“I think it’s bedtime.”
Lucas meets my gaze and I practically melt on the spot. “I think you’re right.”
He gathers up the sparklers and puts them back in the bag before carrying Brooklyn up to the porch. She’s on her way to passing out and when I try to take her, he shakes his head.
“I’ve got her. Just lead the way.”
Nodding, I turn toward the house and walk into the foyer before pointing up the stairs. “Her room is right next to mine. I’d show you but I’m only making it up there once tonight.”
“Go relax on the couch, babe. I think we’ve got this handled,” he assures me, rubbing his hand across Brooklyn’s back as she sucks her thumb and sleepily looks at me. I nod with a smile on my face.
“Okay.”
He hands me the bag of food before turning toward the stairs. When they disappear from my sight, I turn toward the living room and pull my phone out of my pocket, opening the app that connects to the baby monitors in Brooklyn’s room. Lucas sits in the rocking chair in the corner of the room with Brooke lying on his chest, her thumb securely in her mouth as he begins rocking and telling her a story about a one-eyed dragon and a princess. He gets more animated as the story continues and a wide smile stretches across my face as Brooklyn giggles, her eyes getting heavy. After a few more minutes, the story comes to an end and Lucas stands carefully with a sleepy Brooklyn in his arms and gently lays her in her bed. He grabs her blanket and covers her before leaving the room. I tuck my phone back in my pocket as he comes down the steps.
“She’s out like a light,” he announces with a bright smile and I can’t help but mirror the expression. The stress from earlier is gone and he looks so carefree and happy. It’s infectious.
“Thank you. You’re so good with her.”
His warm smile washes over me as he sits down next to me. “No need to thank me and I’m only good with kids because I’m incredibly immature.”
He flashes me a grin but it’s obvious, to me at least, that it’s covering up something deeper. As he leans forward to pull the food out of the bag, something flashes across his face and that same stressed look greets me when he hands me my food and forces a smile. I’m dying to ask him about what’s wrong but the truth is, we still don’t know each other all that well and I don’t want to pry.
“You got anything to drink?” he asks and I nod, pointing to the kitchen behind me.
“Yeah, you’re welcome to anything you’d like.”
He leaves me on the couch to go to the kitchen and when he comes back, he has two bottles of water in his hands.
“I was gonna go for the wine but then I thought it wouldn’t mix well with your meds.”
I nod, taking the bottle from him. “You’re probably right.”
“Speaking of which,” he starts, sinking back into the seat next to me. “Didn’t the doctor tell you to stay your ass in bed?”
“Um… yes?”
“So why aren’t you?”
Glancing down at my hands, I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks. Why do I care if he’s upset that I didn’t listen to the doctor? “I really tried but after a few hours I was bored to tears.”
“Woman,” he mutters, shaking his head. “I have half a mind to carry you back up there right now. Are you at least taking it easy?”
“I promise I am.”
He nods with a sigh.
“You really don’t have to keep taking care of me though.”
He glances over at me and his eyes fall to my lips before he quickly looks away. “I couldn’t walk away from you. Besides, you’re not the hardest person to spend time with.”
“Well, thank you for that glowing recommendation.” I laugh and he grins. “You’re a good man, Lucas. I… just wanted you to know that.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” he says and although I know he is trying to make a joke, the pain on his face is too intense to ignore. Leaning forward, I reach up and run my thumb across the line on his forehead.
“Why do you always look like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s just my face.”
“It’s not.”
He jerks back slightly as his eyes narrow and after a second, he sighs. “I’ve got a lot of shit in my life, Quinn, and the truth is, you’re the only thing I’ve found that brings me any peace.”
“You don’t have to talk to me,” I whisper even though I’m dying to dig deeper. “But I am a pretty good listener and I don’t judge.”
Setting his food on the coffee table, he sighs and turns to face me on the couch. “It’s… uh, my brother, Clay. He’s been using drugs for the last six years and if I’m not on a job for the club, I’m out searching for him and trying to get him clean.”
“That’s heavy,” I whisper, watching as pain splays across his face. He nods.
“Yeah. I know it may seem pointless or stupid to keep trying when he doesn’t even want my help but he’s my brother and since we were kids, it’s just been the two of us. He’s all I have left.”
I grab his hand and give it a squeeze. “You don’t have to explain that to me. Alice is all Brooklyn and I have left, too, and I would do absolutely anything for her.”
“You understand,” he says like I’m the first to ever do so and I nod.
“Yeah, I do.”
Clearing his throat, he smiles and my heart skips a beat. It’s terrifying but I have to admit that there is something about Lucas that gets to me. It would be so easy to fall for him if I allowed myself to but I don’t know if that’s something I could do.
“I’m really glad I met you, Lucas,” I whisper, my heart racing and his smile is blinding as he reaches over and brushes his thumb over my cheek. A blush creeps up my own.
“You just read my mind, babe.”
* * * *
“Well, Quinn, car accident aside, you seem to be doing well. Have there been any more nightmares since we last spoke?” Dr. Jeffers asks from her chair across from me. She crosses her legs and sets her notebook down in her lap as she waits for my answer. I nod.
“Yes, a few.”
“And how did you handle them?”
I think back to the last nightmare I had and smile. “Pretty well, I think. I was able to let it go and get my day started without too much trouble.”
“Excellent!” she exclaims with a grin before her eyes narrow as she studies me. “There’s something different about you since I saw you two weeks ago.”
I twist my fingers in my lap, thinking about dinner with Lucas last night and the movie we watched together afterward. “I met someone.”
“I see. More good news. How did you meet him?”
“He was there when I got in the accident and he sat with Brooklyn and I until the paramedics got there. He even rode with me to the hospital because I was so scared.”
Her smile is soft as she jots something down in her notebook. Not knowing what she was saying used to drive me crazy but I’ve gotten used to it, for the most part. “Has he asked you out or are you just talking?”