Loving Lucas by Violetta Rand

Author:Violetta Rand
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept

Heart-wrenching. Karlie looked so helpless standing in the kitchen once she realized I was there. I pull the covers back and slide into bed. I gaze at the empty space to my right, already missing her tiny body. I need to be more diligent—convert her from a doubter to a woman willing to fully engage a man like me. I’ve dealt with emotional baggage before, especially with my ex-wife, and now I have a closet full of my own. But Willow doesn’t have a fragile heart like Karlie. My ex was cold, as bitter as salt.

I scratch my head, then roll onto my side, staring at the clock. I’d prefer to snuggle up with her on the couch and watch a movie or take a swim. This on-edge shit doesn’t work for me. I like everything to be out in the open, all doubts and expectations given equal priority. Departmental regulations require all officers to seek professional counseling when there’s a life-changing event, defined as marriage, divorce, birth, or death. Add any significant incident in the field, whether a physical altercation or a shooting, and most officers are prepared to deal with life.

Just as my eyes start to close, my phone rings. I sigh, then pick up.

“Lucas?”

I’m speechless; it’s Willow. “Everything all right?” I immediately sit up. “Is Alex asleep?”

“He’s fine—I just . . .”

“What is it?” This is a first. Of course she couldn’t pick a worse time to call. My mind is saturated with Karlie. “Tell me, Willow.”

“I miss you.”

Silence. I suck in a deep breath, pissed off at what she said. “Where’s Paul?”

“Out-of-town business trip.”

“You don’t miss me, Willow; you’re lonely.” My ex always needed to be the center of the universe. Sometimes she even got jealous of our dog. I caught her telling our son to put on a dog costume so I’d pay more attention to him. “Hang up and go to bed.”

“Everything is always so black and white with you, Lucas.”

“After living with you,” I retort, “there’s little gray left in this world.”

She sighs, my words obviously resonating. “I admit I was selfish and difficult at times.”

“At times?” I repeat, laughing. She never gave me a chance to win her heart back after she announced she was leaving. That’s how Willow operated throughout our marriage, even when we were dating in high school. If she got mad, she left, regardless of where we were or who was in attendance. It made me a different man, and I’ll never accept that kind of behavior from another woman again.

“Plenty of times,” she clarifies.

“Glad you have the courage to finally admit it,” I say. “I’m hanging up now.”

If my ex-wife had called two months ago, I might have considered entertaining her, acting as her psychologist. But now, after sampling how pleasant life could be with a woman like Karlie, I’m finished dealing with Willow unless it concerns our son. I punch my pillow, then settle back down, wondering why she called. The goddamn world has a cruel way of fucking with a man’s head and heart.

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