” Bobby roared, eyes locked on me.

Between the anger coming from him and from Lukas, I was sure I was standing in a nuclear war zone unsure of who would explode first.

“He’s right Lexie, it’s my fault and I take full responsibility for what happened. From now on, when I’m on with you, you’re my responsibility until this douchebag is caught,” his eyes held mine before they moved to Lukas’ “It won’t happen again.”

“Danny,–”

“Fuckin’ right it won’t,” Lukas snapped, cutting me off, his hand tightening around mine.

“Lukas,” I hissed getting annoyed. “It’s not Danny’s fault, I don’t blame him for what happened and neither should you, any of you.” I looked around at everyone before I pulled my hand free from his. “I need to get ready for work.” I turned away from them and walked into the back room.

I felt a squeeze on my shoulder as I was putting my things into my locker. I jumped, not realizing that Teri had come in. “You okay baby?” she asked, taking a seat on the bench across for me.

Not in the least.

“Yeah,” I lied tying my apron around my waist.

She stared at me, watching me, her expression never wavering. “If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m a good listener.”

I looked up when she spoke, taken back from what she said. “Thanks, but I think I’m good.” I hoped I didn’t sound rude but I didn’t know her and I didn’t really need anyone to talk too, the less people who knew anything about me the better.

“Just putting it out there, if you need to talk I’m here.” She smiled softly. “So, you like it here so far?”

Other than Colt.

“Yeah so far, I guess.” I said shrugging my shoulders.

“You know, I’m not a fan of Colt either. Making us wear these tiny ass almost see through shirts for his own damn pleasure. Plus, he’s such an asshole. You know, he tried to get in my pants one night after work, thinking I’m like everyone else, willing to suck his cock even when I’m happily married,” she said as she studied her nails.

Not surprising.

“What’d you do?” I asked curiously.

She shrugged her shoulders. “I junk punched him,” she said nonchalantly looking up at me with a grin.

“You didn’t!” I exclaimed, laughing.

Still grinning she nodded her head. “Fucker hit the ground faster than a rag doll. It worked though, I haven’t had to worry about him hitting on me or making another move since,” she laughed.

“He totally gives off creepy vibes, the way he was looking at me when I came in for a job, I had to work with him last week and it made me so uncomfortable, I’m thankful Bobby was here. He doesn’t look like the type to understand the word no,” I said with a chuckle.

Teri leaned back on the bench. “Sweetheart, you don’t have to worry about that. Danny and Bobby won’t let anyone near you after what happened and now with Gunn around... You guys are hot together by the way,” Teri smirked.

Me and Lukas?

Together?

Ha.

I shook my head. “No, it’s not like that. We only just met the other night. I’m... I mean... we aren’t... There’s nothing going on.”

Teri’s brows rose to up. “Don’t give me that! How do you expect me to believe that when you don’t even believe it yourself. It’s written all over both y’alls face baby, so there’s no point in denying it.” She paused, standing up and looking at me then continued when I didn’t say anything. “Might as well save yourself the trouble and give into whatever it is that’s
not
going on, embrace it, enjoy it; doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see what I see and you and I just met.” She was leaning against the wall staring at me with a wicked smile on her face.

Jesus Christ, first Mollie and now Teri.

And I don’t even know her.

I looked at her for a minute before answering, “Uh... I think we need to get to work,” I said trying to get out of the conversation.

I went to walk around Teri to leave the bathroom, but she positioned herself in front of me. “We got time.”

“I just met you and you want me to tell you about what’s going on with Lukas and me?” I asked, raising my brows up. “Wait, there isn’t even a Lukas and me and never will be, so I don’t know what it is you think you see but you’re mistaken. I’m not looking for anything, including what he wants.” I crossed my arms over my chest, “Plus he’s too difficult and annoying and also kinda bossy,” I said waving a hand in the air.

Kinda bossy? Ha, right, that’s being nice.

Her head cocked to the side, “What exactly do you think he wants?”

“Isn’t it obvious what a guy who looks like him wants?” I asked looking at her but she didn’t seem to be following so I went on. “Sex, someone like him doesn’t want anything from someone like me other than sex and I’m just not into that,” I shrugged.

Teri’s eyes narrowed and I watched them darken, flashing with anger before it disappeared just as quickly as it happened. “You might wanna think about what you just said, really think about it.”

That look. Oh boy.

Not good.

“I need to get on the floor,” I told her moving towards the door, my hand about to pull the handle as she called me.

“Lexie,” I turned to look at her, her face softened. “Luke’s a good guy; I don’t know what you’re used to but just know, that man,” she pointed towards the bar “is a damn good man.”

I swallowed.

I know she’s right, deep down anyways.

I stared at her before turning and walking out of the backroom. As I walked out from the back, the guys were right where we left them. I didn’t even think they noticed we were still gone, until Lukas saw me walking back out and stepped away and walked towards me.

I slowed as he approached, standing close, our bodies almost touching and his eyes searching my face.

I was wrong; he’d been waiting for me.

My heart skipped a beat.

Damn it.

“I wasn’t sure if you were still here,” I said nervously.

“Gotta head to the station, was waiting for you before I left.”

“Oh, you didn’t have to wait for me.” I said noticing Bobby and Danny watching us, then quickly look away from us, pretending to do be in conversation with each other.

His arms came around my waist and he let out a sigh. “Lex,” he said like I was being ridiculous
.

“What if it’s important? Like some poor, innocent person whose car was stolen and they’re waiting for you to find it but you’re not, because you’re here,” I said not trying to be funny.

He threw his head back and laughed.

A chest heaving, from the gut, laugh. One I’d never heard from him before.

The most amazing sound I had heard. Ever.

I was glad to be standing so close to him in that moment, ‘cause not only did I get to see it up close but I got to feel it as well. I was in awe of him, how beautiful he looked with his head thrown back and the sound of his laugh around us.

I just watched him and took in every detail. The way his hair moved, the way the grey in his eyes lit up and the small dimples I never noticed ‘till that now.

He was beautiful.

It was overwhelming.

I felt wrong standing in his embrace surrounded by his beauty.

The sound of his laugh was up there with Finn’s, as a favorite and I knew I’d never forget the sound or the way he looked right then either.

His arms tightened as he brought his head down and into the crook of my neck. His body still shaking, I could feel his warm breath moving over my collarbone, sending shivers across my body. His hand came up my back and moved my hair off to the side and his lips softly brushed across my collarbone and into the crook of my neck, then his tongue darted out of his mouth and moved up the rest of my neck.