Delicious (26 page)

vaginal area shows considerable signs of penetration and a cursory exam

found traces of semen.”

Oh, shit!
Luc cleared his throat. “Could be mine.”

“You had unprotected sex with the victim?”

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Shayla Black

Luc didn‟t look at Tyler; he knew the bouncer was ready to hit him.

Instead, he just nodded. “About ten this morning and again around eleven

thirty tonight, just before the attack.”

“That complicates things. Unless she starts talking, I can‟t say whether

she‟s been raped.” The doctor raked a hand through mussed brown hair. “If

she changes her mind about the kit, I‟m guessing the police will want you to

leave a sample so we can rule out your DNA and see if there are traces of

the suspect‟s.”

Luc didn‟t hesitate. “If she does, I‟ll do whatever I can to help nail this

bastard.”

“Well, he‟s got his own laundry list of injuries, including a broken nose.

He won‟t be hurting anyone for a while.”

Luc couldn‟t feel much triumph. A broken nose? That wouldn‟t keep

Peter from coming after Alyssa again. Only putting him behind bars for a

long while would. All those notes the bastard had left her before attacking

her would hopefully help put him away for ten to twenty.

“Can I see her?” Luc asked.

The doctor sent him an apologetic stare. “We gave her a sedative, and

she‟s asleep. Before that, she refused all visitors.”

Of course. She preferred to suffer in silence. And why would she want

to see him?

Tamping down the pain, he turned to Tyler and Sadie. “While she‟s

recovering, can you keep the club going? She‟ll worry herself sick unless

she knows it‟s being cared for.”

“Of course,” said the well-endowed brunette.

Tyler nodded. “Part of my job description.”

“I‟ll take care of Bonheur through Wednesday. She‟ll likely be back on

her feet by then.” He turned to Jack. “Can you make sure she stays safe for

me?”

The Cajun frowned. “You make it sound as if you‟re leaving.”

“I‟m leaving her alone.”

“The hell you say! She needs you now.”

Luc laughed bitterly. “No. I‟m the last thing she needs.” He spotted

Kimber‟s brother returning with a tray filled with coffees. “Ask him. He‟ll tell

you.”

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Shayla Black

Clapping his cousin on the back, Luc turned and spotted a triage nurse

leaving her post to help a woman in labor. He sneaked in the door just

before it closed, then wandered down the hall. Temporary rooms were set

up in a circle all around the nurses‟ station. A whiteboard in the middle of

the room listed all the patients and their room numbers. Finding Alyssa‟s

room in the corner was easy enough. So was ducking in.

Inside, the thin drape had been drawn. He could see her outline, but

nothing more. She didn‟t want to see him, and he respected that, so he

didn‟t tear it away, as he yearned to. Damn hard. Luc wanted to see for

himself that she was okay, unharmed. But she‟d made her wishes clear.

Now would be his only chance to say good-bye.

Behind the drape, he heard the beep of monitors, the pump of oxygen

into her system. An IV stand abutted the wall, only partially concealed. He

swallowed, wanting to see her, take her hand . . . something.

She wanted nothing to do with him, and it hurt so fucking bad.

Wishing she wasn‟t asleep and would hear him, he sighed, his breath

ruffling the ugly blue drape. “I‟m so damn sorry about so many things. I—

Around you, I turned into someone I didn‟t know how to control, and you

were right to dismiss me.” He grabbed the curtain, forcing himself to keep it

in place, not to rush past it to her bedside and wake her, take her in his

arms. “I‟m sorry that my behavior drove you away, into Peter‟s clutches. So

sorry. You don‟t know how close I am to falling completely in love with you.

Clearly, it‟s better for us all if I leave.”

The moment was upon him. One word; that was all he had to say.

Good-bye
. Then he could leave, let her rest easier and eventually get on

with her life.

Luc couldn‟t force the word out. Instead, he clenched his fists to hold in

what felt suspiciously like tears, then left the hospital room for good.

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“
L
UC?”

He turned toward the familiar voice, swallowing back his annoyance.

Emily. She approached him on sensible pumps, looking like something out

of a Lands‟ End catalog with crisp khaki pants, a smart white blouse, and a

little red cardigan. The colors suited her pale complexion and dark hair.

She was stylishly accessorized, the look modest, understated. When she

smiled, the expression reached all the way to her hazel eyes. She really

was perfect in so many ways.

The smile he sent in return felt more like a grimace as he waved her

over.

Glancing at his watch, he was relieved to see the book signing and

cooking demonstration would end in another ten minutes.

Doing his best to meet and greet, pose for pictures, and answer fans‟

questions, he was conscious of Emily‟s presence just beyond his left

shoulder. He glanced back at her. Damn, she was wearing her purposeful

look.

When he‟d run out of books and time was more than up, he stood and

walked to the portable kitchen area and grabbed the microphone. “Thank

you, everyone, for coming. I appreciate the support. Have a great evening.”

After a hearty round of applause, people began to file out. A reporter

or two milled around, but store personnel escorted them out. Luc braced

himself and turned toward Emily.

Everything inside him recoiled. She was lovely, cultured, educated,

kind. She loved children, had broadly hinted that she‟d welcome a marriage

proposal, and wanted to start a family right away. Luc even had the ring in

his pocket, a simple two-carat teardrop-shaped diamond—her favorite,

according to her—on a thin gold band, just waiting for the right moment.

She was everything he should want. But he‟d been waiting for that

right moment for three weeks, and the ring was still tucked away in its box

in his suit coat.

He sighed, then closed the distance between them to kiss her cheek.

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Shayla Black

“You look nice.” It wasn‟t her fault that he was dying to see another

woman in a sexy short skirt, garters, and a saucy attitude.

Damn! He‟d never see
her
again, and Luc knew he needed to get on

with his life. Today he‟d turned thirty-six. Tonight was as good as any to

start embracing his future. If he wanted to have children, he needed to try

starting his family soon. It could be a years-long process, but Emily, twentyeight and ready, would be supportive.

Luc felt guiltily relieved that having children with her wouldn‟t require

sex. She was lovely. And a wonderful person. He‟d feel desire for her . . .

someday. Maybe.

Emily‟s smile widened. “You look nice, too. And now I must take you to

dinner for your very happy birthday. Where should we go?”

Luc tried to muster enthusiasm for the evening. “What sounds good to

you?”

Slowly, her smile fell. “Another headache? Have you been to the

doctor yet?”

Since returning from Lafayette six weeks ago, he‟d fabricated

headaches to explain his lack of interest in their dates and his need to cut

evenings short. He hated lying to her. Emily deserved better. Either he

needed to actually commit to trying to build a future with her or walk away.

His heart voted for the latter. Logic asked him what the hell he‟d do

about tomorrow if he left Emily. Alyssa was gone, behind him. No matter

how much he wished otherwise, this separation was her wish—and the

wise choice he hadn‟t had the fortitude to make on his own.

He pasted on a smile. “I‟m fine.”

Emily frowned. “You‟re not feeling depressed about your birthday, are

you?”

Not in the way she meant, but it was a good excuse. “Perhaps a little.”

“Then it‟s my job to cheer you up!” She smiled, flashing dimples, and

reached for his hand.

This and chaste kisses. In the last month, he‟d managed no more

contact with her than that. How could he get through a wedding night when

he couldn‟t imagine ever having sex with her? Worse, what would he do

when the need he still felt for Alyssa clawed through his skin, demanding

something only she could give? Would his resolve to leave her in peace

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Shayla Black

waver then? Would he disregard his marriage vows? Or would he endure in

silence until he grew to resent Emily?

“You don‟t have to.” He gathered his utensils, notebook, and pens,

then took a long time arranging them in his backpack—giving himself more

time to school his features and erase his hunger for Alyssa.

“Luc.” She touched his shoulder. “I wanted to wait until we were alone,

but . . . You haven‟t been the same since you returned from Louisiana. I

didn‟t want to push, but—”

“Then don‟t,” he said quietly. “There‟s nothing you can do.”

The perpetual smile finally slipped from her face. “I‟m a good listener.”

“I know you are, Emily. I have to work this out alone.”

“If you‟re no longer interested in me and the sort of future we

discussed, just tell me.”

He closed his eyes. Cling to the past or force out the lie?

“Luc.”

He heard another female call his name, this one farther away. But her

familiar voice zipped across his senses like an electric charge through his

body, spreading chills across his skin. Had he missed her so much he‟d

dreamed her?

He whirled around, hope spiking inside him. And across the room
she

stood.

“Alyssa?” Shock sucker-punched him. Luc nearly couldn‟t breathe.

The last time he‟d seen her, she‟d thrown him out of her club. Out of

her life. Why was she here now? Was she okay? Had she missed him,

even a bit?

He drank in the sight of her. Despite six weeks passing, Alyssa still

took his breath away as she cautiously drew closer. She‟d fastened half of

her long platinum hair at her nape and let the remaining strands trail down,

stopping low on her back. Worn jeans clung to her small figure, looser than

he remembered. Somehow the black stilettos made her look more fragile.

She wore a tight Sexy Sirens T-shirt with red lettering that invited
Come

Live Your Fantasy
right across her breasts. She wore almost no makeup.

Even so, her eyes were hauntingly blue. And she looked exhausted.

When she stood a few feet away, Alyssa glanced at Emily, then looked

back at him. “Your girlfriend?”

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Shayla Black

“Yes,” Emily answered quickly.

With a raised brow, Alyssa sent him a cold stare. “I‟ll contact you at a

better time.”

She turned and walked out the archway, into the main space of the

department store. Luc didn‟t think twice. He dodged around the

demonstration table and charged after her.

Just before his approach, she whirled to him, frustration all over her

face. Luc stopped in his tracks. He wanted to touch her so badly . . . but

she‟d told him never to touch her again. Even now, her expression warned

him away.

“Don‟t leave.” He heard the pleading in his voice.

God, he‟d missed her so much. He‟d say anything—do anything—just

to spend five more minutes with her. In that moment, Luc feared he knew

why.

He‟d fallen in love.

She cut a glance over to Emily across the room. Luc didn‟t have to

look at the other woman to feel her confusion and hurt. Some foolish side

of him rejoiced. Emily must be seeing where his heart was. So much easier

than sitting her down over a civilized dinner to crush her picket fence.

“Your girlfriend doesn‟t want me here,” Alyssa pointed out

“
I
want you here. Don‟t go.” He fastened a desperate gaze on her and

willed her to understand.

“Is there someplace we can talk? I won‟t take up too much of your

time.”

“Take all you want.”

Alyssa bit that lush lower lip, then looked up at him through the veil of

her dark lashes. It was a nervous gesture—sexy as hell. But he worried . . .

She looked thinner, paler, more vulnerable.

“Are you all right?” He barely stopped himself from wrapping a light

hand around her shoulder.

She bit her lip harder. “Not here.”

Someplace private. Right
. “Wait just a moment.”

Luc jogged back to the demonstration room, trying to think of

something to say to Emily. He came up blank. “I have to go.”

“What about your birthday dinner?” she screeched.

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Shayla Black

What about it?
He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Finally,

he shook his head.

Emily examined his face with intelligent hazel eyes. “She‟s what

happened to you in Louisiana.”

Perceptive
. He sucked in a breath and took the plunge. “Yes.”

The woman glanced over at Alyssa. “She‟s incredibly beautiful.”

“Inside and out.”

“I never stood a chance.” Emily tried to cover her shock and

disappointment with a tight smile, but she choked on her words.