Page 75 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

Layla beamed. “I’d love to. Thanks.”

About a dozen emotions swirled through Juliette as Lucas chatted up Layla while she texted her mother, earning the type of sweet smiles that come only when a young girl is crushing hard on a boy. She hadn’t been prepared to watch Lucas grow up so fast, but her heart felt full seeing him so happy.

“What kind of pizza do you like?” Seeley asked.

“What kind do you like?” Lucas asked Layla.

She shrugged. “Anything except onions and anchovies.”

“Pepperoni sound good?” he asked.

She nodded, eyes bright.

“We’ll have pepperoni, please,” Lucas announced.

“Got it.” Seeley looked at Juliette. “Do you still like mushrooms?”

“I can’t believe you remembered.” She shouldn’t be surprised, given that he’d remembered everything else about their relationship.

Seeley winked. “Why don’t we let them finish up with the horses?”

She didn’t know if he wanted to give Lucas and Layla a minute alone, or if he wanted a moment alone with her, but the way he was looking at her told her it was probably both. “Good idea. I have a few things to do before dinner. We’ll meet you guys up at the house.”

“Okay,” Lucas said. “Wait. Doc, are you still taking me driving tomorrow?”

“Sure am. I’ll pick you up after your riding practice.”

“Cool. Thanks.”

After Juliette and Seeley left the barn, Seeley said, “Our boy’s got game.”

“Yes, he does. But Layla’s only fourteen, so he’d better not have too much game.”

“I’ll talk with him about that when I take him driving tomorrow.”

She was floored at how naturally Seeley was taking on fatherhood. “Do you think he invited you to dinner to keep me busy?”

“Hell yes. He’s no dummy. But I’ll take it.” He draped his arm over her shoulder, hugging her against his side as they neared the house. “Gotta love those baby steps.”

AN HOUR LATER, Doc and Juliette were sitting at the kitchen table, eating pizza and chatting with the kids. It was strange to think that a few hours ago, he and Juliette were confronting Ana. Juliette was strong, but there was so much to consider with going after her father. Doc didn’t just want to hold off on calling Reggie to protect her and Lucas from any backlash. He also wanted to give Juliette time to let the truth sink in, in case she had second thoughts down the line.

He had to leave to get ready for church soon, but he was enjoying sitting with his hand on Juliette’s leg under the table, watching Lucas act cool with Layla, talking about his bull riding and playing off the falls like they were no big deal. Layla was adorably smitten with him.

This was one of those moments he didn’t want to forget. The first time his son asked him to stay for dinner, and he’d learned that it was also the first time Lucas had ever had a girl over. He wanted nothing more than to stay all evening, to laugh and joke with them. To hold Juliette long after Layla went home and Lucas was sleeping safe and sound in his bed, to make sure she felt safe, too. Talking over the phone was great, but it wasn’t the same as having her in his arms.

“I’d love to see you bull ride sometime,” Layla said, drawing Doc from his thoughts.

Lucas’s smile lit up the whole damn kitchen. “Maybe you can come to my next competition.”

“That’d be fun. Christian told my parents he wants to ride a bull,” Layla said, referring to her mischievous little brother, who was about Gus’s age. “My mom was like, no way, and my dad said Christian was going to be too busy racing cars.” Hugh was a professional race car driver.

“Lucky kid. That would be awesome,” Lucas said.

“I hope he doesn’t learn to race. Christian’s a maniac.” Layla took a drink of her soda. “I swear he doesn’t know how to sit still, which is great for Cami, because she’s always chasing him around.” Her little sister, Camryn, was an adorable, chubby-cheeked toddler.

“Doc used to ride bulls,” Lucas said, eyeing him over his glass as he lifted it to his mouth.

Layla’s eyes widened. “You did?”