Her Heart's Desire (Sunflower Series Book 1) by Linda Joyce

Author:Linda Joyce [Joyce, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Word Works Press
Published: 2015-08-17T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Lucas grabbed for his jeans when he heard sounds echoing in the hallway. He managed the zipper and buttoned up as Karen slid the studio’s door slightly open.

“I’ll take Jack,” Lucas said to her, leaning in the doorway, trying to appear casual, as though Karen was used to seeing a half-dressed man in the studio. He reached for Jack’s leash. “I’m going to stay here with Amelia tonight,” he whispered. “Anything you must have out of here before you can leave?” He hoped she took the less than subtle hint. The last thing he wanted was for Amelia to wake and awkwardness over his presence to fill the room and mar the evening he had planned.

With eyes wide as saucers, Karen shook her head and stared at his bare chest. He crossed his arms to cover himself from the woman’s intense scrutiny.

“Nope. Not a thing.” She winked. “Glad you’re here.” She turned and sauntered down the hallway toward the elevator. A few steps away, she turned back. “Lucky Lia.” She whistled low.

Lucas slowly slid the door closed, but only halfway. He winced at the squeak and vowed to bring WD-40 from his truck to silence the noise. Pulling a blanket from the antique armoire in the far corner of the large space, Lucas covered Lia as she dozed. Jack jumped on the chaise and settled next to her. “Good boy.” Lucas praised the dog. “Stay with her. I’ll be right back.” Jack rested his head on Lia’s side as though he understood every word spoken to him.

Grabbing his cell and his boots, Lucas turned sideways to exit the studio through the narrow opening, then slid the door closed the rest of the way, hoping for a silent escape. Every sound from the building—the elevator, doors closing, and people chatting—echoed in the hallways ricocheted from every hard surface. The noises reverberated in his ears, ratcheting up the tension mounting in his chest. And the last thing he needed was for Craig to call Amelia and wake her up.

Lucas tucked his cell phone in his front pocket, backed to the hall’s brick for balance, then bent to pull on his boots. Before he finished with the second one, his cell phone vibrated. He shot to standing, scraping his heel as he crammed his foot all the way into his boot. Pulling out the phone, he said, “Give me a few minutes. Let me call you back.”

“Sure. But only five,” Craig said.

Lucas ended the call. He walked on the balls of his feet to keep his boot heels from clunking against the concrete floor. “How do women walk in high heels?” he muttered.

Thirty steps later, he reached the elevator, feet cramping, but at least Amelia hadn’t woken.

Once outside, Lucas let go of a deep breath. It was one thing to have a poker face, but quite another to have a poker voice. With Craig worried about Amelia, rightly so after the events of the day, Lucas considered the best way to express his feelings for Amelia to her brother.

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