Page 15 of Tempted

Lucy discarded her heels and then collapsed on a worn leather club chair. “Have a seat and tell me what kind of gig requires the heavy armaments.”

Doing as she asked, he took the chair that matched Lucy’s and leaned back. “I was an SWCC operator.” He wasn’t surprised when she looked confused since they operated well outside the spotlight. “I was a Special Warfare Combatant—Craft Crewman. Or, as we’re known among our brethren, a dirty boat guy. I was privileged to be part of a team that executed high-risk warfare and reconnaissance missions all over the world.”

Lucy sat forward. “Were you one of the guys that slid down a rope into a boat that hovered one million feet above an angry ocean?”

Linc chuckled. “Guilty as charged. And for the record, I loved every minute of it.”

“And now you’re helping your cousin with the worn-down family manse?”

“Something like that.” He looked into the dark amber liquid in his glass. “I did a few private protection assignments for my cousin, Rorke, but decided the gig wasn’t a great fit.” He took a gulp of his drink. “I’m not all that patient with the privileged and pampered, so I’m thinking of building a construction business.”

“A blessing for me,” she said, holding her glass in a toast.

“You ready to hear the store’s plumbing prognosis?”

“Not really, but go ahead and give me the gruesome details.”

“Best as I can tell, you have a slab leak that likely was caused by soil shifting under the foundation of the building.”

“Does that entail tearing out walls and floors?”

Surprised by her calm tone, he nodded. “We’re going to have to clear out the back room and keep the water turned off in the building until the repairs can be made.”

Lucy looked around her small living room. “I knew that garret living wouldn’t last forever, but darn it, I’m not quite ready to go conventional and move into a regular house.”

“You can always join us over at the Hawker homestead. We’ve got plenty of ghosts and creepy rooms that haven’t been inhabited in two decades. Nothing conventional about it.”

“I appreciate the offer but will probably camp out with Olivia.” She ran her finger over her glass. “Can I ask you a question that is not my business?”

Linc pushed himself forward in the chair. “Sweetheart, there isn’t anything about me that’s not your business.”

Lucy bit her lip. “I doubt that.”

“I meant what I said earlier about getting to know one another.” He set the empty glass on the side table. “Ask me anything.”

She traced the pattern on her dress and then looked up. “Are you bummed that you weren’t included in the inheritance for the house on Ladybug Lane?”

“A question like that makes me think that you’re concerned about my well-being and like me a lot more than you’re letting on.”

She let out a huff and waved her hand. “Don’t you have enough local beauties fluttering around without adding me to the list?”

“You’re the only one I’m interested in, and to answer your question, no, I’m not bummed. My brother, Cody, and I inherited the beach house on the Outer Banks. Definitely the better option and not just because it’s ghost-free.”

“Oh, how lovely.”

He moved closer and took her hand. “Say the word, and I will put you on the back of my bike and take you there for the weekend.”

“Well…that is….”

“The best idea you’ve heard all week?”

She tucked her feet beneath her skirt. “There is nothing I love more than spontaneity and high-spirited hi-jinks, but….”

“You’re taking a break to see if you can be happy with a more sedate existence?”

“Yes,” she said quietly. “I’ve started some new hobbies and,” she looked up, “don’t want to use you to cure my lassitude.”

“I respect the hell out of the work you’re doing.”

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