Page 44 of Bad Luck Club

He looked out the window, like he couldn’t bear to look at her right now, or maybe he needed a moment to gather himself. “I thought about that last night, I guess. But I’ll admit I wasn’t thinking too much just now.”

“Neither was I,” she admitted, blushing. “I…I’m sorry, Lee.”

He barked a laugh that lacked any humor. “You’re sorry? I kissed you. Let’s just forget it happened. I guess we should get in there. People may be late to everything else in Asheville, but apparently they’re on time for this meeting.” He waved at the cars.

“I just…it’s important to me that you go, Lee. I think it’ll really help you.”

But those were the wrong words, because his expression was completely shuttered now, and he opened the door without saying anything else. She got out too.

She had the temptation to take his hand or maybe press her side to his so she could feel his body against hers again, but instead she kept space between them. Or rather he did.

“Bear and Cal are awesome,” she said as they walked toward the house together. “You’re going to love them. And Harry and Dee and everyone. They really get it, you know?”

“Just don’t throw me to the wolves,” he said as they ascended the porch steps.

She could hear murmuring inside as she opened the door. Black sheets had been draped over the windows in the great room, all the lights were off, and seven hooded figures surrounded a glowing red ball. They were chanting in a language she didn’t understand. A huge vat—which looked like a children’s toy cauldron—sat to the side on a table, next to a stack of paper cups.

Ruby, Bear’s dog, dashed up to them, a witch’s hat on her head, and started dancing around, making excited noises.

One of the hooded figures broke away from the rest, flipping up his hood as he made his way to the door. Bear’s hair was rumpled, and he had a barely restrained grin.

“Please grab a cloak and join us,” he said, gesturing to the coatrack next to him. “There’s Kool-Aid in the cauldron.”

Holding back laughter—because she now had a very good idea of what pressing activities had kept Bear and Cal so busy this afternoon—Blue looked up at Lee, who definitely had the Buford look down pat.

“Welcome to the Bad Luck Club.”

Chapter Thirteen

What fresh hell had he just walked into? It was such a jolt that he momentarily forgot about his anger and disappointment over what had just happened with Blue in her car.

Lee took a step back, about to turn around and run, but Blue grabbed his arm and held him in place.

“Wait.”

The older man burst into laughter. “If you could see your face right now…”

Several other people joined in, and Lee felt his cheeks flood with heat. He turned around and stomped out the door.

“Lee!” Blue called after him, but he continued down the steps.

He didn’t stop walking until he reached her car. “Is this why you insisted on bringing me?” he finally let himself say. “So I’d be stuck here?”

Because it sure as hell wasn’t so they could be alone.

That whole radical honesty thing was a crock.

“I had no idea what Bear was up to. Please come back inside.”

“Why?” he asked in disgust. “So I can be humiliated even more? No, thanks. Now, are you going to take me home, or do I need to walk?”

“Lee, they were only teasing, not making fun.”

He could tell she meant it, but his father had never believed in good-natured teasing. He believed in humiliating people, and the little trick they’d pulled on him felt a lot like the kind of thing Lee’s father used to put him through. Wasn’t the Bad Luck Club supposed to help him heal? The whole thing suddenly seemed like a colossally bad idea. “I don’t think this is going to work.”

She looked so crestfallen, he started to have second thoughts…until he remembered their kiss. The sooner he got out of here, the better. Blue hadn’t shot him down completely. Far from it.

He’d wanted her last night, but the need he’d felt then was nothing compared to the rush of lust that had surged through him when he’d kissed her. He’d dreamed of her, his hands on her skin, his lips and hands running over her curves, but touching her in real life had been so much better. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had made him crazy with want. He sure hadn’t felt this way about Victoria. Truthfully, he wasn’t sure anyone else had ever made him feel like this. Now that he’d had a taste of her, he wasn’t willing to let her go. She’d only stopped because it was against the rules of this group of lunatics. Easy fix. He just wouldn’t join.

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