Chapter Five

Luke

Ring in pocket, Luke knocked on Stacy's door and stood waiting for her to open up. He rubbed his face, damning the small coffee he'd had before dropping by, and now wishing he'd ordered an extra-large. He'd need all the caffeine he could get to make it through today. He'd slept badly last night after speaking with Amiriam. It had shone a giant spotlight on all the holes in his plan and stripped some of the numbness that usually surrounded him. Leaving him feeling raw. And vulnerable.

He didn't like those feelings. Actually, he didn't like feeling much of anything, period. He'd been working in the early hours of the morning to get his armor back online. He was going to need it if he was going to make it through the day.

He'd been woken up by a call from his lovely old Dad at seven in the morning. The phone was ringing across the room, and he'd ignored it for about five minutes before he'd finally given up and rummaged through his discarded jeans to locate his phone.

"Hey," he answered.

"Hey, son. There was quite a large charge on your card yesterday," his dad said.

Luke rolled his eyes. "Sure was. Only the best for my future wife."

The silence that greeted him brought a smile to his lips.

"Excuse me?" his dad said.

"Haven't you heard? I'm getting married."

More silence on his end. And more smiling on Luke's.

"You're getting married?" his dad said.

Falling onto the bed, Luke stared at the ceiling and felt triumphant for the first time in his life. "Isn't that what you wanted, Father?"

"Well, yes, but––"

"But what? Are you going to back out now just because I finally met your ridiculous conditions for once?"

His dad disregarded his jab and said, "Your mother––"

"Stepmother," Luke corrected him.

"Yes. Your stepmother and I are returning home tonight. We'll meet you and your new fiancée at the house. Got it?"

Tonight? Luke and Stacy had not made all the arrangements yet, but it looked like he had business to take care of.

"Got it. Anything else?"

"No. See you soon."

Luke dropped the receiver without saying goodbye and stared up at the drab white ceiling.

As soon as his inheritance was in his account, he'd never need to talk to him again––any of them.

Then maybe he'd finally be happy.

He showered after the call and ordered an Uber on their app. Having the driver stop at Starbucks, he bought them each a small coffee. And here he was now. At her door. His fiancée's door. Well, she'd be his fiancée after he proposed.

His nose wrinkled in disgust, and his mouth tasted bitter.

This is ridiculous.

The door groaned open to discover a sexy-as-sin Stacy in a hot pink sports bra and yoga pants.

"Hey, Luke," she purred. Her voice was husky as it passed over her freshly lacquered lips.

Luke hated lip gloss. It was sticky. And messy. And generally tasted like crap. And who the heck sat around in a sports bra if they weren't going to work out? Even though, maybe she was going to work out but wanted to blow out her hair and spend an hour doing makeup first? Who knows. Women were high maintenance like that. If they were hot, that is.

Except for Amiriam. She'd somehow pulled off being gorgeous in a baggy T-shirt and ripped jeans with her hair all tangled up in a ponytail, so he guessed there were always exceptions to the rule.

Pushing his gaze up to Precious's and back to the present, Luke tipped his chin in greeting. "Hey. I need you to meet my parents tonight." He wasn't looking for small talk. That wasn't why he was here.

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Huh?"

"We're getting married, right?"

"Oh! Yeah, I remember. I just didn't know I'd have to meet the parents. That makes it all so much more real, ya know? I thought we were going to elope?"

"Apparently, they have to make sure you're real first."

Crossing her arms and pressing her massive-ass breasts together, she cocked her hip and said, "If I'm going to have to meet your parents, I'm going to need some money for a new outfit. You want me to make a good impression, don't you?"

Luke had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, handing her a wad of money. "Here."

"Oo! And shoes. I'll need new shoes."

Luke sighed and handed over the rest of the cash and gave it to her, mentally reminding himself to stop at the ATM.

"Here. This should be enough."

"Eek!" she squealed. "Perfect! Where's my ring?"

Luke's annoyance sparked at the greed in her voice, but he swallowed before bringing out a little blue box with a gigantic square-cut diamond.

"Here."

Pursed lips said, "Aren't you gonna get down on one knee?"

"If you're waiting for a knight in shining armor, then we can forget the whole thing right now."

"Oh. Just give it to me." She pouted and took the box from his hand and opened it.

Her mouth made a little 'O' as she inspected the ring like a professional jeweler. "Beautiful color. I don't notice any flaws. And the cut is gorgeous." With a sensual grin, Stacy slipped it onto the fourth finger of her left hand then placed it on Luke's chest. Satisfied with his present, she kissed him slowly, opening her mouth and sliding her tongue into his with ease. It was offering sweat and sex, and Luke knew that if he wanted, he could pass the next hour or two away with her legs around his waist. Unfortunately, the image held not one shred of temptation just then. Especially when the taste of lip gloss exploded on his tongue. Gently, he pushed her back.

"Can't right now, but can you get me my keys? We have to be at my house an hour or so before my parents are due home. We can rehearse how we met and go through the plans."

"Okay." She disappeared for a moment and returned with his keys and handed them to him. The large rock on her ring finger glittered in the light as she smiled up at him. "See you tonight."

Luke moved off her porch before she could kiss him goodbye.

"See you soon," he muttered.

He then walked over to his car and started the ignition with the intention of spending his hours cruising with the top down. He'd do anything for the warm wind to blow some sense into him. But he was done playing his dad's game. The minute he got his inheritance, he was out of here.

For good.