To Love Again

Chapter Five

I barely recognized the scantily clad beauty as the sobbing heart breaker from the bus stop. The niggling feeling of recognition had finally clicked when I heard the all to familiar British accent. This was little Clover.

I couldn't get her away from that bastard fast enough. I knew Lucas Walker from the socials Mel dragged me to and he was bad news. We'd gotten into an. . . altercation when he'd gotten rough with one of the serving girls. Then I'd heard from the grapevine that he and Melissa were sleeping together. I hadn't bothered to confront them.

Clover was shocked when I recognized her.

“ You remember me?” she stuttered. I allowed myself a grin.

“You're hard to forget.” I leaned against the back of the couch and eyed her. “So. Lucas Walker?”

Her cheeks darkened, “Yeah. For a while now.”

My eyes followed that blush down her neck. Regardless of whatever upbringing a man may have had, a pair of half exposed breasts are eye catching. And Clover's were no exception. However I tried, my gaze kept sliding downward. I couldn't help but feel like a perv, ogling her.

“Uh, I'm sorry, you must be freezing. Let me get you a blanket or something.” I hurried to my feet and dug through a nearby closet. I found a snuggie ,,of all things and when I spun around to give it to her, her eyes darted guiltily to my face. The slightest grin tugged at my lips. She was just staring at my butt. I couldn't help but feel a little better about my own ogling.

“ Thanks.” she slipped her arms into the sleeves. “I'm really sorry about this whole thing. Lucas just gets overprotective sometimes.”

My grin fell completely. “ I hope like hell you haven't convinced yourself of that. That English douche bag doesn't deserve to be defended by someone like you.”

She flushed red and I felt a little bad about snapping. But all the same, I prayed that she hadn't convinced herself that Walker was just being protective.

I sat down gently next to her. “ Hey now,” I used my soothing voice, “ I'm not judging you on this. I already have his measure and it's no good. He hardly seems worth your time.”

She chuckled, a tearful sound, “ You know, that's why I didn't know it was you at first.”

“Pardon?” I tilted my head, puzzled.

“ Your voice. It gets all smooth. . .” she blushed a little.

I rubbed the back of my neck, “ Yeah. I get that from work. Listening to someone who sounds like a chain smoker doesn't really calm people down.”

Her eyebrows furrowed. I hurried to explain. “ I'm a first responder. The ambulance guy.”

“Oh. Well, thanks. For responding, I mean. When I fell in the pool.” she stuttered out, clearly embarrassed again.

I allowed myself another grin, “ It was my pleasure.”