Free I LOVE LUCY (The Bachelor Pact) by Rita Herron Page B

wigs and boas and underwear.
    Wearing her wigs and boas and underwear.
    The whole situation had gotten downright creepy.
    He’d taken it a step farther by trying to kidnap her from a spa when she was getting a bikini wax.
    Not only had it been embarrassing, but he’d walked in and told the salon worker exactly how he wanted her landscaped.
    She shivered again. He liked his women bald like a baby.
    Not that that bothered her, but no man told her what to do.
    “Lucy,” Wallace said. “I know this is not good, but we will find him.”
    Tears burned the backs of Lucy’s eyes. If Emmet had gone to such drastic lengths to escape, he would find her.
    “But, Lucy, I think you should go in hiding until we do.”
    Lucy looked out the window at the Christmas tree lot across the way. Reid was naked and in her warm bed where she wanted to stay. She thought they might shop for a tree together later like a real couple.
    Sophie had worked hard to build a new life with Reid’s brother Lance.
    None of them knew about her situation. About Emmet.
    What if he came after one of them to get to her?
    “All right,” she said. “I’ll do it. But not for me. I don’t want to endanger anyone I love.”
    “I understand,” Wallace said. “We can put you in a safe house.”
    Lucy’s claustrophobia set in. “I can’t be locked up twiddling my thumbs. I’ll go crazy.” Especially during the holidays when she wanted to be with Reid and her family. And she still had presents to buy!
    Besides, since her mother Deseree had quit stripping, attended cosmetology school and started styling wigs for the drag queen show in Savannah, she and Sophie had tried to get together with her at least once a month.
    She’d also hoped for a special gift from Santa this year.
    “All right. We’ll work something else out.” Wallace wheezed a breath. “I’ll meet you in the Savannah Square in an hour.”
Lucy grimaced. A half hour ago, she’d been in blissful heaven with Reid. She wanted to run into his arms now.
    But she couldn’t tell him what was going on.
    Knowing him and his macho overprotective brother, they’d play Tarzan, beat their chests and hunt down Emmet themselves.
    She’d have to come up with an excuse to leave town. She couldn’t tell Reid the truth or it might put him in danger.
    And lordy, lordy, she didn’t want him to think she’d encouraged the creep or attracted trouble.

    The shower water kicked on, stirring wicked thoughts in Reid’s mind, and he slipped from bed, anxious to join Lucy.
    But the bathroom door was locked.
    Frowning, he paced to the window and looked out. Last night they’d shared a romantic picnic on the riverbank, then raced back in the rain and made love for hours.
    He didn’t want the night to end. And today was Sunday…
    Sunday usually meant a lazy day reading the paper. He jerked on his jeans and went to retrieve it. Maybe he could talk Lucy back into bed and they could read it together.
    The delivery boy had tossed it into the bushes, so he grabbed it and headed back into the kitchen to make coffee. Before he could brew a pot though, the bathroom door opened, and Lucy flitted out in her silky robe. He spied her from the kitchen and rushed to tell her his plan. They’d read the paper together, then he’d serve her breakfast in bed, those croissants she liked with apple butter, and yogurt. And maybe he’d spread a little strawberry jam on her and lick it off…
    “Hey, sexy.” He dropped the paper on the chaise in the corner, then reached for her.
    But Lucy sidestepped him then disappeared into the closet. “Sorry, Reid, but I have to go.”
    His fantasies wilted. “Go where?”
    Lucy yanked out a white t-shirt emblazoned with sparkly angel wings and a pair of jeans then started dressing. “That was my agent. He landed me an audition for a new show they’re filming in L.A., and I need to catch a plane.”
Just what did this agent guy look like? “This morning?”
    She dragged out her suitcase