The Perfect Stroke (Lucas Brothers #1)

“Now, now, none of that. You’re beautiful and Gray is one lucky son of a gun,” I tell her, but that seems like something I shouldn’t have said, because the tears slip from her eyes. I reach over and grab a napkin and dry them up.

“C! Stop that crying. This is a happy day! My best friend is getting married to a three-peater and is going to live the dream. Today, we celebrate!” CC’s best friend Mer says from beside us. Mer is a pretty girl, despite that name. It doesn’t even stand for mermaid, which is kind of sad, and if my old body was still able, I’d have another girl just to name her that. She has this pretty pale skin, and blue eyes that remind me of my girl Petal’s. She’s much too skinny, though. A good, stiff wind would blow her over.

“What’s a three-peater?” I ask out of curiosity.

“Don’t ask, please?” begs CC. I look to Mer, who grins from ear to ear.

“What? I think Gray’s Momma would like to know how special her son is,” Mer says with a saucy grin. I think I like this one; she has a little fire. She definitely needs to fatten up, though. One of my boys would clearly break her in half. Maybe Green. He needs a good woman. Lord knows the sour one he got a hold of has done nothing but poison him. I’m going to have to keep my eye on this one.

“I think I would,” I tell them just as someone knocks on the door.

“I’m supposed to escort my best girl down the aisle,” Jansen says, coming in. Damn, that man cleans up good. He may have some miles on him, but he’s the best damn ride I’ve ever had. In fact, I may have to ride him now.

I lean in and kiss CC’s cheek, handing her the note I fixed for her earlier.

“You look beautiful. I’ve never been more proud of my son. He did great.”

“Ida Sue… I don’t know how to… you’ve done so much for me,” she whispers.

“That’s what family does, sweet cheeks. And you’re family. You’re my daughter.”

“Ida…”

“My beautiful, amazing daughter. If your name was Chrysanthemum, you’d be perfect.” She laughs, just like I intended for her to.

“I’m not changing my name,” she insists. “Well, I guess after today, I will be a Lucas.” She blushes.

“Dang straight! The sooner, the better. So let’s get this show on the road,” Jansen says. “Besides, Ida Sue made chicken salad for the reception. I want my hands on that.”

“That’s how you got such a fine catch, Ida Sue?” asks Mer. “I always heard the way to a man’s heart was his stomach.”

“Honey, that’s just horseradish. The way to lock in your man is definitely wrangling him by the milk snake.”

“Milk snake?” Mer asks, already laughing along with CC.

“Good Lord, woman,” Jansen says, and I wink at my new daughter. “Let’s go before you say something else I’ll have to spank you for.”

“Okay, sweetheart. See you outside, girls,” I tell them just as there’s another knock on the door. Jackson comes in looking hot as the Arizona heat in the dead of summer. “Jackson dear, you clean up real nice. If I was a little younger, Jansen might have reason to be worried.”

“Ms. Ida,” Jackson says with that sexy little grin of his. “I say we give him reason to worry now.”

“On that note, we’re out of here,” Jansen grumbles just as I reach up to kiss Jackson’s cheek.

“I wouldn’t mind taking a ride on the J train,” Mer says.

Definitely going to have to keep an eye on that girl.

I take Jansen’s hand and we walk out of the room together. When we get to the front door of my ranch house, Jansen looks at me with a grin. “I know today is all about the bride, but I have to tell you Lovey, there’s never been a more beautiful woman than you are right now.”

I move into him, letting him hold me close. “Much more of that sweet talking and I’m going to have to take a ride on the J train before the I do’s.”

“The shindig is set up at the end of the yard. We do pass the little one’s playhouse on the way.”

“I do love a man who thinks on his feet.”

“And here I thought you liked it best when I was off my feet,” he says, sneaking me out and towards the small playhouse.

A new daughter, a happy son, and a ride on the J train.

Life is damn good.





I watch as Mer takes off to walk down the aisle. She’s marching in the middle of all of Gray’s brothers—a fact that made her very happy. That leaves me and Jackson alone in the small bedroom.

“You about ready to get this show on the road, Claude?” Jackson asks and I turn to look at him.

“Can you give me just a minute? I need to get my nerves together,” I tell him, my heart beating hard in my chest.

“Banger would be so proud of you, y’know,” he says, nodding.

“I know,” I tell him, and I finally do.

“Okay, I’ll be right outside the door.”

I watch as he walks out and then I turn to the letter that Ida Sue handed me. My hands shake as I open it up, almost afraid to read it. I’m so happy. I have everything I could have dreamed of and I’m about to marry the man I love more than life itself. With all that good, will this be the bad that I’ve always had in the past?