Team Lucas (The Saints Team #1) (19 page)

Chapter 28

I saw the team training on the beach as I jogged towards them, finishing off my thirty minute run. Jogging on soft sand was brutal and I only did it for a few minutes before heading to the hard sand. The Saints weren’t so lucky; I could see the coach working them on the soft sand and the injured players wading through the water.

I jogged up near Doc and pulled up.

“Hey there, Mia,” he greeted me. “Lucas said to expect you.”

“Hi Doc, it’s good to see you,” I said, catching my breath. I looked over at Lucas and he avoided eye contact with me, even though I saw him fleetingly gaze in my direction as I arrived—hot and cold Lucas as usual.

“Good to have you back,” Doc said.

“Great to be back, I’m really stoked to get to watch and take part, thanks.”

He nodded. “I’m particularly pleased to have you here for Lucas’s sake. He was off the planet when he got to training the other day before we flew out.”

“He was clean,” I assured the doc.

“Yeah, but his headspace wasn’t. I thought he was going to lose it because he couldn’t reach you. He even called out your name when he came out of the concussion.”

“Really?” I frowned.

“You sound surprised,” Doc said.

I made a scoffing sound. “Lucas is totally unpredictable; I’m either the flavor of the day or watching my back with him.”

“I hope I didn’t cause you too many dramas dropping him off at your place then,” Doc said.

“No, it’s all good. There’s nothing going on between us, it’s purely professional,” I told him and he nodded but his expression said he wasn’t buying it.

I changed the subject. “That looks tough,” I said, watching the team pound in and out of the waves.

He chuckled. “One of the coach’s favorites—ins-and-outs.”

The Saints were running into the ocean to waist height, running parallel for a distance and then back out and up the hard and soft sand in a loop. Lucas and Nik were sharing the lead and it was tough, both men looked wiped.

“Drop and crawl,” the coach yelled as the team came up on the soft sand. The boys hit the sand and crawled along using their feet and elbows.

“Good for core strength,” Doc said as we watched them.

I couldn’t take my eyes of Lucas the Adonis working out. His muscles rippled, his body looked so supremely athletic and he was glowing with sweat. He was leading by example, not dropping a beat. So fucking sexy it should have been illegal.

“Thirty, count it Captain,” the coach yelled and the boys rolled over on their backs with much groaning. Lucas led the way and started counting down from thirty delivering a crunch on each countdown. He was amazing, not once did he falter and the rest of the team did their best to keep up with him. As he reached number one, the coach yelled out, “Plank.”

I watched as Lucas and the team rolled over on their stomachs, raised themselves on their elbows and feet and held the position. Lucas lowered his head, his face a study of concentration. Several of the players breathed heavily and a couple shook with the exertion. I grimaced, feeling the burn.

The coach counted down from fifty, got to twenty-five, was interrupted by one of the injured players wading out of the ocean and turned back to the plankers.

“Where was I? Forty... carry on Captain,” he ordered and Lucas began the countdown again at forty. The men groaned in pain and Doc and I tried not to smile.

“C’mon.” Doc nudged me and he picked up his pack and we headed over to a couple of the injured players coming out of the water.

I worked with Andy and Doc for the next hour and then helped them pack their gear back in the car after training. Johan the coach gave me a wave before he left and Pez came over and asked after Alice. He didn’t ask for her number but it was nice he asked after her.

It was dark when I headed back to the pad; Lucas left when the last of the players left; didn’t wait for me but it least it was only across the road this time. He was still sulking at me suggesting he could have STDs. He was twenty-six going on twelve.

I walked up the path and could see he had closed the blinds but his silhouette passed in front of the window. I let myself in downstairs to my pad and turned on the light. I heard a sound and stopped. Nothing—probably Lucas upstairs. I turned on the lights in the kitchen. Then I heard a sound again, as if someone had moved in the bedroom. I backed up towards the door in our joint entrance. I didn’t turn around or put my back to the bedroom, just in case.

I thought there was someone in there. I was terrified, and my heart was pounding. I slowly unlocked the adjoining door without taking my eyes from the hallway leading to my room and called up the stairs to Lucas. He ignored me.

“Lucas,” I called again. I didn’t want to run upstairs in case someone ran out and I wouldn’t know if I they had really left. He didn’t answer. Plans ran through my head—what I would do if Lucas didn’t come down. I’d grab a knife from the kitchen and take my phone, pretend to be calling the police and check it out myself.

“Lucas, please,” I called up the stairwell again.

“I’m fucking busy Mia, you’re not getting any more of my blood,” he roared back angrily.

I stood tall. Fuck you Lucas Ainswright. I left the door open in case I had to bolt upstairs and I moved sideways to the kitchen. I slid open a drawer, grabbed a knife and sidled up to the hall wall. Staying flat against the wall, I flicked the bathroom light on as I passed and looked in. All clear. I looked through the bathroom door crack but there was no-one behind it. My bedroom was next. The guest room was on the other side, but I definitely heard the noise twice from my room. My heart was racing.

“Is anyone there?” I asked. I didn’t really expect them to answer, “Yeah, I’m a burglar, how you going,” but I wanted them to know I was serious and I was coming. I moved a few more steps, far enough to reach the light, flicked it on and slammed the door back. I screamed in fright as a guy came out from behind the curtain and began snapping. The flashes blinded me.

It was so quick. I heard myself screaming, he knocked me down and ran down the hallway. The knife fell out of my hand. I heard thumping from upstairs and Lucas bolted down the stairs. The next minute I heard a yell and I jumped up and ran to the front of the house. I started calling the police mumbling about a break-in and the guy still being here. In the hallway, Lucas was on some guy, a camera was sprawled across the floor and Lucas was pinning the guy down so hard I thought he was going to break him.

I gasped and stood back, my eyes feeling huge. Within moments Jase was running down the stairs and moments later a police car screamed up the street. I don’t remember much except Lucas rushing to me, grabbing me by the shoulders and a police officer asking me questions.

“Just an amateur photographer trying to get some shots to make it big,” Lucas was saying. I could hear his words coming to me in slow motion. I know now I wasn’t in danger but I didn’t know then and I was jumpy and freaked out.

“I want to go home,” I heard myself saying.

“No, you’ll stay upstairs with me tonight, and tomorrow we’ll get security bars on those windows.”

The police officer gave me his card and left me in Lucas’s care.

Just as quickly as they came, everyone was gone except Lucas and me. He led me towards one of the kitchen stools and leaned me on it.

“Mia, look at me,” he said.

He leaned over and I looked up at him.

“Are you listening?” he asked, as his hand continued to move up and down my back.

I gave him a small nod.

“It was just a fan trying to get a photo, okay? I’m so fucking sorry I didn’t come down when you called me.” He inhaled. “Now you’re going to take my hand and we’re going to check all the windows and lock them. Tomorrow, I’ll get security bars for your level. But you’re staying on my level or for as long as you need to. Are you hearing me?”

I nodded.

“You’re going to be okay.” He said it like a question and I nodded again.

“I know,” I said.

Lucas stood to full height and took my hand, raising me from the stool. He led me through every room of my wing and we checked it was secure. The window in the guest room had been ajar; Lucas couldn’t remember who last stayed in the room. He checked inside cupboards and behind doors and waited with me while I grabbed what I needed to come upstairs for the night.

Later, I lay in his guest room wide awake. What if I had undressed? What if he wanted more than a photo?

I craved for the security of my usual lifestyle and my little room. I must have dozed off because when I woke up, I was punching against someone, I realized it was Lucas.

“Mia, wake up, Mia!” He was pressing me against his chest, trying to ward off my blows.

“Lucas,” I gasped. I looked around; I was upstairs, I was safe.

“It’s me, you’re safe,” he said. “You were screaming.”

“Sorry,” I said, breathing in short, sharp gasps. “I had a bad dream.”

“I know, but everything is all right now,” he said. Lucas lowered me back onto the pillow and he lay down beside me. I rolled onto my side away from him, and he moved in closer. Lying on top of the blankets he spooned me.

“I’m here, get some sleep,” he said.

I slept well—I was wrapped in the strong arms of Lucas Ainswright. Kill me now and let me die happy.

Chapter 29

“Terms and conditions,” Lucas barked as he made us both a coffee in his kitchen.

“Okay, sock it to me.” I sighed. I was feeling much better this morning and much stronger. The police had confirmed the guy who broke in was just an amateur photographer trying to make a quick buck and Lucas had someone downstairs fitting security already. He wanted to hire me some personal security but after negotiation, he agreed to step up the security services on the house instead.

Lucas pushed my coffee over the counter towards me and stayed on the other side of the bench. “First,” he began, “you work for me, not my father or my manager.”

“But...” I went to protest and he held up his hand.

“I’ve already spoken to my manager who has spoken with your boss. It’s been sorted.” He waved a piece of paper at me. “New contract.”

“Do I get a say in this?” I asked.

“Yes of course, you get to sign it,” he said.

“Lucas, stop,” I said.

“I’m only at number one.” He rolled his eyes.

“I know.” I took a deep breath and looked up into his gorgeous face with the one day growth and those light blue eyes.

“We both know you don’t need me anymore,” I said. “You don’t need anyone testing you. You’re doing just fine and you have Jase and Sarah upstairs. The doc could give you a weekly or random test if the club demanded it,” I said.

I didn’t want to be out of a great job and I didn’t want to move out, but that was the reality and I kind of felt a little bad for taking money for doing so little and getting college credits in my subject at the same time.

Lucas frowned, his light eyes clouded over as he over-thought the situation.

“You don’t want to stay?” he asked.

“I want to stay, I just don’t want to take advantage of... anyone.” In fact I want to stay forever... I want to have you for as long as I can have you Lucas, even if that is a week or a year or a decade. Just let me get my fill of you, and I’ll deal with the fallout if it happens, okay, when it happens.

His shoulders relaxed. “Well that’s good, that you want to stay. I think you’ll find everyone disagrees with you. In fact my management and Doc think it is very important I keep your services.”

I sipped the coffee. “You make a terrible coffee.” I grimaced. “You should get a penalty card for that. If I had a red card here, I’d hold it up.”

A smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. He was trying to be very serious about the contract.

“Very amusing, Mia,” he said. “Now can we talk business like two professionals?”

“Sure.” I nodded. “Business. Go ahead, please.”

“Thank you,” he said and exhaled as if he was dealing with a moron. He was just about to speak when a loud rap was heard between the second and third floor level doors and Jase slid open the door and stuck his head into the room.

“Hey great, thought I heard you both. You really should invest in soundproofing Luke. How’s things?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Short notice but Cam’s just found out he’s not on call tonight, so he and Jessica are coming over for dinner. Can you two join us? Don’t bring anything.” He waved a finger at me.

“Um,” I looked at Lucas and back to Jase. “Lucas might like to bring a friend or a girlfriend rather than his minder,” I said.

Lucas frowned and looked up at Jase at the top of the stairs. “You know we’re not an item don’t you?” he asked which sounded terribly old fashioned in his British accent.

“Sorry old boy,” Jase teased him. “Mia, would you like to come to dinner and bring a date?”

“She can’t bring a date,” Lucas sputtered. We both looked at him.

“Why not?” I asked.

“Yeah, why not?” Jase echoed me.

“Because... well she doesn’t have one,” he mumbled.

“I might have.” I crossed my arms.

“Yeah, she might have,” Jase said, sitting down on the top stairs and looking as though he was enjoying the discussion.

“Who are you, her echo?” Lucas placed his hand on his hips. Jase grinned.

“Thank you, Jase, I’d love to come if it is okay for the hired help to mix with the gentry,” I said with a glance to Lucas.

He grimaced at me. “Whatever. And yeah, thanks, love to but I’ll be coming by myself because it’s too short notice to ask anyone now. You know how chicks insist on notice?”

“Really?” I turned to him. “I thought you could click your fingers and they’d come running.”

“Well I guess I could ring...”

Jase rose from the step and interrupted us. “Yeah well great,” he said. “See you both at seven. Luke, text me if you are bringing anyone so we can cater for extra.” And he was gone behind the door and the lock clicked back in place.

Lucas frowned at me. “Terms and conditions,” he continued, “one of which is not passing yourself off as my girlfriend.”