In college, it became clear that Lucky wanted something different out of life. When he met Carrie, he thought he had found it. He would have gone to the moon to fight for their relationship. He didn’t give a shit if his parents had disowned him. Money didn’t mean the same thing to him as it did to his family.
As an only child, Lucky was pretty much guaranteed a spot on the Gauthier board when a seat became available. The successful company had initially been a small startup by his father, Colby, and his best friend, Art Flanagan, who committed suicide a few months back.
Lucky grew up as James Thomas Gauthier. He went to an affluent private school. He made good grades for the most part and tried to stay out of trouble, but as he got older, he started pushing the limits; doing drugs, sneaking out, and he developed a serious case of gambling addiction.
His father wouldn’t dare let him attract negative attention to the Gauthier name. In their junior year of high school, Lucky and a classmate stole a teacher’s car, and that’s when all hell broke loose. He was arrested, and his dad had to pull major strings to keep his name out of the paper, going to all lengths to keep the Gauthier name from being tarnished. His friend wasn’t as fortunate, being convicted of grand larceny. Colby Gauthier also had to drop some serious coin to keep him in school. That is where the Gauthier computer lab came from. And the Gauthier athletics fund, the Gauthier parking lot, and the Gauthier faculty workroom. The list goes on.
He spent years of testing how far his dad would go to keep him out of trouble before Lucky finally got his shit together. After a pregnancy scare and a DUI charge, the family didn’t know what to do anymore. He was sent away to spend the majority of his junior year at military school. It was like six months of boot camp, without the actual government to regulate tactics, which bordered on abuse. There was no use complaining about it. His father would say it was what he needed since he came back a changed man.
Lucky tossed all the drugs and alcohol he had stashed. He decided to rule out girls for the year, not wanting drama to get in the way of graduation. He kept his eye on the prize. That prize was getting into LSU, getting his degree, and taking over his father’s business.
There were times when Lucky literally sat and daydreamed about sitting in his father’s oversized leather chair, bellied up to his enormous mahogany desk with a scotch in one hand and an intern in the other.
He graduated high school with honors and maintained a 3.9 GPA. His father continued to run his business, as well as his personal life like a tyrant. His mother continued to work on her retail therapy and write checks to local charitable organizations.
Everything was on track. That is until Carrie Scott walked into his business law class. With long blond hair, a body to die for, and flawless fair skin, she was drop-dead gorgeous and the picture of Los Angeles socialite. LSU was her father’s alma mater. He had moved out to Hollywood after getting his big break in the film industry.
After hooking up at a frat party, he and Carrie became inseparable. They studied together, worked out together, and spent what little free time they had together. Yes, she was hot and fun, but the thing that he loved most about her was her drive. Carrie was the most motivated person he had ever met. When she wanted something, she was balls to the wall until it happened. Nothing was too big for her. Nothing was unattainable. She was infectious, pushing him harder and keeping him focused.
Once Lucky disclosed his plan about climbing the ladder at Gauthier, it was all Carrie talked about. He saw his future, and he loved it. The two of them were going to take the business world by storm.
However, not everyone approved of their relationship. His parents made that abundantly clear, but it didn’t matter. He had gone to bat for her time and time again. It was the real deal. They were the campus power couple and they were both reveling in it.
It shook him when Carrie announced she was pregnant. He was scared as hell, not of having a kid, but that he would turn out to be like his old man. After the initial shock wore off, he was elated. He quickly adjusted his plan and had no doubts they could still have all the things they wanted out of life.
Carrie had never been as excited as he was, but once Lucky told his parents and stood up to them, she slowly reconciled with the fact that she was going to be a mother. She talked about nursery themes and baby names. The two got an apartment off campus with two bedrooms.
And that’s where it ended. The day he came home to find Carrie packing her belongings after having an abortion was the day Lucky cut himself off from anything that would cause him to feel pain. Or anything for that matter. If it didn’t involve being pissed off, pain from a bar fight, or the pathetic relief of sex with a more than willing stranger, Lucky wasn’t feeling it.
That’s why this green-eyed girl had him spiraling out of control. He couldn’t wrap his head around what was happening to his heart. The feeling was foreign and yet addictive all at the same time.
Crazy attracts crazy. Or is it wounded attracts wounded? Either way, they were both a mess. Together, they were bound to be a disaster.
Chapter Fifteen
Baby Jade
Baby kicked off the covers. Sweating, her legs stuck to the sheets. She stretched her arms up over her head, and the back of her hand met something hard. She opened her eyes, shocked to see her dark legs entangled with Lucky’s denim ones. Sun streamed into the room from the small breaks in the blinds. Her head rested on Lucky’s chest, right over his heart tattoo. She didn’t move. She closed her eyes and attempted to savor the moment. His warm skin smelled like a mixture of his soap and her body lotion. The simple motion of his breathing awakened her body.
She couldn’t help but wonder how the morning was going to play out. She didn’t regret what had happened, but she didn’t know how Lucky would feel, especially after her long, drawn out confession.
He stirred, giving a drowsy sigh. He stretched, pulling his long body tight. The bulging bicep muscle under her back caused her to twitch.
“Hey you.” Lucky’s arms closed around Baby, squeezing her to his chest.
The gesture unleashed the angst that had been all wrangled inside her and she returned his embrace. “Good morning. Sleep well?”
“I haven’t slept like that in years. You looked like you were sleeping pretty well yourself.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I guess I was worn out.” The sly grin that crept across his face gave her chills. “Yes, physically, but also emotionally.”
“That’s understandable. I’m sure last night took a toll on you, but I’m happy you opened up to me.”
She braced her hand against his hard abs and propelled herself to a sitting position. “You don’t look at me any different?”
Lucky used his thumb to sweep a tuft of black hair behind Baby’s ear. Her pulse quickened as the back of his hand brushed the smooth skin of her neck. “I didn’t say that.”
Baby shot upright, her green eyes wide. “What?”
“I’m not gonna lie. I do look at you differently.” Lucky tilted her face up to meet his gaze. “Don’t shut down on me again. Before we talked, I knew you were hot, strong, and independent. And none of that has changed. You’re still all of those things. Only now, you’re more. You’re hot and beautiful. You’re strong but also fragile. You’re independent but desperately need someone to take care of you. It’s true. My thoughts about you have changed, but they haven’t weakened, they’ve intensified. I’m caught up in you and I think I’m losing my fucking mind.”
Tears flowed down Baby’s face, pooling at her neck. She wanted to believe Lucky’s incredible words, but it didn’t come naturally. No one had ever cared for her like that. No one had ever loved her enough to embrace not only her strengths, but also her weaknesses. For someone to know some of her darkest secrets and still speak of her like she’s worthy of receiving that kind of love of was too much for her to comprehend.