“Go have a good night somewhere else,” Lukas growled.
Just like that, the three guys took off running like dogs with their tails between their legs.
Lukas turned to me and put his hands on my shoulders as he looked deep into my eyes. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “Yes. Thank you for coming to find me.”
He pulled me in and kissed my forehead. “I’ll always come find you. Now, about that dance. Are you up for it, or do you want to get the hell out of here?”
I nuzzled against his chest. My cheek met his bare skin where his white pirate shirt was unbuttoned. “It would be a shame not to dance to at least one song.”
Lukas led me back out to the dance floor where we took a spot underneath a slow-turning disco ball that painted our cheeks and shoulders with fractures of light and rainbows. The music faded from an upbeat rock song to a slow ballad as if right on cue. He pulled me in close and we swayed together while singles left the dance floor and couples took their places. Lukas rested his chin on my head and I wrapped my arms around his waist.
I didn’t want the night to end.
Every year before this, I’d gone home after working the Halloween town. I’d stop on my way to pick up some discounted Halloween candy if it was in the budget for that year and I’d overindulge by myself back at my apartment.
This was a far better way to spend the evening.
It was magical. I felt like a real princess in his arms. With any luck, I’d end up in his bed tonight, experiencing the intense pleasure that only Lukas could give me.
I tilted my head back and gazed up at him. He’d saved me from more than just three drunken idiots. He’d saved me from myself.
He caught me admiring him and smiled. “What is it?” he asked softly.
“Nothing,” I whispered.
When the song ended, I was sad for it. I could have stayed in his arms swaying on the dance floor all night long. That wasn’t in the cards apparently. The music picked back up and the dance floor flooded with young students looking to dance their hearts out.
I tipped my head to the door. “Should we get some fresh air?”
Shortly after, with bottles of water in hand from the bartender, we spilled out onto the sidewalk. There was a pleasant buzz in my head from the cocktail and the two shots, and I giggled about how much of a lightweight I was.
“When all you do is work, I suppose it makes sense that you’d have a low tolerance,” Lukas said. He nodded at the unopened water bottle in my hand. “You should drink.”
I took his advice and twisted the cap off. I drained half the bottle, only realizing how thirsty I was after the cold water touched my tongue. Some of it dribbled down my chin and throat and dampened the neckline of my dress. I caught Lukas staring at the trail of water glistening on my chest.
I smiled. “Like what you see?”
“Always.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
He stepped in close and ran a finger along the neckline of my dress. “I’m going to take you home and have my way with you.”
I giggled and hiccupped. “Don’t you mean take me back to your ship?”
Lukas’s brow furrowed.
I prodded him gently in the test. “Pirate, remember?”
“Ahh, yes.” He chuckled deeply. “Prepare yourself for a terribly uncivilized night with this rogue.”
I bit my bottom lip. I was ready. I was so ready.
Lukas moved to the edge of the sidewalk to hail a cab. As full ones passed us by, his phone started to ring. He frowned. “Who’s calling me at one in the morning?” He fished his phone out of his pocket and lifted it to his ear. “Lisa? What’s the matter? Why are you calling me so late?”
I couldn’t hear what his sister was saying, but whatever it was, it wasn’t good. Lukas’ face fell. Color drained from his cheeks.
“I’ll be right there,” he said. He dropped the call and turned to me. “I’m sorry, Kayla. I have to go. You can take the first car home and I’ll catch the next one. I’m sorry.”
“Wait,” I said, shaking my head. “What’s going on? What happened? Is Lisa okay?”
“My mother is having a bad night.”
“Oh.” I cursed myself. That was the best thing I could think to say? Oh?
Lukas hailed the next cab and it pulled over. He twisted around to me after opening the door. “The facility tried to call me but I didn’t hear the phone ringing in the bar, so they called Lisa. They can’t get her to calm down. I have to see if I can help.”
“I’m coming with you,” I said simply.
“Sorry?”
“I’m coming with you,” I said again as I slid into the back seat of the cab. I patted the seat beside me. “Come on. Let’s go. Your mom needs you and you need someone in your corner. That’s me. Get in.”
Lukas got in the back seat. He told the driver the address and we pulled away from the curb as we put our seatbelts on.
I reached over and took his hand to give it a reassuring squeeze. “It’s going to be okay.”
Lukas looked at me like he never had before. I saw deep sorrow in his eyes and my heart constricted painfully in my chest. “My mother hasn’t been okay for a long time,” he said softly.
I swallowed. “I know.”
“Ever since the car accident… well, she hasn’t been the same since. She had a few good years after her recovery, but things went south pretty quickly after that. She started forgetting things. Weird things at first, you know? Like food in the oven or bills that needed to be paid. In the beginning, it was easy for me to step in and help with that kind of mundane stuff, but
