However, it had come at Lucie’s expense, though she would never admit it to her mother. Instead, once her mother was back on her feet, Lucie had come to work at Club Destiny, hoping to make enough money to save for college.
Then another turn of events – namely Kane – had altered her course yet again and here she was standing before him, almost six years later still employed as a bartender slash waitress and doing everything to raise her beautiful little girl who’d been her miracle in a particularly dark time. And still, she had let the dark cloud of her life take over. Until recently. Until that night when Kane finally came to her, finally insisted that they give in to whatever was still brewing between them. And now she felt like a different person.
Feeling even more brazen than before, Lucie approached Kane. Placing her hand on his chest she successfully inserted herself between him and the floozy who was barely balancing on those four inch heels. Letting her eyes skim his mouth briefly, Lucie then met his gaze and smiled. “Let me walk her out and then we can talk.”
It was Kane’s turn to nod, not saying a word, but she could see the heat reflected in his eyes.
“Come on, honey,” Lucie told the woman, gently touching her arm. “The cab should be here now.”
As Lucie walked the woman out, she managed to get her address so she could tell the taxi driver where to take her. After a somewhat teary goodbye on the other woman’s part, the way too intoxicated woman flopped into the cab and was on her way. That’s why Lucie didn’t drink anymore. That and what happened between her and Kane that one night so many years ago.
Once back inside, Lucie ventured over to the bar, watching Kane as he quickly ran through a list of items in front of him before their eyes met again.
“Thanks,” he said as she approached.
She could only smile. “I really need to get home. I promise I’ll call when I get there.”
“I want to take you and Haley somewhere,” Kane blurted, and Lucie had to think hard to process what he was saying.
“It’s the middle of the night,” she replied, figuring he already realized that, but she had to state the obvious anyway.
Then he laughed, and the dark, rich sound of it rumbled through her making her want things she never thought she’d want again.
“I wasn’t talking about tonight,” he clarified, grinning from ear to ear.
“Oh.” She knew that.
“Tomorrow,” he stated, taking a step closer and putting one hand on her hip.
Lucie glanced around nervously, making sure no one saw them. She clearly didn’t have any problem with Kane touching her, but she certainly wasn’t interested in letting the other employees see them.
“Where are we going?” she inquired. She was tired, her feet hurt, and she was sure Haley would be up early, but Lucie wouldn’t deny wanting to see Kane.
“Hawaii,” he said, his eyes locked with hers.
Lucie expected to see the humor on his face, but what she saw surprised her. He was serious.
“I can’t miss work, Kane. You know that,” she told him.
Although he was paying child support now, Lucie was still trying to make ends meet. She was saving up money so that she could move her and Haley to another apartment in another part of town before her daughter started kindergarten. The area they were in wasn’t safe, and Lucie was eager to start over somewhere else. Soon.
“Your time off has already been approved. With pay,” Kane stated and Lucie jerked away from him.
“What?” How could he? Did he actually ask Luke to give her time off with pay?
“I told Luke that we both needed a week off,” he replied, putting his hands in his pockets.
“How dare you?” she asked. Lucie wasn’t sure why she was so angry, but she was. Kane didn’t have any right to do such a thing. If she wanted time off, it was her responsibility to ask for it. Not his.
“I want to spend time with you and Haley,” Kane lowered his voice, tilting his head in that way that made Lucie’s defenses go down.
Not this time. “Go fuck yourself, Kane,” she yelled and without another thought or another word, she turned and walked out.
Chapter Six
Kane pounded on the door for the second time. Initially, he’d tried for soft, but Lucie obviously wasn’t going to answer. Considering it was closing in on three thirty in the morning, he knew one of her neighbors was probably going to call the police on him any minute now.
“Open the door, Lucie,” he demanded, keeping his voice low.
When he heard the lock disengage, he breathed a sigh of relief. The woman was stubborn as hell.
“Would you keep your voice down?” Lucie barked as she pulled the door open. “Haley’s asleep.”