Lady Luck (Lucky You Book 2 1) (6 page)

She’s a life raft. I didn’t know I needed until I was sinking faster than I could swim. My house. Well I would only call it dwelling place, a shell, before Addie stepped in to help me. It’s now headed towards a wholesome home. The only part I see missing now is her.

Because of my shit hole, I’ve been hanging out at Jax’s house more and more when I know he will be home. Nothing comes to furniture and clean running water, I don’t have those amenities at my place and hanging out there couldn’t ever work. At least not until its complete.

    "Let's finish this match between the Cowboys and Packers. Your team is going down." I tell Jax.

    "Your cowgirls aren’t looking so hot, not with that defensive line up. I'm going to pound your offense."

    "Not with Clay Matthews, isn’t he still on the injured list." I get defensive about my favorite team and my favorite players.

    "Rub it in why don’t you. I have still Rogers, the best QB in the NFL. I'm not worried."

    "Hey guys, in ten minutes I need you to check on the twins. I need to grab a shower." Jessa tells us.

    "No problem babe, I've got the baby monitor right here." Jax points to the walkie-talkie looking thing in front of us.

    Our game got interesting in the 3rd quarter. The score is 28-3 the Packers, when the baby monitor goes off.

    "Sorry, Jere duty calls, we can finish this up later."

    "Hey boys, what's up?"

    Addie enters the room just as Jax is making his exit.

    "Nothing much, we were playing a few rounds of Madden, but someone needs a diaper change so he was just leaving." I tell her.

    "I'll play for you Jax.” She says.

    "Go right ahead, I'll probably still end up beating you." I smirk back at her, with a wink.

“How many times have I fooled you Jere? Don’t be surprised when I whoop your ass.”

“Whoop my ass with the Cowboys? Uh I don’t think so.”

“I have all sorts of distractions to make you lose.”

“Oh I bet you do.” Wow, is she flirting with me, or is it just me who is seeing Addie in this playful state? I could only hope she’s this way on our date tomorrow.

To my surprise she was able to score a few touchdowns, but unfortunately couldn’t beat me after all.

“You played a great game, you surprised by how well you could play, and we should hang out together more often. I like playing video games with you.”

“I’d like that, my brother is busy with adult and parenthood to worry about fitting time in for playing games with his little sister, anyway.”

“I loved playing with my sister growing up too. Come over anytime next week, we can have a tournament match showdown against our favorite teams. Order pizza and drink lots of beer.”

“Okay, we’ll I must be getting home now. My puppies need to be let out. And it’s my turn to make dinner tonight.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow Lady Luck.”

“Bye Jere.” She says as she’s walking out the door. Damn I hate it when she turns away from me. It’s really starting to get to me. I’ve got to find a way to fight this feeling off, its much too soon to be feeling this way about someone I hardly know.

CHAPTER 7

Addie

Tonight I’m gifting Jeremiah a date. Simply because I know we’d have a great time.

We have this weird chemistry. We love and hate each other. He gets on my nerves sometimes but he’s growing on me. He can be so sweet too. And at times I catch him staring at me. I’ve never felt this weird burning to my skin. Boys have never given me a second look before, most of the time I felt invisible to their eyes. I was okay with that growing up and I’ve been okay living without someone to look at me the way Jax looks at Jessa.

I’ve never been in a relationship, never been kissed, never had sex before. I’m a blank canvas, except for my run in with Adam and his friend last summer, even though nothing happened, or at least I can’t remember any of it. I’m a newbie through it all. I don’t have any expectations. We may just be better off friends.

My desire for him is growing though. I feel tingles in my belly, wetness in my panties, and when he smiles at me, I feel like my clothes will melt off. I’m not sure how much more I can take.

And then I wonder how I’m going to steer myself through my first official date. I asked Jessa to pick out my clothes, a dress as he requested and she helped me with my makeup and hair. I can only imagine what Jax has to say when he sees me come out of this room. And as it is, Jeremiah will be here any minute.

    “My nerves are shot. I’m not sure if I’m cut out for this. I’ve never done this before”

    “Stop fidgeting, you’ll be okay. Its just dinner and dancing.” Jessa tries to calm me down.

   “I know. But I’ve never done this before. What if we don’t have anything to talk about? What if this becomes awkward for us all?”

    “Don’t worry. It’ll work out. Y’all have some kind of crazy zing in the air when y’all around each other. We all see it, you just have to feel it, embrace it, and hope that it never fades away.”

   “So I’m not blind to way he looks at me?”

    “No we all see it too.”

    “I’m just not sure what it means. He says he’s broken; he’s damaged and doesn’t want to bring me down with him. But the way I feel for him, when he’s stuck on me, I feel this burning in my skin, this yearning for something I don’t understand.”

    “He has had a rough year too. You both have under gone lasting scars. Give him time to open up his heart to you, and you work on opening your doors too. It’s not a
one way street. Any type of relationship involves patience, understanding and trust.”

   “ I know I won the bet and offered him the prize that he lost, but I’m not so sure I can do this Jessa. I’ve never been on a date. What if I sink faster than I can swim?”

    “Stop you’re torturing yourself. Think of this as a date with Ryan or Jax. You’re going out to have a great time. So enjoy it.” The doorbell rings, interrupting my melt down.

“That’s your cue Addie. Go show him how the country girls have a good time.”

“Are you sure I can do this?”

“Addie, you’ll never know until you try.”

Luckily Jax is tending to the twins and I forgo the protective words only a brother can give. Thank God, I would’ve been more embarrassed if he had been here to ask a thousand questions. I open the door, just as he is knocking.

    “Sorry to keep you waiting. I’m
gonna be honest and say, this is my first date ever with someone other than family. I’m nervous and I hope we have a great time.”

    “You’re nervous? You should feel my forehead and neck. I’m sweating bullets. I’ve only picked up one girl for a date, and she was my best friend since kindergarten. But I can guarantee we will have a blast tonight. Shall we?”

He holds out his hand for me to take. Glancing back at Jessa, I smile and turn back to the man who makes my skin tingle and burn, with just that sexy smile. Oh my God my panties are soaked!

He leads me to the truck. His black F250, I swear he doesn’t know how country he can be. He says he’s not, but living in the country, in a farmhouse, with a big truck. He’s country. I don’t even realize I’m blushing.

    “What did I do to earn your smile?”

    “I was just thinking how you said you’re not a country boy. But you don’t realize you are one now.”

    “I guess I am.” He smiles that wicked smile of his, dimples on both cheeks, straight white teeth. And
his eyes, a dark amber, I could get lost in his soul staring so deep.

When he helps me climb in, leaning into me. I swear I feel him breathe me in. Shutting my door and running to the driver’s side, he climbs in and turns to me.

    “Addie, I planned to take you out to eat, at a very nice restaurant but I changed my plans.”

    “So where are you taking me? Do I need to go change into jeans?”

    “What you’re wearing,” he glances down at my exposed thigh and back to my eyes. “Will be just fine.”

There goes my tingles and shocks of an electric current, zapping through my veins. The way he looks at me makes me feel so weird and different. I’ve never felt this way before, and I’ve yet to figure out what it means. For now I’m going to follow Jessa’s words, I’m going to embrace it and feel it.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“Nope. Its a surprise. You’ll find out soon.” He turns and winks at me.

He turns up the music.

    “Who is this?”

    “Who is what?”

     “The music, who are we listening to?”

    "The cover song is titled Hurt.
it was written and produced by Nine Inch Nails, but this is Johnny Cash singing. Isn’t it cool to hear such an idol sing a song in a different way?"

    "No. I’ve grown up listening to Garth brooks and George Strait and even Johnny, I love all the modern singers too. And I’ve ventured out to listen to indie rock country mix. My favorite is Pistol Packin Mama. They’re from Fort Worth, but come to town a few times a year. You’re going to have to listen to them with me next time they’re here. Their music is a lil bit country, blues, and rock all rolled into one. They have this song about stealing a dead mans gold, and burying his bones in the woods.”

    “They sound pretty cool. Let me know, I’d love to join you. I have a weird addiction to live music. It’s never the same from one show to the next. I hate the cookie cutter music, the ones you hear over and over on the radio. Oh and I love hearing battling duels too.”

    “They are pretty cool. Their bass guitar is hilarious and his girlfriend is sweet too. I hung out with them after the last show. You and Paul might actually get along well, he’s a computer geek too.”

    “Hey now Lady Luck. I’m not a computer geek. I don’t wear pocket protectors and suspenders. And I’m not nerdy.”

    “You work with computers and is as smart as they are right?”

    “Yeah. I know a thing or two.”

    “Then you’re a computer geek. Just one very hot nerd.”

    “You think I’m hot?”

    “Okay, it’s going to your head. Yes you’re hot, now pay attention to the road so we don’t end up killed.”

I glance over at him, and his smile is a mile wide. I’m glad I decided to go with him, even though he’s a loser.

    “I can feel your eyes on me. Tell me what you’re thinking?” he says

    “I’m glad I joined you tonight. I feel like there could be something here between us, and I’m excited we’re going to explore it together.”

    “Me too. Just wait till you see what’s in store for you.”

    “Hmm. I like surprises. Can I guess?”

    “Sure. Tell me where you think were going?”

   “Downtown?”

    “No, too flashy not my scene, at least not for tonight.”

    “Okay. San Antonio, like the
Riverwalk?”

    “Nope, but I’d love to take you there.”

    “A diner in town?”

    “Not even close, I want to be a lone with you, with no one else around.”

    “A picnic in the park?”

     “Getting warmer.”

    “So outside then. Hmm. Dinner on the lake?”

    “Ding. Ding. Ding. You guessed it. I’ve arranged for a secluded evening on the lake.
Dinner and dancing, just the two of us. I picked up an Italian feast and rented a boat for the weekend. I was thinking about taking it out again tomorrow to do some fishing, but I’ve never done from a boat before.”

    “Oh. Could I join you? It’s been a while since I’ve been. I used to go every summer with Jax and Gramps. We’d leave at sun up and get home at sun down.”

    “I’m not a big fan, but I’m wiling to try. My dad wasn’t ever into the lake, he preferred hunting.” Jere says

    “I’d love to take you hunting with me too. Jax can’t go for a few years because of the twins but I’m itching to go this winter. I didn’t get to last year, and I miss it, the thrill of bringing home a six pointer.”

    “Then its settled I’m taking you fishing and you’re taking me hunting.”

    “I can’t wait. That’s roughly seven months from now.”

    “It will fly by faster than you think.”

We pull up to the marina. He parks the truck and hops out, running to my door, I’ve already opened it and as I’m trying to step out he’s right in front of me, holding my arms for support in case I fall. It would be my luck that I did. I’m just as clumsy as Jessa sometimes.

He doesn’t remove his hands from my body, even after we’ve stepped away from the truck. He’s got a hold of my waist, anchoring me to his side. We’re headed down the docks, until we reach the boat we’re claiming. I wouldn’t call it a boat, it looks more like a houseboat or a yacht, its huge. What takes me by surprise is the name of this vessel. It’s my new nickname he started calling me the other day at the poker party.
Lady Luck.