Trying to Score (56 page)

Audrey sent him a smile but it didn’t reach her eyes before she turned and went inside with Aiden. Lucas hoped the things he bought Audrey would get her to talk. He hated that Fallon was worried and so was he. It wasn’t good for any of them, especially Audrey. He didn’t know who was hurting Audrey but it wouldn’t go on for much longer. He loved her too much to let anyone hurt her.

As Lucas made his way to the truck, he thought about what Aiden said and all of a sudden, he was crying. The tears came hot and fast, and Lucas basically choked on the sob that tried to leave his body. Lucas braced himself against the truck and took in shuttering breaths. Not only was Aiden compassionate and understanding, he wanted to help Lucas. Just like Fallon had wanted to.

For once Lucas wasn’t embarrassed or nervous about his condition. The two people that mattered cared enough about him not to care about his disorder. Finally, Lucas felt like he could be himself and not have to try to be someone he wasn’t. He was a regular, good-looking guy. He couldn’t read but he played good, no great, hockey. He had a little bit of a temper and he was a recovering addict. He was in love with a woman that had him fighting tooth and nail to get past the wall she had put up, but it was okay because he loved her and he had the most amazing son in the world with her.

That was who he was, and luckily, he was blessed with people that loved all of him.

Lucas quickly moved his hand over his cheeks, taking deep breaths. He couldn’t go inside until he calmed down, so he took a couple more calming breaths before opening the trunk and getting all the bags out from his shopping trip with Fallon. After making two trips, he finally had everything inside and a smile on his face. Watching Fallon in the Kate Spade store was like watching her have an orgasm. It was hot, and that sexy half-lidded look came over her face every time she saw something she had to have. When that look came across Fallon’s face, Lucas bought whatever caused it to happen. He didn’t care how much it cost or how much she yelled and complained because no matter what, afterwards she would smile.

And he loved to make her smile.

Lucas was laying bags on the couch when Audrey came into the living with a curious grin on her face. “Ooh, whatcha get me?”

Lucas smiled up at her. “Actually, a lot. Fallon picked out most of it, and there is a bathing suit in there she got for herself.”

Audrey looked over at the three Betsy Johnson bags before looking back at Lucas. “I was joking.”

“Oh, well I’m not. Check it out, let me know if you like it,” he said. She eyed him suspiciously before reaching for the bags. The first thing she pulled out was Fallon’s new sexy bathing suit. She laughed and looked over at him. “Fallon’s?”

He gave her a goofy smile. The bathing suit was hot, but it was even hotter on Fallon. “Yeah, we are going to California next week.”

“She makes me sick with her perfect little body,” Audrey giggled as she threw the bathing suit off to the side before looking through the bag. When she pulled each item out, her eyes would go wide before she little out a little shriek. When she had everything laid out, she looked over at Lucas with a winning smile. “You know you’re my favorite, right?”

Audrey giggled as she started picking everything back up and placing it back in the bags. When she was done, she sent Lucas one more grin before heading for the stairs, but he wasn’t going to let her get far. “Who is he, Audrey?”

Audrey shook her head, her eyes wide as she turned to look at him. “No way. Everything is fine. I broke down and I’m good now. Don’t worry about it.”

“Tell me,” Lucas said, standing his ground.

“No,” Audrey said quietly, “and if these things are your way of getting information from me, take ‘em back.”

Lucas watched as she threw them down on the couch before crossing her arms. Lucas narrowed his eyes. “I bought those things for you because you are the sister I never had. With that being said, tell me who is hurting you because I’m going to kill him. You don’t deserve that Audrey — you are the coolest chick I know.”

Audrey nodded. “I love him.”

“I don’t care,” Lucas said with no sympathy at all. “You don’t deserve this abuse.”

“Neither do you, but am I telling you to leave Fallon? No. You and I both know she has not handled your situation right since the beginning. So before you go telling me that I deserve better, look at your situation.”

Lucas was taken aback by her anger. He knew she was lashing out because in a way, Lucas was attacking her about the situation, so Lucas swallowed his own anger and said, “Wow, Audrey. So you are saying that Fallon isn’t good enough for me? Or that Fallon abuses me? Because last time I checked, she didn’t hurt me during sex.”

Audrey’s cheeks warmed as she looked away. “She is mean and hateful.”

“Because she is scared. I hurt her. For the past seven years we both thought I cheated on her, so yeah, she has every right not to be very nice to me, but that is beside the point. We are working it out, and you need to get your head out of your ass before you turn into one of those women who starts making excuses for his abuse. Get it together, Audrey.”

Audrey shook her head before turning and running up the stairs. When he heard the door slam shut, he shrugged his shoulders. Audrey could lash out at him all she wanted, he didn’t care. He would find out who was hurting her and when he did, Lucas hoped the guy was ready to meet his maker.

********************************

Fallon was on a roll.

After her shopping day with Lucas, she had gone back to the office and her creative juices were flowing. Ever since the day on the beach with Lucas when he told her about his alcoholism, Fallon hadn’t felt right about the whole campaign. Something had to change; she couldn’t have him drinking wine in thousands of picture when he was a recovering alcoholic. It just didn’t seem right. Not many people knew of Lucas’ condition, but Fallon knew and she didn’t like the thought of him being pictured with an alcoholic beverage in his hand. She was proud of what Lucas had overcome, and she wasn’t about to portray him as some playboy partier when he wasn’t. Before she had no problem because she thought he was all those things, but not anymore. He was a good, one-woman man and it still blew her mind how everything had changed so quickly, but she was thankful it had. She didn’t know what she would have done if she would have continued to think Lucas was a piece of shit.

She probably would have never fallen in love with him again.

Fallon had been working on the new campaign all week but nothing was clicking. That was until Lucas kissed her goodbye when he dropped her off at the office. His teeth grazed her bottom lip before he softly bit down. It was the most erotic thing in the world, and Fallon couldn’t get enough, but then he said, “Mmm…cherry slushy. It tastes better from your lips.”

It tastes better from your lips.

Rocky Top Wine tastes sensational, but it’s better from her lips.

Fallon couldn’t believe how perfect it was! It not only pulled in the male audience but it was going to pull in the female one, too! It was also better than their first slogan, and this one was going to work out way better with keeping the alcohol away from Lucas. Fallon had done all the prep work. Called up the artist to draw the sketches, and even called to fire most of the models for the campaign, since it would center on Lucas and one girl. Fallon felt on top of the world. Her only worry was her father, but since he was gone on a business trip until the day of the shoot, she felt confident that she was able to do this — no one to hold her back.

Fallon had a full smile on her face when Rob opened the door. When she glanced up, she smiled at his slick black business suit and newly cut hair. He apparently had a date with a lawyer and for once he wanted to look like a man. Man, did he succeed. When he wasn’t all glammed up, Rob was an exceptional looking man. His eyes were bright without the makeup and his body looked toned and sexy under the suit. He was a dreamboat!

“Lookin’ good, Mr. Slater,” she gushed.

Rob blushed as he grinned at her. “Aw, shucks, thanks!” Fallon giggled before he shook his head. “Crap, sorry, I got distracted, Mrs. Justice is on line two.”

Fallon loved Grace. She was the most amazing party planner in Nashville and also Shea Adler’s twin sister. Since signing a contract with the Assassins to plan all their parties, Planning Your Moment went from great to awesome overnight. Grace promised perfection, and man did she deliver. Fallon was also very excited to work with Grace from the other end. She was always the supplier but now she was the host and she loved playing host. Fallon wanted to present the entire campaign in picture form to the board and the Assassins together. Fallon thought that there was no better way to do that than to have a huge party. It was not only going to celebrate the campaign but also the Assassins making the playoffs.

“Everything is great! Did Rob get you the paperwork I faxed over?” Grace asked just as Rob sailed in with the paperwork in hand.

Rob flashed Fallon a grin as she took the paperwork quickly. “Yes ma’am. What am I looking at?” she asked, trying to read quickly.

“The menu and the guest seating. I think I have it all right, but I wanted you to sign off on it before I moved forward. I also need the pictures from the campaign, do you have those yet?”

“Not yet. The shoot is this weekend, and they should have them ready and printed in the wall size you asked for by Friday at the latest.”

Fallon couldn’t agree more. Fallon still got chills every time she thought back to the way she felt when she walked into the Belmont. It was as if she was taken back to the 1800s and she was watching Mr. Darcy and Ms. Elizabeth dance the night away. It was magnificent.

Fallon hung up the phone and glanced back down at the menu. It was spectacular and like she said, she didn’t expect anything else. If Grace was anything, she was classy as hell and Fallon couldn’t have been more excited about the party. Fallon placed the paperwork in the party file and got up, stretching her legs. She glanced down at the clock on her computer and saw that it was time to go.

Fallon couldn’t wait to get home. She was excited to make dinner for Lucas, Aiden, and Audrey. She was also excited to play with all her new stuff that Lucas has spoiled her with. As she slid on her shoes, the grin stayed in place on her face. Fallon hadn’t been this happy in a very long time and it started and ended with two special guys.

Her guys.

Lucas and Aiden.

Fallon lay across Lucas’ chest in complete bliss.

As the evening replayed though her head, she cuddled closer to Lucas, running her bare foot up and down his leg. Lucas’ hand stayed in place on her ass while she listened to his breathing. It had been an amazing evening and she could only pray that all her nights ended this way. When she arrived home from work, she was greeted with luscious kisses from Lucas and sweet, loving ones from Aiden. After changing into something a little more cooking friendly, she went into the kitchen to get everything ready for her lasagna.

Lucas was right next to her as she put together dinner. He kept touching her and trying to help whenever she would allow him. Fallon wanted him to relax, hang out, but of course, anytime they were in a room together they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. She had missed him all day, and when he gave her that sly, ‘I want you’ grin, she was hot all over and didn’t have the heart to kick him out the kitchen.

Once Fallon had everything in the oven, she and Lucas helped Aiden with his homework. Lucas surprised her with his first-grade knowledge and his wit. He was sweet and tentative to Aiden. It was like watching a different man. He was acting so at ease, so at home, which in a way he was. She loved having him in her home and she couldn’t have felt more complete with him there.

After dinner, they did dishes together and then watched some TV with Aiden before putting him to bed. Once Aiden was tucked in, they headed into Fallon’s room where they were now. Fallon lay beside him, basking in the love that he was giving her. It was the perfect evening, and Fallon couldn’t have been happier. The only thing that bothered her was that Audrey hadn’t been home all night. Lucas had told her about their fight and Fallon was worried. When she called Audrey, she didn’t answer, so Fallon sent her a quick text, and Audrey answered saying she needed time to herself, that she was fine.