Free Team Lucas (The Saints Team #1) by Ally Adams Page B

school in a different country.”
    The Lamborghini headlights flashed into the driveway. We heard the car door open and close.
    “We’re not telling you this because we’re indiscreet,” Jase said. “It’s just that we hoped you might last longer than the others if you had an idea of where he has come from to get here. If you could keep our discussion to yourself, that would be great.”
    “Of course,” I said.
    Jase rose to greet Lucas and Sarah leaned closer to me.
    “There have been many psychological studies on children who were sent to boarding school. These kids learn it is taboo to express their emotions and learn very quickly to stand on their own feet and be socially active. So you have these adults who can fit in anywhere but can’t express themselves emotionally in their intimate relationships,” Sarah said. She lowered her voice. “Jase is just like that. I’m betting Luke is too. They don’t know how to accept intimacy and when it’s offered, they’re scared it will ultimately lead to rejection.”
    I nodded. “It explains a lot, it really does,” I said. “Thank you, Sarah.”
    “It’s just research and every individual will be different...” she shrugged. “But Mia, one thing I do know about Luke is that if he feels like he is beginning to trust you, he’ll push you away.”
     
     

Chapter 12
     
     
    The life, or should I say the noise of the dinner party arrived. Lucas raced up the internal stairs and bounded through their door. He looked so alive, so different amongst his friends. And he looked as hot as hell in black jeans, black boots and a white fitted T-shirt that showed off his form and a very defined six pack.
    “Luke!” Sarah welcomed him, rising and walking towards him.
    “Hey, sorry I’m late,” he said and swung Sarah around in a hug. He kissed her on the cheek, planted her solidly on the ground and clapped Jase on the back. “Welcome home, Man Mountain.” He turned to me. “Minder, I mean Mia.” He smirked.
    “Kook, I mean Luke.” I smirked back. I saw Sarah and Jase exchange looks and Sarah hid a smile.
    “Where’s Cam and Jessica?” Lucas looked around.
    “Cam got called in on night shift and Jessica... well I think she might still be cranky at you,” Jase said.
    “Hmm, I’ve got to do some work there.” He frowned.
    Sarah turned to me. “Cam’s a doctor and Jessica is a teacher. Luke might have cheesed her off last year.”
    Got to hand it to Lukey-boy, when he’s not with his team, he’s in impressive company—a lawyer, doctor, teacher and psychologist—some grounded folk.
    Lucas rolled his eyes and turned to me to explain. “I said I’d come to her school fundraiser but I wasn’t... I wasn’t in a good place then...”
    “You were a dick who let her down in front of the entire school,” Jase said handing him a juice and hitting Lucas on the back.
    “It’s not like me,” Lucas said.
    I choked on my mineral water, spluttering loudly. I imagined it was so like him. They all turned to me, Jase and Sarah with amused looks and Lucas with his customary frown.
    “Anyway, haven’t you got something better to do, Minder?” he asked.
    Sarah gasped and hit his arm. “Lucas, Mia is our guest.”
    He made a guttural sound that implied if I wasn’t, he would have eaten me for dinner. I gave him one of my smug looks, a really good one. We both glared at each other.
    “Well, we should eat,” Jase said looking from Lucas to me. “I’m guessing you’re starving post-training.”
    “Sure,” he said, not taking his eyes off me. He didn’t want to be the first to break the cool stare.
    Being younger, but more mature, I dropped his gaze and sidestepped Lucas to help Sarah in the kitchen. I decided that no matter what Lucas threw at me during the night, I was going to be civil and polite so that I didn’t embarrass the hosts and ruin the night.
    Boy did he push me though. Luckily Jase stepped in a number of times, saying Lucas’s name just