Revealing

Lucas wasn’t going to tell his girl about what had happened. He needed her to enjoy the vacation, and he desperately needed to see her smile.

Heath said he’d keep Lucas updated, but there wasn’t a trace of anything or anyone related to those two men in the car.

Yes, a small bomb had been detonated, so Vegas police were calling it a mob hit—even though Layla had nothing to do with the mob and Lucas was only ever just a driver with no idea of the ins and outs of the Mafia family he chauffeured for.

Layla was oblivious to all of it, thinking that maybe Lucas had gotten caught up in something and that’s why the death match happened.

~Let her think it,~ Lucas told himself. ~Whatever makes her sleep better.~

“I’ve had so much fun, Lucas…”

“You deserve all the fun, Layla,” he said as they lay together the next night. He’d walked her to death, showing her the sights and going to a casino.

“You’ve really never been?”

“No!” Layla’s eyes were like a kid gone wild in a toy or candy store while they were in Vegas, and that made Lucas forget everything he’d ever hated, every horror that he’d ever experienced—all because of her.

“Have you had a good time?” she asked, running a finger across his bare chest. Of course they couldn’t be in the hotel room and not be intimate. Every waking moment was spent connected in ecstasy or holding each other.

“I have,” Lucas said, stroking her shoulder. “I wouldn’t want to be here with anyone else but you.”

He needed to shut up. So many times he’d caught himself saying things that Layla would take the wrong way. This couldn’t go on forever.

“Thinking about how horrible you are?”

“You know me so well.”

“Stop thinking about how much of an asshole you ~aren’t~ to me and just enjoy us while we have us to enjoy.”

“Is that an order?”

“It is. I’m going to give you the bluest balls in the world if you keep testing me, Lucas.”

“I love it when you get feisty with me.” Lucas tickled her underneath the blankets, and he thought it was absolutely adorable when she laugh-snorted.

“I could stay here forever,” Layla said happily.

Lucas wanted that too, but he couldn’t say it. He couldn’t get her hopes up for a future with him.

“You ready for that plane ride?”

She groaned. “No…”

“Cab should be here soon. Good thing we packed last night because we’ve fucked all day.”

Layla scoffed. “We took breaks!”

“Yeah, but my cock is going to fall off. Not complaining though.”

“Don’t let it fall off inside me!” Layla said, heading to the bathroom.

Lucas watched as she sashayed away. He was so much bigger than Layla, but he was so much bigger than most people. She took him like a trooper where others couldn’t stand him.

Even Shawna hadn’t wanted him. Not that they had wanted each other that way. It was pure sex for them, but they’d discussed it one night and Shawna had laughed in his face, saying he was too much for her to handle.

Shawna was five feet eight and built, Layla was maybe five feet four and a curvy little thing. She took him like a champ.

“Earth to Lucas…” Layla giggled as she straddled him.

“Sorry, just thinking about getting home and going back to reality.”

“Ugh, I know. I have dinner with the girls this coming Friday. Someone might have mentioned you have a guys’ night?”

“Shawna told you?” Lucas laughed. “Yes. I took the night off from the club to hang with the boys.”

“Well, don’t forget me.”

Lucas studied her face. There’d be no way he’d forget her, no matter where life took them.

Heath texted Lucas to let him know they were still keeping an eye on them. Men would be set up at DFW, and a car would follow them home.

Lucas was grateful, especially with Layla knowing absolutely nothing.

The plane ride and car ride home were uneventful. The car followed them up until they made it out of Dallas, and then another car took over up until Lucas turned onto their road.

Layla had nodded off, but woke up right after Lucas pulled into the garage.

“Can I stay tonight?”

“You can stay every night, Little Hippie.”

***

“Oh, girl! You need to give us all the details of Vegas!” Gretchen said as she got another tequila shot.

Shawna, Devon, Sylvia, Gretchen, Wanda, Shelly, and Layla were having their much-needed girls’ night out while Lucas, Heath, Lyle, Tim, Billy, Ron, and Jefferson were shooting pool at a local bar.

“But my mom…”

Shelly giggled. “Honey, I know what you’re doing with Lucas Foster. Just write it down for the girls because this mama doesn’t need details out loud.”

Layla blushed as the others laughed, but not at her expense. They loved Layla—even Sylvia, who’d let Lauren go as a friend months before.

“She’s a bitch. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when that happened,” Sylvia had told Layla a month or so before Vegas. “She stopped hanging out with me when I started working at a donut shop. Said it was below her.”

Layla was happy that Sylvia came to her. To the little hippie, everyone could be redeemed and deserved a second chance.

“To us!” Shawna lifted her glass, as did the others. Layla had a small margarita and was nursing it like she wouldn’t get another.

“To having our brains fucked out by men like Lucas Foster!” Gretchen exclaimed to deliberately get a rile out of Layla and her mother.

“Oh my goodness…” Layla buried her face in her hands.

The night went well for the women as well as the men.

***

“How long are you going to protect her?” Heath asked as he and Lucas sat at a booth, waiting for a pool table to open.

“Forever if I have to.”

“You love her?”

“What the fuck? No.”

“Lucas…”

“Heath.”

“It’s all right to fall in love, man.”

Lucas shook his head. “No, it isn’t.”

Heath glared at him. “I’ve known you for over twenty years, asshole, you don’t think I see the way you look at her? The way she looks at you?”

“I like fucking her.”

Billy strolled over, cutting into the conversation. “Yeah, yeah, of course you do, but she’s different. She’s more than a piece of ass to you, Foster.”

“Y’all are fucking idiots,” Lucas growled, chugging his beer.

“She’s good for you, Foster,” Tim said. “Fucking risked her life twice jumping in that ring for you.”

“Swear to God I thought y’all were getting married when we busted ya at the chapel.” Heath laughed. “’Bout gave me a damn heart attack.”

“She’s nice.” Lucas shrugged.

“Don’t do that,” Lyle said, shaking his head. “Don’t say ‘she’s nice’ and then daydream about her while we’re fucking talking to you.”

Jefferson pulled a chair over. “Yeah, y’all are like fucking teenage lovers when she comes into the store. I gotta wipe down the counters afterwards.”

“Fuck y’all.” Lucas grinned. “We’re nothing. Nada. No. Nope.” He motioned for another round of beer. “Rack ’em. I wanna play a damn pool game.”

Of course, they were right. His little hippie was ~always~ on his mind.

***

“Are you coming home or to Lucas’s?” Shelly asked her daughter as they finished off the dessert.

“Home,” Layla said. “I have a lot of studying to do for finals.”

“Can’t get it done around your man, right?” Gretchen giggled. “You two are meant for each other.”

Layla sighed. “Lucas just needs to get a dog. He’ll be fine without me.”

Silence. The women stared at her like her head was spinning.

“Honey, y’all can’t hide your feelings from us,” Shawna said as Devon agreed.

“I’ve never seen Lucas so happy.”

“Hell, he even leaves his gate open now and took down those gaudy No Trespassing signs,” Gretchen recalled.

“I’m his sponsor. He’s doing well.”

Shelly rubbed her daughter’s arm softly and reassuringly. “Loving him is okay, darlin’.”

Layla threw her hands up, exasperated. “I don’t love him! We’re having a good time, that’s all.”

Wanda smiled at her friend. “Whatever you say, girl. Just stop blushing every time we mention his name.”

Of course, that brought on the blushing and more teasing.

“Y’all are silly.” Layla brushed them off.

Her feelings for Lucas were changing, and she didn’t dare mention it to them. She couldn’t let her heart slip up like that.

“Everyone’s got a cab called? No one’s leaving until we’re safe inside a car,” Gretchen said.

“Yes, ma’am!” Wanda smiled, saluting.

Sylvia stood close to Layla. They had been chatting for quite some time about this and that, but Sylvia couldn’t wait any longer.

“I didn’t want to ruin the evening, Layla, but I have to tell you something.” Her voice cracked as a tear slipped down her cheek.

Layla knew it was the alcohol making her friend more talkative.

Shelly came over to the girls, her expression somber. She stepped away when Layla motioned for her to give them space.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Layla asked Sylvia as the others kept their distance.

“I can’t trust any of you, not with what’s been going on with you, Layla, but I have no one else to turn to. Promise me you won’t tell anyone. Please?!”

Layla frowned. “I don’t know what you’re going to tell me, so how can I promise?”

Sylvia was shaking and sobbing as she fell into Layla’s arms. “What if they come after me?”

“Who? Who’s coming after you?”

“Layla, when I was little, they took me to that place.”

Layla straightened up. Her body tensed and she narrowed her eyes. “What place?”

“The place in the woods.”