“I told you, I don’t like holding hands in public,” she whispered. “I’m worried about someone telling my dad.”

“It’s been six months and you still haven’t told them? You spent the whole summer with me.”

“I know but it’s just complicated. My dad made it a point to tell me not to get involved with anyone.”

Lucas rolled his eyes before starting to walk away. “Whatever,” he grumbled. Fallon rushed to catch up with him and stopped him by grabbing his wrist.

“Don’t be mad,” Fallon asked, looking up into his dull gray eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“I just want to be able to touch you when I want, no stipulations,” he said, not looking her in the eye. “When we’re alone, you are all over me. In public, it’s like we’re friends. I can’t be friends with you Fallon. I want you too much.”

A slow grin went across her face as she looked up at him, waiting for him to look at her. When he finally did, he couldn’t help but smile back at her. Fallon decided at that moment that if her dad did find out, oh well, because this man was hers, and she needed him to breathe. Fallon took a step towards him, locking her pinkies with his. “I can’t promise that I’ll be all over you, but I can guarantee you that I will always be touching you.”

Lucas smiled as he squeezed her pinkie with his. “Like this?”

“Like this, it’s our thing.”

“And always will be,” Lucas said before he gave her a warm, slow, slanted grin. He then leaned over and softly placed his lips against hers. She welcomed his invasion and basked in the feel on him.

She was gonna love this man for the rest of her life.

What a crock of shit, she thought as she looked out onto the party. There was no way in hell she would ever love that man again — okay maybe a small part of her did but she would never admit it to anyone. She would forever keep those feelings locked up in the case they were in and not let them out. She would never let him have the power he had over her ever again. He didn’t deserve it. Yeah, he deserved an apology for keeping Aiden from him, but Lucas Brooks did not deserve her heart. He would…

“And I thought you were gorgeous back then, Fallon Parker.”

Fallon froze.

She would forever know that velvet smooth voice anywhere. Fallon would always remember the way it sounded when he would lay her down on his bed before he would thoroughly make love to her or when he would console her when she was sad. It was the voice of the man that she had loved with a fierceness no one could touch. It was the same voice of the man that broke her into a billion pieces in a matter of seconds.

Fallon slowly turned to see Lucas Brooks standing only inches from her with the same grin her son always wore. Her breath caught at the sight of him, and she swore time stopped as they looked into each other’s eyes. Neither of them said anything as their eyes roamed each other’s bodies, checking each other out. All Fallon could do was hope that she looked as good as she did back then, because Lucas sure did. He wore a fitted gray suit with a black shirt underneath it and the top buttons unbuttoned, showing a little of the tattoo that used to drive Fallon crazy. His hair was done to the side and she noticed it was longer than the last time she had seen him. His eyes were bright with excitement, and his mouth was twisted in a grin that made it hard for Fallon to breathe.

It wasn’t fair, Lucas was still freaking gorgeous! Fallon couldn’t catch a break! Why couldn’t he be a little fat, or maybe have one eye or something! Why did he still have to be so damn gorgeous that he took her freaking breath away!

“Lucas,” she gasped as she looked up in his eyes.

“Hey baby girl, long time no see.”

His old nickname for her stung as she looked off to the side. She couldn’t let him affect her — she had to be strong — or he would have her in bed in two point three seconds.

He was that good.

“Yup, a long time of me not being your baby girl. You know my name Lucas, use it.”

*********************************************

Oh, how Lucas had missed Fallon’s sassy side. He chuckled as his eyes grazed her beautiful body. He loved that she had filled out in the hips and br**sts, loved that her face was exactly the way he remember it. She was still his Fallon, or at least looked like her. The dress she wore was tight and hugged every curve she had. It came right to mid-thigh and his mouth watered at the sight. Lucas would do anything to be able to slide his hand up that skirt to the sweet spot between her ass and thigh. It used to drive him crazy to do that, and he imagined that it would make his day, hell his year, shit maybe even his lifetime, to do it again.

Lucas had an obsession with Fallon’s ass that was borderline disturbing. It was so round, so perfect and was second best to her mouth. He loved that mouth. The things it said, the things it did, and the way it smiled. Like right now, it was glossed up to perfection and his lips begged to be on hers.

After nine years, he stilled wanted her like he did the day they met.

“Oh, I know your name Fallon,” he said before leaning towards her. She took a step back, but didn’t get far before he whispered, “I’m pretty sure I’ve yelled it out a few times.”

Fallon rolled her eyes as disgust went over her face. “Really? I haven’t seen you in seven years and that is the way you talk to me?”

“I’m just stating facts baby girl, you look great. Brings back nice memories.”