Free Lucky Break by Kelley Vitollo Page A

watched the town—Shakes entertaining, kids running around the way he, Peaches, and Freckles used to. He’d always thought that would be their lives—the three of them. Peaches, the girl who made him feel good when no one else could, and Rowan, his old fishing buddy. He hated that he got his love of fishing from his bastard of a father. His dad always said it was the best way to clear your head. It’s the only thing his father ever told him that Kade had taken to heart.
    He felt guilty for it—for listening to anything the man had said when he’d been so hateful toward his mom. Or any woman for that matter. He’d thought of women as second-class citizens, a philosophy that made Kade sick.
    His dad had hated the fact that Kade’s favorite fishing buddy was a woman.
    “Kade? What are you doing down here?”
    Kade didn’t turn around to look at Rowan. “Fishing. What does it look like?”
    “My brothers went too, but they wouldn’t let me go with them. No girls allowed or something.” She sounded sad.
    Kade shrugged. “You can fish with me, Freckles. It’s better than going with—” He cut off. As much as Rowan meant to him, he couldn’t talk about his dad with her.
    “Who?” Rowan threw her line in. “Sidney? Don’t tell me you tried to get her out here. You know the worms gross her out.”
    Kade laughed thinking about how Sidney freaked out whenever he tried to bait a hook in front of her. “No…I don’t go fishing with her. She’s boycotted the activity.”
    “Well I’m always up for going… You ever want to fish, I’m your girl.”
    After that, it was their thing. Any time one of them wanted to go, they went together. Kade smiled at the memory, but then the smile turned into a frown. Damn, he was getting soft.
    Just like with Sidney today. He’d wanted to ignore Shakes and take her somewhere they could be alone. That easily, he started to slip right into the way it used to be—except now he was a man. This time, it wouldn’t take him years to get the balls to make his move. Christ, he’d never wanted anyone as badly as he did her.
    Definitely soft. He wouldn’t let himself fall for her again. Distance was the key. They could be friends and still keep space between them.
    As Kade pulled into the driveway, he spotted Sidney curled up on the porch swing the second his headlights swung in her direction. What the hell was she doing sleeping outside? Yeah, they only lived in Shamrock Falls, and nothing bad really ever happened here—other than when his old man was in town—but still. That didn’t mean it was impossible.
    He shook his head. She slept like the dead, too. A serial killer could sneak up on her and she’d never know. She’d never been as careful as she should be.
    He jumped from the truck without even bothering to close the door quietly. She wouldn’t stir.
    His boots thumped on the porch stairs as he climbed them. The porch light practically spotlighted her, the glow making it look like there were purple highlights in her hair. She sucked in a deep breath, but other than that, she didn’t move, so he stood there and watched her for a minute. She looked so peaceful, her lips parted slightly, and damned if he didn’t wish again that he could kiss her.
    She’d always been so beautiful. Yet being on her old porch swing, back in Shamrock Falls, she was even more gorgeous.
    “Shit,” he groaned as a mosquito landed on her bare shoulder. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her there. To kiss a trail to her mouth, stopping only to swirl his tongue in the little dip by her collarbone.
    And he wanted to talk to her. To ask her if Los Angeles was everything she’d thought it would be. What her life was like and if it was worth it.
    He just wanted his Sidney back for real.
    When another mosquito landed on her, he shooed them both away. She’d get eaten alive if she stayed out here. With another curse, he bent down and lifted her into his arms. Kade ignored how right she felt there,