Page 37 of Searching for Sadie (Mystic Falls #5)

LUCAS

W hen Lucas woke up the next morning, he was on his side spooning Sadie and George the orange tabby was snuggling in behind his legs.

He really didn't have a clue how this cat managed to come and go as he pleased but he didn't mind.

In fact, waking up with his girl in his arms and her cat snuggled in with them was pretty damn perfect.

George sensed movement and pounced. His kitty claws dug into Lucas’s back as he climbed his way to perch on his shoulder where he promptly started purring in his ear.

Sadie started to stir in his arms, and he really didn't want to wake her up after the night she'd had.

He managed to wrangle the unruly cat as he turned to his stomach to grab his phone.

George settled on his wide chest and head butted him.

After putting his phone down he pet the cat.

Part of him wanted to go back to sleep. He didn't have to go to a job this morning, so he was just going to catch up getting some quotes to people and part of the business end of things.

That was his least favorite part of being in business for himself.

He loved the actual work and that each day was just a little different.

It made it stay fresh, but invoicing and getting quotes out was boring.

He'd been telling himself he was going to hire someone for a while, but he just hadn't gotten around to it.

"Let's go buddy," he said as he gently got out of bed and set the cat on the floor. Sadie shifted in the best next to him but settled back into sleep.

He stood from bed with a stretch and made it downstairs and put on the coffee. Once he had himself a cup he sat at the table with his laptop and got to work. He found the least favorite part of his job was almost impossible this morning with how distracted he was.

No matter how much he tried to focus on the spreadsheet sheet in front of him, his mind kept going to that awful show he'd watched with Sadie last night.

He had never wanted to nut punch someone more in his life than he did that guy.

The way he talked about her was not the way any man should talk about a woman.

Period. Attracted to her or not, everyone deserves respect. It was basic human decency.

But then there was also the fact of how fucking wrong he was. Sadie was by far one of the most beautiful women he'd ever known, inside and out. He just hoped she believed that, but after last night he was hoping he might have her convinced.

The corner on his lips turned up as his dick twitched in his pajama pants at the thought of what they'd done last night.

He knew he was falling in love with her, but after last night he knew there was no falling, he loved her.

But even knowing that he wasn't sure what his next step was.

She was really going through it, and he didn't want to put even more pressure on her. He could be patient.

Upstairs his bedroom door opened, and he heard her bare feet pad down the hall. When he looked, she was round the corner of the staircase, her brown hair piled high on her head and sleep still in her eyes as she yawned.

"Good morning," he said, trying to tamp down the smile that itched to spread wide across his face. He could too easily get used to waking up with her in his bed and her sleepy face across the breakfast table. "There's coffee if you want it."

"Thank you," she said as she went over and poured herself some coffee. George came over and wound between her legs as she bent to scratch his ears. "How do you keep getting out of the house?"

"I don't know how he's getting out, but I'm pretty sure he gets in here from the doggy door I have in the garage."

"It's so weird. What are you up to today?" she asked as she joined him at the kitchen table.

"I'm pretty much here for the day, I think. I have some invoicing and quotes to catch up on. What about you?"

"I think I'm going to start packing. I leave for Nashville in two days."

The deep furrow between her brows was not lost on him. "How long are you going to be there?"

"Four days."

He really didn't like the thought of her being gone that long, especially when she was going to be seeing that guy. Not because he didn't trust her, but because this had the potential to be a really emotional thing and he wanted to be there if she needed him.

"Do you want me to go with you? I could move some stuff around?"

She smiled at him before taking a sip of coffee. "I appreciate that," she said as she took his hand on the table. "But I think this is something I need to do by myself."

He nodded, evaluating her. "Are you sure?" The sight of her standing weeping in his garage to the way he held her last night when she cried, he had a visceral urge to be there and support her as she dealt with all the drama this trip was bound to bring.

She gave a deep sign as she wiped some sleep from her eyes. "No, I'm not sure," she said with a rough chuckle. "But I do think I need to do this on my own. I need to close this chapter."

His eyes didn't leave her. He didn’t like this.

"But then I will come back to this amazing new chapter I'm starting here in Mystic Falls."

"You say the word and I'm there."

She leaned over the table and pressed a kiss to his lips. "Thank you. I really appreciate that."

Just then her phone rang. She looked at the number and sighed before answering it.

"Hi mom ... Yep, I'll be home on Tuesday .

.. Yeah, I'll have some time ... Let me look at the schedule of events for the show and I'll text you, but that should work .

.. I know you need to know ... Mom, I don't have the schedule in front of me .

.. I'll text you ... Yes soon ... Okay, bye . .. I love you too."

Lucas just watched her as she sipped her coffee. He wanted to be there for her and help her through this, but what could he do? If she wanted to do it on her own, he had to respect that. As much as he hated the thought of her hurt and upset and him being half a world away, he had no say in this.

She downed her coffee and popped up off her chair. "Well, I need to deal with that, but I'll see you later?" she asked tentatively.

"Of course. I'll be here."

She nodded and scooped up George before stopping to give Lucas a kiss goodbye.

A very real part of him wanted to wrap his arms around here and keep her here and protect her, but he wasn’t a caveman.

His mother had raised him to be a gentleman.

But he couldn't help cupping her face and bringing her face back to his to give her a proper kiss.

She hummed and pulled away with a dreamy smile and that made him feel slightly better.

"I'll be back later."

His eyes stayed pinned to her as she slid the back door open and took her giant orange tabby back to her house next door. Sadie was a surprise he didn't see coming, but he was so glad she'd come into his life.

As he settled back into his work his phone rang. It looked like it was a morning for mothers.

"Hey mom," he said as he answered the phone.

"Hi baby, I was just calling because I haven't really talked to you for the past week or so. That's strange. Are you busy today?"

"Just catching up on some paperwork."

"Can I take you out to lunch?"

"How about I take you out to lunch?"

"As long as I get to see you, I don't care."

"Meet you at the diner at 1?"

"I look forward to it."

"Okay, bye mom. Love you."

After finishing up his work he made his way to the diner to meet his mother.

She was right, she hadn't seen him as much as usual.

All the time he'd been spending with Sadie had cut into some of that family time, and even time with Sam and the guys on the team, but he just couldn't seem to get enough of her.

And honestly, she was going through it, and he liked being there for her.

As he walked into the diner, he saw his mom sitting over at the table by the window. She waved him over beaming at him.

"Hi baby," she said as she pulled him down to kiss his cheek.

"Hey ma, how's the store?"

"Oh, you know, it's the store. Your dad keeps saying he's going to turn it over to your brother and retire, but we're still there every day."

"He loves it," Lucas said with a genuine smile.

"He does. It makes him feel useful."

"How about you? What's new with you?" she gave him a knowing glance.

"Just working, I've finished up a few jobs. I'm done with Liam James's place, and I don't have much lined up until next week."

"That's nice honey, but we both know what I was asking about..."

Just then the waitress showed up and Lucas let out a sigh of relief. He knew she was going to ask about Sadie, but he just wasn't sure what to say.

After the waitress left, she turned to him. "So, how is Sadie?"

He knew the way he felt had to be written all over his face. He also knew if anyone could pick up on that it was his mother. She was so in touch with all of her children's wants and needs, even still now that they were all adults and she had two grandkids, she just always knew.

"She's good."

"So have you two made it official yet?"

Lucas nodded.

"Oh, that's wonderful," she squealed. "She seems like such a nice girl."

"She's an amazing woman," Lucas said with deep sincerity.

"Well, I'll have you guys over for dinner. Are you free this weekend?"

Lucas's brow furrowed. He wished she was free this weekend. "No. Sadie is going to go to Nashville for the weekend. She has to film the reunion episode for that show she did."

His mother's features darkened as she shook her head. "Ya know, I watched that show. I want to punch that Ryan guy right in the mouth."

"You and me both."

"Are you going with her?"

Lucas shook his head and drug his fry through the ketchup.

"Why not?!" his mother nearly squawked. "I bet she's going to need support."

"I asked her if she wanted me to go and she said no. I have to respect that."

His mother's brows knitted together as she took him in. "I know you're not much online, but have you read any of the discourse going on about her storyline?"

"No. I'm sure it's awful. The world is terrible."

"Honey, I really think she might need a supportive person there... but her family is there, isn't that right?"

Lucas nodded. While his mother was correct, he didn't feel like her family was going to be the support she needed. God, he hated this.

"Well, that's good. At least she'll have someone there with her. When she gets back you guys will have to come over for dinner."

"That sounds wonderful, mom."

They finished eating but Lucas couldn't kick the feeling that this was all going to go terribly awry and there would be nothing he could do about it states away. Upstate New York was a world away from Nashville.

As he left the diner, he was glad he had walked, it would be good to clear his head.

His mother was right, he felt like Sadie was walking into the lion's den unprotected.

He wanted to protect her, but he also knew she could do it herself and if that's what she wanted that is how it would be, even though he still hated it.

As he walked by the town square, he was watching Josh Turner paint the gazebo.

He was surprised he wasn't at the orchard cafe, but it wasn't quite apple picking season yet.

Although if Sam had any say in it, it would be a year-round operation soon enough.

He had just installed the electric for an event center that he was hoping to open next spring along with the blueberry fields that he planted that should be ready to go next year.

"Ock, Goodness me," a feminine voice with a thick Scottish brawl said as he nearly walked right over the short woman.

He threw out his hands and steadied her. "I'm so sorry."

"Not a worry, lad. I can't expect ye to see me when yer heads taller than me... and it would appear that same head is in the clouds."

Bridget had moved into Mystic Falls a few years ago and had shaken things up. Lucas liked her, she kept everyone on their toes. And she did have an uncanny ability to know what was going on in people's lives.

"How are you doing today, Bridget?"

"Oh, I'm not one to complain. But I do sense there is something going on with you, my young Mr. Fipp."

Of course she was able to pick up on it.

"Oh, I'll figure it out."

"What seems to be the problem?" she asked, cocking her head to the side taking him in.

"I'm just worried about someone I'm growing to care a lot about. They think they have to be strong enough to face something really hard on their own. I want to be there for them, but I'm just not sure what the right thing is."

Hmmm, Bridget said, nodding, taking him in. "Does this have anything to do with the pretty little neighbor of yers?"

He gave a rough chuckle as he ran his hand through his blond hair. "Is it that obvious?"

"Oh yes, my dear, the affection the two of ye have for each other is quite obvious. Let me ask ye this, do ye want to be with her?"

"More than anything." He was surprised at the words that came out of his mouth.

While they were the absolute truth, he did tend to play it a little closer to the vest with his feelings.

Yet somehow with Sadie he was always just a little out of his depth.

Which oddly enough was something he really enjoyed about her.

"So then why are ye staying away?"

"I'm not staying away. It's just... well, I want to be there for her, and she told me not to. I have to respect her wishes."

"Oh yes, ye must respect her wishes to do it on her own, but..."

Mischief twinkled in her eyes, waiting for her to continue.

"Just because she may not want you WITH her, doesn't mean you can't be near her."

"What does that mean?" he asked, shaking his head in confusion.

"I don't know, you tell me." A grin of the Cheshire Cat covered her face as she grinned up at him. "Oh, Poppy, my dear," she called out to Poppy who had joined Josh in the square. "If you'll excuse me, I must speak to Poppy."

He nodded, "Yeah, I'll see ya later."

And before he knew it, she was off. As he continued the walk about to his house the words of Bridget and her mother kept replaying in his head.

There seemed to be a right answer, but he just couldn't figure out what it was.

The only thing he knew for certain was he was in love with Sadie.

They just had make it through this weekend, then they would figure it all out. He was certain of that.