Page 11 of Wilds of the Heart

Lucas tensed, but a smile lined his expression. It wasn’t the kind of smile I was used to from him. This one was forced and drawn out extra wide.

“Tickets,” a friendly sales clerk called out. She was standing by the door, gesturing for us to move forward.

Lucas handed the tickets to her as we all made our way inside, miniskirt included.

“When you didn’t respond to my text earlier, I thought I might not see you after all.” She grinned, barely giving a glance in my direction.

I readjusted my backpack straps and slung it in front of me, fishing my book out of my bag.

“Lydia, this is Emily.” Lucas’s voice cut through my pseudo-concentration as I grabbed the book and looked up at the woman.

She pursed her lips together and nodded without a word.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, smiling.

“Likewise.” Her voice was flat, like her gaze, until she looked back at Lucas. “I’m so happy we get to connect again. What are the odds that I’m here with my client and you actually reached out?”

I cocked my head slightly and smiled at Lucas, who looked extremely uncomfortable.

“So, I never pegged you for a mystery reader. You always struck me as the guy who goes out and parties in the city with the coffee table books never cracked open in your living room.”

I chuckled and slapped his back. “You’re right. He’s the partier, and I’m the reader.”

But I thought her judgment was a little harsh as she eyed me.

Lydia’s expression changed. “Oh, you’re together, you two.”

“No.” I shook my head as Lucas stared straight ahead. “We’re just friends.”

She let out an exasperated sigh. “Phew. I reached out to Clara last night to tell her I heard from you.”

Clara?

My gaze flew to his, and I watched his jaw tense as he drew in a steady breath.

“Did you know she’s single now? She and Jimmy broke up about a year ago. Clara’s back in the state again…” She let her voice trail off and eyed me before bringing her gaze back to Lucas. “Her son wanted to come out here to college, so she decided to move back so she’s closer to friends and family. He’s finishing high school here.”

Lucas nodded and glanced at me before turning his attention back to Lydia. “Thanks for pulling through for me on these tickets.”

“Of course. It’s a great excuse to catch up with you after all these years.”

Lucas glanced at me with an apologetic look in his gaze, which was quite amusing because I didn’t have a clue what was actually going on or who this woman was.

“Emily is a huge fan of this author,” Lucas explained.

Lydia checked her phone and looked up at me.

I nodded in agreement, clutching my book. “It’s a dream, actually. Somebody pinch me.”

Anybody, really.

Because I do not know what is going on here.

The seats were filling up, and my stomach started roiling with worry as I watched the crowd converging on the area.

“I’m going to go find a seat,” I told Lucas, touching his arm softly.

Lydia’s gaze drilled into me as Lucas nodded, replying, “I’ll come with you.”

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