Bound By Love Story Collection

The Ties That Bind

Lucy come on, you can’t possibly be considering this,” asked Drew Hunter as he savagely bit into a croissant she had set out for him. Lucy nodded as she set his cup of coffee in front of him and wiped the counter with a rag in her hand. “I am considering it, and why not, it’s a great opportunity” she replied.

The look in his eyes told her that he was going to tear into her the minute he was finished with his food. Lucy shuddered even though she knew Drew would never hurt her. The intense look in his eyes was enough to make her shut her mouth. His look not only instilled fear in everyone who was on the receiving end, but most everyone in town knew not to mess with Drew, especially when he got that look about him.

“I know why you are doing this,” he continued as he finished his croissant in two bites and grabbed the second one. “It’s because of him isn’t?” he asked, as if he already knew the answer.

“No it is not!” Lucy stated, the quiver in her voice giving the young girl away. She hated how he knew her so well. Knowing someone since you were both in diapers would do that to you.

The look he gave the girl told her not to lie to him. “I am not, I'm serious, I just need to broaden my views and explore the world. I can’t always be Lucy Andrews the nerdy girl from the café who is a tomboy and likes sports more than the average guy,” She blurted out in one breath hoping her tone would convince him.

“How many times have I told you you’re not defined by those things, you’re so much more than that Lucy and I wish you would see that?” The girl smiled, he always managed to lift her spirits, she was going to miss that about him when she left.

“My damn brother is driving you away, it’s because of him isn’t?” he asked.

“No! He doesn’t even know about this nor does he care.” Her voice rose at the end startling them both.

Lucy lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with him for a second while she gathered her wits.

“He’s right you know Lucy, don’t let him drive you away,” Van said from the other side of Drew. His lips quirked in disdain and his eyes flashed a deep brilliant brown turning to black. He was another friend of Lucy and he knew exactly how she felt about Dominic.

Lucy's face flamed as she picked at a loose thread on her oversized tee. The girl  couldn’t believe they were talking about this, and at the café of all places. “Looks guys, just because I want to do a study abroad program for the semester doesn’t mean I am running away from something or someone. And as far as this Dominic thing goes, we are dropping it, enough!” the small girl said with an authority in her voice surprising everyone, especially herself. She received equally surprised looks from the others at the counter.

“Damn you’re hot when you get feisty,” Finn exclaimed making them all laugh. He was good at diffusing the situation, not only was he funny but also ridiculously hot in a surfer kind of way; completely different looking from his family of dark haired beauties, also known as the Pierce family; one of the prestigious and founding families of the pack.

Lucy threw her dish towel at him groaning when he ducked and she missed.

“My brother is a dumb fuck for not realizing what an amazing woman you are standing right here in front of him. But he is even a bigger fuck if he lets you slip through his fingers like this.”  Drew’s words rang in her ears long after they had left; after they each gave the girl hugs and she closed the café for the night.

 Present Day

If the idea of coming here tonight hadn’t scared Lucy shitless, then the mere thought of seeing him here would have. All thought left her mind whenever she saw him. She couldn't hear over the ringing in her ears nor talk due to the constriction in her throat. But it hadn’t always been like this. Sure Lucy was completely head over ass in love with him since high school and just like the perfect cliché movie he never saw her as anything more than the girl next door but a girl could hope right?, she thought to herself.