“Nah. I mean… I’m just being overly picky at the moment. You know, I was so busy with school, and now with work. I wasn’t really looking. It’s next on my to-do list. Really,” Kassie lied. It was on her to-do list, just not next, or fifth, or even tenth. It was at the very bottom, like when she had extra time and felt like dealing with looking for a needle in a haystack.
She was a romantic, like Romeo and Juliet romantic. Star-crossed lovers and stuff like that. She wanted a love of a lifetime, not just some drunk at the bar, slobbering all over her. To find a guy with substance would take time and effort. Or as her heart hoped, he would magically find her. Maybe they’d link glances from across a crowded room. Maybe it would be love at first sight. But she wanted the magic and romance. And magic and romance weren’t supposed to be this difficult.
“What is going on in that brain of yours?” Alison tilted her head as she asked.
“Nothing.” Kassie knew there was no such thing as magical romances, but it didn’t keep her from dreaming. Maybe her high expectations were why she hadn’t found her perfect man yet.
CHAPTER THREE
Luc
Luc mingled around Kaden’s loft. It was filled with guys from the team, their wives and girlfriends, and some folks he didn’t recognize. Kaden liked throwing parties. Normally Luc would bring a date, mingle a little, drink too much, and leave early. He never saw those girls twice and couldn’t remember any of their names. And honestly, he was a little bored with that.
Worry ate at his gut. Am I getting older and wiser, or am I becoming boring? Because no way in hell was he going to grow boring. Had to be getting wiser. That was the only choice he’d accept.
Torin nudged Luc. “Marcella, no lady on your arm tonight? That’s not like you.”
That wasn’t entirely accurate. He didn’t often have a girl on his arm; he just made it look like he did in public. He had a reputation, one that said he was a ladies’ man. But he didn’t bother to ask anyone to accompany him tonight. Luc hadn’t realized it was a “party.” The way he’d understood it was that it was just going to be the guys hanging out.
“Nah, not tonight.”
Hoping this conversation with Torin would be over, Luc took a sip of his beer and glanced around the room. Kaden’s mom was there. She’d spent most of the night talking with a brunette. He hadn’t been able to see the young woman’s face yet. Her hair was dark and long, and covered her face whenever she didn’t have her back to him. Which was not entirely a bad angle.
He didn’t know why he kept staring at her; maybe it was because he was bored and was trying to entertain himself. Maybe he just needed another beer. Grabbing another from a cooler in the living room, he popped it open and took a swig.
“Luc, you better take it easy on the beers there,” Kaden called, startling him. “Try some of the snacks Ali made. They’re delicious.”
He wasn’t wrong. Luc should probably exchange this beer for a water; he was driving home. He sure as hell didn’t want to wreck his Porsche. And he was well aware that wasn’t the worst that could happen if he didn’t slow down on the beers. Knowing better, he set the beer down on the closest table and grabbed a water.
“Luc! Look, Tri, it’s the Puck-Star himself.” Sam smirked and called him by the nickname Luc was trying to make a thing.
“Hey, Rock-Star,” Trina cooed.
Sam’s wife was very pregnant with their second child. But that didn’t keep her from team functions, even parties. And for some reason, she had also taken to calling him Rock-Star, playing on his taste in music.
“Maybe you could help Kaden out with his music choices tonight. I’m not hearing any rap or rock ’n’ roll.” Trina rolled her eyes.
“Are you two still letting little Willow listen to rap? Do I have to drop by for a visit and familiarize her with the monsters of rock? You know that rap crap could stunt her growth!” Luc wasn’t the only guy on the team that teased Sam about his taste in music. He was just the only one allowed to pick on Trina about it, too.
“Pretty sure that’s coffee that’ll stunt your growth, but nice try,” Sam remarked sarcastically. Then he added with a whisper, “And I’m sorry if that’s what happened to you.” Sam made a gesture with his hand about Luc’s height.
“Are you two at it again?” Paige asked, as she grabbed a drink from the cooler.
“Aren’t they always? I swear they were brothers in another life,” Trina answered.
Paige laughed. “Brothers? I was thinking more like husband and wife!”
Luc shook his head. When Trina and Paige ganged up on him, it was amusing and the teasing sometimes got out of control. But it was all in jest.
Not having any siblings, Sam was as close to a brother as Luc had. “Whatever, surfer boy. Don’t you need to go catch a wave somewhere?” It was a lame comeback, but it was all he had at the moment.
“Tri, did you try any of the buffalo chicken dip Ali made? You like spicy food, right?” Paige asked.
“I love spicy food! And no, I haven’t tried it yet. Lead the way!”
“Take it easy on the spicy food, Tri. We don’t want you going into labor during the party!” Sam called after the ladies.
“She’s due soon, huh?” Luc asked.
“Yep. This pregnancy feels like it’s gone by quicker than the last.”
“How’s Willow?”
“She’s good. Daddy’s little girl, like always. You should stop over sometime soon. She’s been asking to have a tea party with her Uncle Luc.”
“I’ll plan to drop by soon.” Luc looked around the room, then at his phone. “You know, I’m gonna get out of here. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He’d had enough small talk for today. Luc said goodbye to Trina and grabbed his keys.
When he turned to find Kaden to tell him he was leaving, instead he saw the brunette standing with Kaden’s mom. This time she was facing him. She was an attractive young woman, probably no older than himself, dark eyes, very little makeup—she had a natural beauty to her. But she looked familiar. Luc knew he hadn’t met her before, or even dated her, but she was familiar.
Maybe he wasn’t leaving just yet. Scouting out the room, he saw there weren’t any single ladies here, except her. Putting his keys back into his pocket, he grabbed another water and contemplated his next move.
“Where you headed, Romeo?” Sam’s voice came from over his shoulder. “Thought you were leaving?”
Shaking his head, he twisted the top off the bottle. “Changed my mind. Just getting another water.”
“Regretting not bringing any arm candy, huh? Not really any prospects here. Kaden kept it all friends and family. I don’t blame him. Once you have a little one, you have no interest in wild parties. They transition into family gatherings.”
“I’m surprised to see that Ali has Kaleb,” Luc commented.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I just thought maybe she’d have a nanny or something helping, so she could enjoy the party.” Admittedly, even with so many of the guys having families, he knew nothing about kids or how to be a parent. Why wouldn’t you want a break? He really had nothing to base his thoughts on.