Free Drawn To You (Taking Chances #3) by Liwen Ho Page B

thought of her easygoing brother-in-law who taught high school math interrogating a police officer. “You’re kidding, right?”
    “Don’t worry, Jeremy’s being their buffer. This is one of those times his negotiation skills come in handy outside the office.”
    “That’s sweet of your hubby to do that, but Lucas is as squeaky clean as they come. He’s a cop, for crying out loud.”
    Ashlynn’s eyes widened. “He is? He must not like doughnuts ‘cause he’s in really good shape.” Her cheeks reddened. “Not that I was looking.”
    “No worries,” Sam laughed. “We all know your heart belongs to your knight in shining armor. He actually prefers muffins, but his daughter likes doughnuts.”
    “Wait, a cop with a daughter?” Melanie interrupted. “Who are you talking about?”
    “Remember the cop who pulled me over a few weeks ago? It turns out he’s the dad of one of my students.”
    “The guy from high school? Where’s his wife?”
    “She passed away from cancer a year ago.”
    “That’s so sad,” Ashlynn frowned. “How old is his daughter?”
    “She’s four going on fourteen,” Sam grinned, “and I’m her new best friend.”
    An amused look crossed Melanie’s face. “I see what’s going on. I thought you weren’t interested in dating a widower.”
    “We’re not dating. He’s a friend.”
    “A friend ?” Melanie nodded knowingly. “What kind of friend is he?”
    “An amazing one,” Sam bragged. “The kind that’s sweet enough to bail me out of debt, feed me dinner every night, and kisses really well.”
    Ashlynn gasped. “You guys have kissed?”
    “Yup.” She recalled the way Lucas’s mouth met hers, hesitantly at first, just like their first kiss a decade ago. But when the kiss deepened with more heat and pressure, she could tell that the boy she had fallen for had grown into a confident and passionate man. And he was still in love with her.
    “Sam, I hope you don’t kiss all your male friends,” Melanie sighed. “The way you describe him makes him sounds like—what’s that saying people use? A sweet daddy?”
    Ashlynn winced. “I think you mean sugar daddy?”
    “Yes, a sugar daddy. Have you wondered why he treats you so well?”
    Sam straightened in her chair, gripping the armrests so tightly that the metal bands of her chunky statement rings pressed into her skin. Her sister had some nerve! Was it so hard to imagine that a man could appreciate her for who she was on the inside and not just for her looks? Certainly she didn’t rely on her appearance or charms that much, did she? “Why wouldn’t he be nice to me? We go way back and his daughter’s my student. Friends help each other out. It’s as simple as that.” Seeing the baby stirring in Ashlynn’s arms, she lowered her volume. “Lucas is not my sugar daddy. I can’t believe you’d even suggest that.”
    “I don’t know what to think. The man lost his wife not too long ago. Maybe he’s lonely. Have you talked about your intentions? About the future?”
    Sam gritted her teeth. So much for enjoying the moment. Why did Mel have to spoil her good mood? “We kissed for the first time tonight. There’s not much to analyze. It was the right moment and we both wanted to. You’re thinking too much.”
    “You should think more. Relationships only work when both sides are on one page. I don’t want you to get hurt again.”
    “I know, I know,” Sam nodded. Childbirth wasn’t the only reason for the weariness in her sister’s bloodshot eyes. Melanie had been the only one she confided in about her heartbreak in Paris. She knew she was trying to prevent her from falling for the wrong guy again. But that mistake had been seven years ago and she had learned her lesson. For starters, there was no other woman in the picture this time. And Lucas was a better man than Jacques ever was. “Lucas is different. He’s dependable and trustworthy. He’s a great dad.”
    Ashlynn smiled. “You like him a lot,