Holding On (Road House Series) (7 page)

“No luck?” Jake handed him a bottle and leaned in with a bottle of his own.

Luc shook his head.

“I just don’t know what to do. I’ve called nearly every day. Pan threatened castration if I called again. Sent over flowers every day but keep getting the same reply. ‘Wrong.’” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “I really fucked this up. She was just so good and perfect and now she hates me. Aw, hell. I just kept thinking how much it hurt though and couldn’t seem to get past it.” He gave a bitter laugh. “She was right though. Been living in the past. Can’t seem to concentrate at work, so I redecorated the whole house.” Luc shrugged. “Got to stop holding on to the wrong things and focus on the right ones.”

He started to drown his sorrows when he felt a hand push the bottle back down.

Pan came to sit next him.

“She doesn’t hate you,” she said with a sigh.

“Pan!” Sarah whispered harshly.

“What!? She’s just as fucking miserable as this dick is and for some damn reason, she wants him.” Pan turned to him. “I’m her sister. Not only that, I’m the only family she’s got. So this gives me special insight, and I’m about to put some trust in you, so you better not let me down, or I’ll give you a lesson as to how hot a tail pipe can actually get. Got it?”

Luc nodded like a school boy.

“You’re getting it all wrong,” she said.

Luc gripped the counter. “I know. I’ve tried everything, but it doesn’t seem to be working.”

“No, dumbass. You’re getting the wrong flowers.” She sighed dramatically. “It seriously never occurred to you that a girl with a flower name might put special meaning with the actual flower?”

It was like the wind had been knocked out of him.

“So do you know her favorite?”

“Yes, but where would be the fun in telling?” Pan grinned and went to chat with Sarah.

“Mind if I use your computer?” Luc asked.

Jake grinned. “Have at it.”

An hour later Luc returned to the bar and slid onto the stool next to Pan.

“Can you do me a favor?” Pan raised an eyebrow. “Just drive her by my house tomorrow.”

“Oh, so you think you have it?”

“Of course.” He smiled and made his way toward the bar. “Bring her by at one.”

“She’s not going to make it easy,” Pan called.

Luc stopped. “I’m sure she won’t, but I somehow get the feeling you wouldn’t have a problem lying to get her over there.”

As Luc walked out, he could hear Pan laughing.

***

“I don’t know why I have to go to the store with you. I already told you I’m not feeling so great.” Iris sulked in the passenger side of Pan’s car. Not only was it a million years old, but it smelled like musty oil. The smell made her want to gag.

“Oh stop being such a baby. A little morning sickness never killed anyone.” Iris winced. The whole baby thing had been taboo since she found out a few days ago. It all seemed so surreal.

“So, have you told him?”

Iris shot her a glare. “No.”

“Oh come on. It’s not like the guy hasn’t tried.”

“He can’t even figure out my favorite flower. What’s the point?”

“Well, I guess you’re about to find out.”

The car jerked to a stop and Pan raced out toward the shop.

Iris could feel the panic rising up as she sat outside his house.

She wanted to run to him. To kick him. To kiss him.

This was just all too much. And then it got worse. A tap came on her side of the glass and when she looked up, he was standing on the other side.

Iris couldn’t contain the laugh that bubbled up when she looked at him. Smudges of dirt from head to foot.

Luc pulled the door open and stepped back.

“What happened to you? Did you get into a fight with a plant?”

Luc grinned at her good humor. “Something like that.”

God how she wanted to hate him, but there was just something about him. He held out his hand, and she took it to get out of the car.

“So I suppose this was your planning?” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

“Don’t think Pan made it easy on me.” He winced. “I’ve heard castration more times than I ever wanted to.”

Iris once again laughed. It had been so long she suddenly felt lighter from it.

“So,” he slowed down the walk, “I’ve been wrong. In more ways than one. And, well, I wanted to show you that I do know you.” He stopped and took her hand. “You were right. We do have something, and I’m sorry I was so afraid. What you were offering was just so wonderful. Almost too wonderful.”

Luc stopped walking and took her other hand.

“I just want you to know that I’m still worth trying with.”

He turned her to look at the yard. Nearly every inch was covered with crocuses, the small delicate flowers creating a canvas of color on the lawn.

Iris nearly fell to the ground. There was only so much emotional overload she could handle. Her knees began to shake and just as she thought she would fall, strong arms wrapped around her middle.

“In the iris family and means cheerful. There are over ninety varieties, and they bloom at various times at various places. But mostly it’s associated with a story. A story that a little girl who likes books might be drawn to.” Luc nuzzled his face into her neck and felt her take a deep breath.

“Oh?” She drew in another shaky breath.

“A story of a physician who was jailed for his faith. When he discovers the jailer’s daughter is a blind girl he once treated, he leaves a note before his execution. Inside is a crocus that cures her sight and is the first thing the girl sees.”

Iris looked down to see the yellow crocus nestled against her and the loving arms around her.

“So do I know you?” Luc whispered in her ear.

“Almost,” she said and turned in his arms.

“Oh please tell me I got it. I’m miserable without you.”

Iris wrapped her arms around his neck and reached up on her tiptoes for a soul-blazing kiss. When she pulled away, she waited until she had his eyes.

“I was going to call,” she said. Luc looked like he wanted to speak but stopped when her fingers touched his lips. “That morning, well, it meant something to me, but now it means so much more.”

She took his hand and placed it on her stomach.

Luc’s eyes grew wide with surprise. “I have a room.” He blurted out and then laughed at his excitement.

“I don’t think,” she started.

“No really, come see. The whole place has been placed firmly in the present.” Luc grabbed her hand and pulled her in the house.

He really hadn’t been kidding. The whole place was him. All over it breathed the ease and comfort that he usually held. No more manicured purple room but a nice calm blue. The space reflected him. She didn’t have long to enjoy it before she was being pulled into an empty white-walled room.

“See?” Iris didn’t really know what she was supposed to be seeing here. “I’m a little confused here, hun.”

Luc grinned at the endearment.

“For the baby. We can paint it whatever you want.” Luc dropped down to his knee and spoke to her tummy. “Hey, do me a solid, kiddo. Tell your mom to give me a chance.” Luc looked up at her. “Give me a chance to be the man you deserve and father I want to be.”

Iris couldn’t take much more. She slumped to the floor as tears flooded her eyes. She threw her arms around him and stared at the yellow crocus.

“You are so stupid.” She sobbed into his shoulder.

“Yes. Yes, I am,” he said and pulled her in a little tighter. “But it’s real, and I’m holding on to that.”

Iris pulled back and stared at Luc. “Me too,” she said and kissed him with everything she had.

By day, Madison Stevens is a mom, wife, house cleaner, short-order cook and underpaid custodian. When night comes, she gets to hang up those jobs, enjoy the silence and become a sex goddess, or, when she has a headache, cook and read. Her husband is also an accomplished author, and she hopes to measure up to him

She can be contacted at [email protected].

Also by Madison Stevens

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A nasty breakup isn’t going to stop Sarah from getting what she wants. And what she wants is her too hot boss with his bad-boy image and aloof attitude.

The last thing Jake ever expected was that sweet little Sarah would make a play for him. For months, he’s kept to himself and bit his tongue about her less than stellar boyfriend. Now that she’s given the green light, he’s not stopping until he gets what he’s been imagining since she walked into his bar.

The fires of passion might just be what they need to soothe both their hungry bodies and souls.