I nod and pull up the GPS on his phone before typing my address in the search bar. Once it’s directing us, I hand the phone back to him. He glances over at me with a grin.
“Thanks.”
I nod, peeking over at the speedometer. “You can go faster, you know.”
He glances over at me. “You sure? I didn’t want to hit a bump and hurt you.”
“I think that’s something I’m just going to have to deal with. Besides, I’d like to get home sometime this week.”
“Okay,” he says but he doesn’t sound convinced. He speeds up a little and turns to me again. “You want to listen to music?”
I nod. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
“Any preference?”
“Country,” I reply and smile when he fights the urge to wrinkle his nose. He doesn’t like it but he turns on the country station anyway and The Shake by Neal McCoy fills the cab. When he glances over at me, I smile.
“Thank you.”
“Sure.” He nods. “But let’s just keep this our little secret.”
I pretend to lock my lips and throw away the key. “My lips are sealed.”
“Thank God. I don’t think the club would let me live it down if they heard me listening to country music.”
I scowl. “The club?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m a member of the Bayou Devils,” he replies, glancing nervously at me and I flash him a reassuring smile. I’ve heard of the club before and I know they still fight against their old reputation in this town but I know differently.
“I’ve heard of you guys. You actually helped one of my brides a few years back.”
He glances over at me, his brow furrowed. “Huh?”
“I just planned a wedding for a woman who y’all helped escape her abusive ex about four years back.”
“No kidding?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Her name is Lucy Wilson and all she could talk about during the planning process was how she wouldn’t even be here without y’all. Now, she’s married to her soul mate and they have a baby on the way.”
“Oh, yeah. I remember her. That’s amazing,” he says with a grin so genuine I have no choice but mimic the expression. “I’ll have to fill the guys in when I get back to the clubhouse. They’re going to love it.”
“I was so inspired when she told me about you guys. It’s really incredible what you’re doing.”
He shakes his head. “Naw, we’re just doing what we can.”
“And still so humble about it. How did you find yourself in the hero role?”
Laughing, he pulls into my driveway. “Well, that is a long, complicated story that I’ll have to save for another time.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” I tell him and he smiles. Reaching down at my side, I release the seat belt and reach for the door, already wincing. I can’t wait to slide into my bathtub and melt these aches away.
“Hey, let me help you,” he commands and jumps out of the truck before I can object. After jogging around the front of the truck, he opens my door and gently lifts me out of the seat before setting me back down on the ground. He grabs my bag and shuts the door before grabbing my hand and helping me up the front walk.
“I’m like a damn cripple,” I grumble and he gives my hand a squeeze.
“Yeah, well, you got hit by a truck, remember?”
I shiver as the image of the truck’s grill filling my window pops into my mind. “Believe me, I remember.”
The front door opens and Alice steps out onto the front porch with Brooklyn in her arms as she studies Lucas. She meets my gaze and relaxes when I flash her a smile.
“Look who’s here, Brookie,” she calls and Brooklyn squeals, clapping her hands in front of her.
“Mama!”
“Someone missed you,” Lucas says and I nod, my heart swelling at the sight of my little girl.
“I missed her, too.”
When we get up the steps, I collapse into the swing and Alice hands Brooklyn over to me. I immediately kiss her forehead and hold her close, a sense of peace flowing through me now that she’s back in my arms.
“Who are you?” Alice asks and I gasp, my head snapping up.
“Alice!”
Lucas laughs, holding his hands up. “No, it’s okay. I’m Lucas. I was there when Quinn got in her accident yesterday.”
“And why are you here today?” she asks.
“Oh my god, enough with the third degree. Alice, this is Lucas. Lucas, this is Alice, my baby sister.”
She studies him for another moment before nodding. “Hurt my sister and I’ll bury you in parts in the back garden.”
“Jesus Christ, Alice!” I hiss as Lucas laughs, nodding his head.
“Noted.”
She turns to me. “Do you need help getting up to your room?”
“I might be stuck on the couch for a few days,” I admit. Just thinking about going up all those stairs is wiping me out. Alice takes Brooklyn from my arms and I slowly push myself off of the swing.
“I could carry you,” Lucas suggests and I turn to him, unsure, but the thought of lying in my comfy bed wins out and I nod.
“Okay.”
He leans down and scoops me up like I weigh nothing and it does crazy things to my insides. God, this little crush is turning into a big crush rather quickly.
Not good, Quinn.
Not good at all.
I wrap my arms around his neck and he follows Alice into the house as she points to the stairs. “Her room is up there. I just need to feed Brooklyn real quick.”
Lucas turns toward the stairs with me in his arms and our eyes meet, our faces only inches away from each other.
“I’m still not sure why you’re being so nice to me but thank you for everything you’ve done these past two days. I really do appreciate it.”
He smiles and I just want to melt in his arms. “You’re welcome, Quinn.”
When we reach the top of the stairs, I pat his chest. “Okay, you can put me down now.”
Nodding, he sets me down and grabs my hand again, helping me hobble along as we walk toward my bedroom. His hand feels so warm and strong in mine and for some reason it makes me feel safe in a way I haven’t felt in almost two years. As soon as he lets go, he’ll take that feeling with him and it’s killing me to let it go. He makes me feel like the woman I was before everything fell apart and it’s a little alarming how quickly I’m getting used to the feeling. What do I do when he leaves? How do I go back to this broken shell I’ve been lately?
Once in my bedroom, he helps me climb into bed and I pull the blankets up around me, sighing as my body relaxes back into the mattress.
“Can I see your phone?” he asks and I point to the bag he set on the floor next to the bed.
“In there.”
Closing my eyes, I start to nod off when he places the phone in my hand. I open my eyes and meet his intense, enchanting gaze. “You have my number now and I want you to call me if you need absolutely anything, okay?”
“You’ve already done so much for me,” I protest and he shakes his head.
“I’m serious. Call if you need anything and I’ll be here.”