Chapter Fourteen
Luke bristled as he spied Coss across the ambulance garage.
The older medic had his second interview for the director position today, unfortunately, before Luke had his at noon. This was it, the final round before the city decided on one of them to step into the director’s job. In a week or so, he’d know if all his hard work was going to pay off.
He crushed a paper coffee cup in his palm and tossed it into the garbage can. There weren’t a lot of advancement opportunities in this job. Director was about as high as he could go. It would feed him professionally, giving him that huge pat on the back for busting his ass so hard these past years. But it would also do so much more.
Greer.
Damn her.
Having her ride along with him to deliver the parts had been amazing. Looking over and seeing her there, listening to her crack stupid jokes, being able to reach over and touch her… She belonged in the passenger seat of his old truck. It had been like old times—hanging out together, just being together. And he couldn’t help but think, the same way he did when they were younger, that she belonged in the front seat of his life.
Like always. Like it was supposed to be.
Except that she’d said she didn’t need him anymore.
Fucking Coss, interrupting them when he was so close to telling her… Telling her what? That he wanted her? That he wanted to make things between them more permanent? He ran a hand through his hair and cursed himself.
She might not be the pampered princess she was years ago. She did a good job of standing on her own feet. But she still deserved the best, and he couldn’t support her the way he should on a medic’s salary. But if he got director, he might have a shot with her.
Coss was dead set on beating him out of the job, one way or another. He’d probably make good on his threat and say something about Luke’s relationship with Greer. They’d crossed the line, yeah. It was stupid, and he knew better, of course. But he couldn’t seem to keep his damn hands off her luscious body. He couldn’t stay away from the drug of her laugh or the scent of her skin.
He wanted more. Fuck it, he did. He wanted more. For now, he was going to play the good friend, like he always had. She’d asked him to attend Eugene’s funeral on Saturday morning, and he’d agreed because that’s what friends did. Even though a bigger need was brewing in his mind.
A car door shut outside the open ambulance doors, the sound followed by the click of something on the pavement. The clicking grew louder as someone entered the garage. The huge garage doors were open to welcome the nice weather, and it wasn’t uncommon for community members—kids mostly—to stop in and ask to see the fire trucks.
A wave of heavy perfume knocked him square in the nose. This wasn’t a kid. Damn! He groaned and headed that way. He’d know that scent anywhere.
Marvelene Worth stood like a perfect statute just inside the bay. Her arms were pulled into her body as if she was afraid something might touch the sleeve of her burgundy tweed suit. It didn’t matter that his ambulance bays were sparkling clean. Leave it to Marvelene to act like she’d contract genital herpes just from walking in.
“Mrs. Worth,” Luke greeted her lightly.
She smiled tightly and waved her fingers at him. “Lucas! How nice. Where might I find my daughter?”
Good question. He hadn’t seen her all morning.
“I’m not sure. If you’d like to come in for some coffee, I’ll find her.”
“No, no. That’s all right.” She lifted her chin as if the thought of walking through the garage disgusted her. “Perhaps you could give her a message, since she’s ignoring mine.”
He held back a grin. Greer had ignoring her mother down to an art. And it never failed that she’d turn to him to flush her daughter out. Marvelene crossed her hands in front of her and looked at him expectantly. Was he supposed to whip out paper and a pen and take notes?
“Why don’t you let me find her for you, and you can tell her personally.”
The older woman cocked her head. Her light-blond hair was pulled into a poufy thing on her head, not a strand out of place. Her skin was still flawless and perfectly made up. Through the years, Greer’s mom had barely aged. She looked so much like her daughter. Money and good genetics. What more could a girl ask for?
“Let’s be speedy, then. I have court in an hour.”
He didn’t bother asking again if she wanted to come in. She could stand there in all her snooty glory, for all he cared.
“I didn’t know Greer had a younger sister.”
Coss sauntered over with a weird smile on his face and extended a hand as he reached Marvelene. If he thought charm was going to work on this woman, he’d quickly learn otherwise.
“She doesn’t,” Marvelene replied flatly.
“I’m Coss, your daughter’s partner.” He stood there like an idiot, hand still outstretched even though she made no move to accept it.
Finally, she touched the tips of three fingers quickly to his, made a fast shake, and withdrew.
“Are you responsible for my daughter sticking it out in this place, or is he?” She looked between them with her standard displeased frown. Coss took a slight step back.
“Pardon?”
“Well, someone is convincing her to keep up this…this job. I’m assuming she’s getting encouragement from somewhere.”
As much as he didn’t want to leave Coss alone with Marvelene—or hell, maybe he did—he needed to find Greer so she could save them both. Luke quietly excused himself as Marvelene began firing questions at Coss.
“Hurry, Lucas!” she called out.
He rolled his eyes and headed downstairs. Greer liked to hide out in the damn tiny dark laundry room for some reason. It had been great for a quickie, sure, but it was too depressing to spend much time in. Sure enough, he found her leaning over the quiet dryer, her forearm resting on top as she drew something.
Not wanting to startle her, he rapped his knuckles on the doorframe. It took her a second to drag her gaze his way. She looked dazed, as if she’d been completely immersed in what she was doing. He felt a pang of regret over how their conversation had ended yesterday.
God, he’d felt that same regret a million times since he’d left her outside of her apartment.
The softness of her expression ripped at his heart. She was so fucking beautiful.
“I’m really sorry to ruin your day, but your mom is here.”
Her brow fell before she looked up in exasperation. “Seriously?
“It’s not all bad. She was giving Coss an earful when I left.” He thought the quip would make her smile. Instead her expression grew serious. She set the pencil down.
“I’m sorry about what I said last night. I didn’t mean it the way it came out.”
His entire body softened. God, he wanted to pull her close and kiss the hell out of her.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
She slowly folded up the paper she’d been drawing on. “I don’t want to transfer to 115. You didn’t say anything to Cane or Chief, did you?”
He shook his head. Speaking for her directly was never his intention, even though he’d come across too aggressive about it. Though he was uncomfortable with her staying with Coss, the choice was hers.
As much as he wanted to stay and clear things up with her, Marvelene’s presence upstairs was pressing on him. “We’d better get to your mom before she brings the place down.”
They didn’t talk as they walked to the garage, but he felt her beside him the entire way. It took all his will not to slip his arm around her back and pull her to him.
Her mouth tightened when she spotted her mother. Coss gave Greer a cursory look before slinking away. Luke was about to do the same when soft fingers slid around his wrist and gave him a tug.
Stay.
“Mom, what are you doing here?”
Marvelene swept her daughter with a look and pursed her lips. “Well, Greer, my party is Saturday, and you’ve yet to respond about what you’ll be wearing. I sent you several choices by text. Did you receive them?”
“I did.”
Marvelene spread her hands. “And?”
“I’ll choose something for myself, Mom. Don’t worry.”
Her mother shook her head and put up a finger. “No, not without my approval. You know I’m going for a pastel theme, and I’ve requested—”
“Mom, I need to get back to work.”
Her words fell on deaf ears. Marvelene took out her cell phone and flipped to images. A pink dress popped up on the screen. Luke cringed, raring to crack a joke about Greer looking like a Peep candy in that thing. The defeated lines around her mouth made the words die in his mouth.
“I’ve chosen this. Size six.” Marvelene appraised her daughter’s form. “You do still fit in a six, correct? Or are you an eight now?”
She didn’t wait for Greer to respond. Instead, she turned her attention to Luke. She cleared her throat and seemed to swallow down a distasteful frown before the corners of her mouth turned up hesitantly.
“I’ve invited your parents, Lucas. Please remind them the theme is pastel. What will you be wearing?”
Holy fuck, what did she just say? His parents had been neighbors with the Worth’s for nearly thirty years and never once had Marvelene invited them to any of her events.
“You invited my parents?” he asked in disbelief. “Do they know they were invited?”
“They know. What a silly thing to say.” She waved a finger at him. “Be sure to match my daughter. Pink, then.”
Wait… Who the hell said he was going to this thing? He felt Greer’s stare before he turned his head to look at her. Her expression was unreadable, but he figured inside she was seething and slowly dying a little—normal byproducts of a Marvelene conversation.
“Why did you invite my parents?”
What the hell was she up to? He’d secretly observed his mother peering out the living room window, watching the expensive cars pull into the Worth’s gated drive. She’d stand on the tiptoes of her Walmart shoes, as if she could get close enough to see what the guests were wearing as they exited their sixty-thousand-dollar SUVs.
Marvelene looked taken aback. “I—really, Lucas, don’t be rude.”
She whipped Greer a look. “I have court. Call me tonight at seven. Exactly at seven. I’ll be waiting.”
Marvelene clicked off with a wave.
Luke crossed his arms and turned to his friend. Her face was pale. “Hey, you okay?”
God, he hated that her mom still affected her like this. He never would have survived growing up with that woman. The sporadic interactions he’d had with her over the years did enough damage. She loved to remind him he’d never be worthy of her daughter.
She huffed a little laugh and tried to smile. “I need a nap after that. Why do I always feel like I’ve been run over by a truck?”
“She’s up to something.” The words tumbled out of his mouth. In what lifetime would Marvelene invite his lowly parents to her soiree?
“No, she’s just being her normal, aggravating self. Don’t worry, I don’t expect you to wear pink.”
She giggled, and he was glad to see the light return to her smile. He hated how Marvelene drained Greer. Why couldn’t he just shield her from all the bullshit lately? He was her friend, her fucking lover, yet he was doing little to keep that sparkle and glow in her eyes.
Dispatch tones cut through the room. The radio clipped to Luke’s belt began to vibrate as the dispatcher’s voice called his ambulance to a car accident. With luck, it would be a minor accident so he wasn’t late for his interview.
“Be safe,” she said. He turned to go, knowing deep in his bones that he’d never be safe.
Not from Greer.