Thorneless (Rose of Thorne Series) (9 page)

Lucas

I’m just finishing up a conference call when I get a chill.  I can’t explain it, but it had been just a feeling of uneasiness.  I dig out my cellphone and call Skylar just to check in on her and to see if everything is all right.  I try three times, but always end up getting her voicemail. On my fourth attempt, I reach a frantic Kylie.  

“Lucas, I’m driving her back to your place now.
 She passed out at the restaurant,” she says and my stomach drops.

“Is she alright? I’m on my way right now,” I say grabbing my keys out of my pocket and heading for the parking garage.

“She’s fine, Lucas. She doesn’t want to worry you,” she says.

“Why did she pass out? She needs to see a doctor, Kylie,” I demand.

“Lucas, I already insisted that she see one, but she declined the paramedics attempts to take her to the hospital,” Kylie continues.

“Paramedics? You mean an ambulance was called and she didn’t go on to the hospital?”

“Lucas, there is a large reason to her passing out. She spotted Sebastian while we were leaving and got so upset she just dropped into my arms.”

Anger overtakes me and I kick the wall nearest to me in the parking garage.
                            

“I’m on my way, Kylie. I’ll meet you at my place,” I
announce and end the call.

When I
walk in the door, Skylar is sitting up on the couch with Kylie sitting beside her.  She smiles at me when I walk in and drops her head down in embarrassment.  I toss my keys on the nearby table and take a seat beside her.

“I’m sorry you rushed home on my account
, Lucas. I’m fine. I just wasn’t expecting to see him there.” Her words are filled with embarrassment and she avoids my eyes.

I kiss her on the forehead and Kylie looks at me with worry in her dark eyes.
 

“I’m going to be heading back home now, sweetie.
 If you need me, you call me, understand? I don’t care what time it is…if you need anything, you call me!” Kylie says and Skylar nods indicating that she understands.

Kylie leans in and gives her
a long hug and then leaves.  I’m not sure how to approach the subject of Sebastian, so I don’t.  I’ll wait for her to mention it.

“I don’t want to talk about today anymore, alright?
 He doesn’t deserve any of the energy I’ve wasted already on him today,” she says with a defeated tone.  I try to cheer her up by changing the subject to my news.

“I got a call from my mom today.
 She’s throwing a party at their house this Saturday and she wants us to come up and spend the weekend.  Do you remember when I told you a long time ago that I wanted to show you something near the lake?”

“Yes,” she replies and forces a smile.

“Well, I really want you to come with me this weekend. Will you?” I plead.

“Do you really want me to come? I mean it’s your parent’s party.
 They might not . . . ” I interrupt her.

“Skylar, nothing would make me prouder than you being there with me.
 I want you to finally meet my family.”

She smiles shyly at me and then nods her head in agreement. “If you want me to come, then yes, I’ll be happy to come with you.”

I smile widely on the outside, but inside worry fills me.  I only hope my sister won’t be joining us.  She is a nasty brat when she chooses to be.

Skylar

The warm evening summer wind blows through my long dark hair as we make our way down the winding country road.  Lush green fields and beautiful countryside is all around us. Sometimes when you’re in the city too much, you forget what’s just a few miles down the road.  

Lucas sits behind the wheel of his beloved Aston Martin looking magnificent
sporting his aviator glasses and St. Louis Cardinals hat.  He turns and beams his killer smile at me and then mischievously slaps down the bill of my matching Cardinals hat.  Lucas throws his head back against his leather headrest and laughs hysterically when he sees just how far down he had shoved the hat onto my head.

I love his laugh so much.
  

His laughter is contagious and I can’t help but join him as I begin adjusting the hat back into place.
 I turn and playfully stick my tongue out at him before reaching over and twisting his hat around backwards allowing part of his long sandy blonde hair to peek out the front hole.  He surprises me by leaving the hat alone and grabbing for my hand. He lifts it up to his mouth and gently kisses it before rewarding me with another heart melting smile.

Damn
, he looks hot!

He’s trying to distract me because he knows all too well that I’m nervous about meeting his family for the first time. I admit he helped me get my mind off it for a few minutes with his playful antics, but I’m still shaking like a leaf right now.
 Glancing over at Lucas, I can’t help but admire his carefree nature and I wished so much that I had the confidence he does.  He never seems to worry about anything and takes life as it comes.  I’d give anything to be able to just relax right now and enjoy this weekend getaway.

“We’re here,” he says pointing to the massive stone house on top of the rolling green field. I’m sure my mouth is gaping wide open as I take in the spectacular sight in front of me. By the time we make it up the winding driveway to the house, my nerves have hit overload. We’re supposed to be eating dinner soon and I’m afraid I’m going to throw up in this perfect house.

Why did he even bring me here? I don’t fit into this world. When is he ever going to realize this?

Lucas had talked me into coming along to a family event his parents were hosting this weekend.
 Now sitting in his car staring up at the massive mansion before me, I start wishing myself back to Lucas’ apartment with a tub of chocolate chip ice cream.  Sensing my nerves, Lucas puts a hand on mine and squeezes.

“Relax gorgeous. I promise I won’t let them bite
you on the first visit. Now as for me . . . ” he jokes and wiggles his eyes up and down, before leaning in to kiss my forehead.   Lucas lifts our bags out of the back of his little silver car and heads around the front where a man who takes the bags from him meets us.

“Thank you, Robert,” Lucas says as he takes my hand and leads me up the steps.
 A beautiful woman to whom Lucas bears a striking resemblance greets us in the foyer with a huge beaming smile.

“Oh, sweetheart!
I’m so glad you made it,” she says as she runs to hug Lucas’ neck.  He laughs as he embraces her and winks back at me over his mom’s shoulder.

“Okay, Mom.
 You’re choking me,” he laughs and pretends to be gasping for air.  She releases him and swats him on the back of the head.

“It serves you right for not coming to see you
r poor momma more often!”  He chuckles as he rubs his head and I can’t help but laugh at the two of them.

“Skylar, I’d like you to meet my sweet abusive mother, Rebecca Drake,” Lucas proudly introduces his mom. Her eyes turn to me and her face ignites with a huge smile. There is no doubt where Lucas’ fabulous smile comes from.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Drake. Thank you so very much for having me this weekend,” I say shyly to her. As if she senses my uneasiness, she steps toward me and cups my cheeks gently and her green eyes brighten with revelation.

“My goodness! My son is right. Just look at you!
 Lucas, she’s simply stunning!” She says as she grabs my hands in hers.

“Thank you, Mrs. Drake,” I reply.

“Please, call me Rebecca, sweetheart. My son has spoken so much about you that I feel as if I already know you,” she says sweetly before wrapping her arms around me and squeezing tightly. Lucas is off to the side studying our interaction closely with a quiet smile on his face.  I notice that his hypnotic eyes are out of focus. It’s as if he’s completely lost in his thoughts.

“I had them prepare your old room, Lucas. And Skylar, my dear, you’re in the guest room just across the hall from him.
 Everyone is outside on the patio if you’d like to join us after you get settled in. I just checked in on dinner and Connie says that it should be ready soon,” she informs us.

“We’re so glad you’re here with us, Skylar,” she says as she brings me in for another hug.
 

“You’re so good for him, sweetheart. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this happy before,” she whispers in my ear and I feel my face begin to blush. She gently pats my cheek and walks out toward the patio door.
 Lucas smiles warmly at me and I try to compose myself.  Tenderly, he takes my hand into his and entwines his fingers with mine as leads me up the beautiful wooden stairway and down the long hallway.

Pictures of him and his family adorn the elegant beige walls.
 I smile as I see the sweet face of little Lucas in a silver frame smiling back at me. Even as a toddler he could charm anyone with that smile. Suddenly, we stop and Lucas opens a door to our right and stands to the side to let me walk in.

“This is my room,” he says as I walk into what looks like a
place frozen in time. A queen size bed sits in the middle of the brightly lit room between two large windows.  I walk forward and look around the space that reveals so much of Lucas’ life. Curiously, I study the large collection of trophies on the nearby wooden shelf. Using my fingertips, I lightly trace the medals that dangle from them.  He’d been quite the well-rounded athlete it seems.  Everything from baseball to football awards lined the large room. I stop and pick up a photo frame of him and his friends on what looks like their high school graduation day. He looks so young in this picture, but still so much like himself.  I grin at the frame in my hands and sit on his bed.

“I bet this thing has seen some action, huh?” I joke as I pat the bed and place the picture down beside me.

But he never answers me.
Why is he so quiet? Maybe he doesn’t like me touching his things. Maybe I offended him with my joke.

“I’m sorry, Lucas. I didn’t mean to make you upset. I guess I made a bad joke,” I say and look up to find him closing the door behind him.

“Skylar, believe it or not, other than my sister or my mom, you’re the first girl to ever sit on my bed,” he says seriously while moving to stand before me.  He leans down and lifts the ball cap off my head. I am sure my hair looks like a mess. And just like any girl would be, I’m mortified. Suddenly, before I can protest or scold him for his actions, his strong hands massage my head as he runs his hands through my long curly hair.  He kneels before me and he places his hands on each side of my face.  

“You don’t get it, do you?
 You’re the first girl I’ve brought up here because you’re the first one I’ve ever brought home to my family, Skylar,” he says softly and I try to fight the feeling that’s building in my chest.  The same place where my heart once had been before Sebastian took it away.
Stop thinking about him!

“And now, you’re going to be the first girl I’ve ever kissed in my room and on my bed,” he says staring directly into my eyes.
 I close them tightly and fight this battle that rages silently inside me.   I feel his warm breath against my mouth. I can smell the sweet smell of mint and his delicious scent as it invades my nose.

He’s so close. I can’t do this. Why is my body reacting this way? I can’t do this!!