I lead her out of the bar and into the backseat of the waiting car, and then we head home. Her signature scent of roses and peonies tussles with the angst and anger coiling my gut. She doesn’t look at me once. Just walks straight upstairs without a word once we get home.
“Everything all right?” Callahan asks, shrugging into what I call his bone-smashing jacket. It’s the suit he wears when he wants the world to know who’s in charge.
Seems I’m not the only one dealing with payment problems tonight.
“Con didn’t show up with the money,” I say.
“I meant the lass.”
“Trying to work out if she’s a damn liar or not,” I say lightly. “But hey, at least she’s fun.”
I grin, because it’s easier than admitting anything deeper.
Lucie Joy steps inside with my niece and nephew on either side. I take Tallulah from her and bounce her until she’s full-on belly giggling. I grin. Still got it. Females of all ages fall at my feet. Granted, Tally would be falling to her hands and knees and painting the floor with her dinner, but my point stands.
“Me! Me!” Raff yells, grabbing my leg. “Spin!”
I do as commanded, spinning them both until Lucie calls time. She leans in and kisses my cheek.
“Careful now, Lucie Joy,” Cal warns,voice a low, warm growl. “Or I’ll take it out on Dec. I don’t like you getting cozy with him.”
“Ignore him,” she tells me, eyes smiling and worried at the same time. She hands the kids to Cal, and the way he talks to them, so softly and full of love, makes something twist tight in my chest.
Lucie continues to stare at me.
“What?” I ask.
“She’s gorgeous, Dec,” she says.
“Who?”
“Seriously?” Lucie rolls her eyes. “You know I know you best, outside of Callahan. And you like her.”
That’s where she’s wrong. “It’s more of a hate thing, Luce.”
“Call it what you want, I can see it clear as day. But Dec, she’s high society. A dancer. And she’s trouble.”
“I can handle trouble.” I pause, because if there’s anyone I trust to call me on my bullshit, it’s Lucie. “You don’t like her.”
“I do. At least, from what I’ve seen of her so far,” she says honestly. “But girls like that are long-term trouble. So help her, do what you need for the family business, and then…”
She glances at Cal.
“What?” I push.
“Decide if that kind of trouble’s worth it to you,” she says quietly. “Because that kind of trouble is a lifetime commitment. Understand?”
“Yes,” I say.
“Good.” She smiles. “I’m meeting Ava and Harry at Dirty Harry’s. I might ask Marlowe if she wants to come. There’s an adoption event with the animals…”
“Ava wants to go to that?” I ask, surprised.
Lucie grins. “Ava’s into pets now. Two of the menagerie here are hers, remember?”
She kisses Cal and they somehow manage to make it lookobscene, not bothering to care that there are children present. When they’re finally done mouth-fucking each other, she gathers the kids and heads upstairs toward Molly’s room.
And me?
