BROKEN HOPE (Broken Redemption Book 2)

Chapter 30

Emilia

"I can't believe I'm doing this." I exhale loudly and continue to take out my frustration on the carrots I'm chopping.

"Relax Em. I'm sure with Lucas by your side, they'll be on their best behavior." Nic adds while reaching for one of the carrot pieces before popping it into her mouth. "Jen told me how he handled things the last time. Harold might be an asshole, but he's not an idiot. Doubt he'd do anything that would trigger Lucas's wrath."

When her phone beeps with an incoming text message, she stops to look. The smile that melts over her features catches me by surprise. It's a look I've never seen on her before. It's so far removed from her sarcastic one, and way different from her mischievous grin. It makes me wonder who it is, and what they could have said to have that effect on her.

"Who is that?" I ask, putting the knife down, when suddenly the only thing that matters is who's made my normally closed-off friend smile like that.

"Oh, you know," she brushes me off with her hand, "just the usual lineup of fine cock."

"Why are you so vulgar?" I shake my head at my friend, picking up the knife while wondering why the heck I asked in the first place.

"Hey, that's how they like me. Men like a woman with a filthy mouth almost as much as they like one willing to act on their filthy thoughts." She winks.

Incorrigible as always, I let it go. I've got bigger problems tonight than worrying about my friend's repressed approach to life. Dumping the last of the chopped-up carrots into the salad, I reach for the saran wrap and cover up the bowl. As I walk to put it back in the fridge, I hear Luc's voice as he joins us in the kitchen. His phone is to his ear, and when our eyes connect, he gives me his signature wink. Just like it did when I was 17, that wink sparks a wave of heat I feel all over my body.

"Thanks for that. Appreciate it. Later."

"Hey there, hot stuff. Heard your sexy SEAL ass is off the market. I never would have guessed our little Emilia is such a frog hog."

The look Lucas gives her steals all the warm air from the room. "You better watch your mouth, Nic." He growls her name with such ferocity that I lay a hand on his arm to calm him.

"Jesus, Luc. Don't be so damn literal. She knows I'm kidding. She's one of my best friends and I'd never do or say anything I know would insult her."

"I don't care. She's mine and I won't have you talking about her that way. Ever. Not even as a joke."

"Luc it's okay." I move around to his front and wrap my arms around him. "While I love you for coming to my defense," I rise to my toes and close the distance, bringing our lips together in a kiss that sends sparks of electricity shooting down to my lady parts. When I pull back, his anger is long gone, replaced instead by a needy look that matches the way his hands knead against my hips as he pulls us closer together. "She's harmless," I whisper.

"God that's hot! But unless you two are okay with turning this into a threesome, I suggest you cut it out."

Not used to her sense of humor, Lucas shoots her a glare and says, "God, you're filthy."

"Thanks. I get that a lot." Impervious to his ire, she beams a smile at him.

Reaching for his face, I get his attention. "Was that Ben on the phone?"

His hands reach up, taking hold of my wrists as he nods. "Harold agreed to meet at Offset Tactical Headquarters. Ben will drive them over."

After our date last week, Lucas suggested it was time I call my mother to fill her in on everything that's happened. She and I hadn't spoken since that god-awful dinner where Lucas stepped in to protect me from Harold. That's also the last time she saw the girls.