Page 113 of Lucky Mother Pucker

That pointed expression eases. Warmth flickers in her eyes. “Okay, maybe you’re right.”

Her hazy gaze focuses as she takes in her costume. “Luigi? From Super Mario Brothers?”

“Yup. It was Nick’s idea. He wanted to do a double couple’s costume. One with me, and one with Poppy.”

Lucy bursts into a fit of uncontrollable giggles. She starts to wobble again, so I grab her by the waist to keep her steady.

“Easy,” I say, fighting a smile at how fucking cute she is when she’s a little drunk and laughing too hard.

She gazes up at me, her blue eyes glittery, her smile teasing. “Only you could look this hot in a onesie.”

Heat flickers in my chest. “You think I’m hot?” I tease.

She rolls her eyes at me. “Oh, come on. You know what you look like.”

“Do I?”

She shoves my shoulder, but I don’t even move. She wobbles again, but my hands are still around her waist, holding her steady. She grabs my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. Her eyes turn dazed as she looks at me.

“You’re so solid. Hard. Muscley,” she murmurs.

Pride blooms in my chest at the hungry look in her eyes—the way she’s staring at my body and making no attempt to hide that she likes what she sees.

“I like your costume,” I say.

She looks up at my face, a cute smile pulling at her lips. “You do?”

“Oh, yeah. Misty is my favorite.”

This is the sexiest Halloween costume I’ve ever seen, but I’m not going to tell her that. I don’t want to make her feel weird or uncomfortable.

“You’re not the first guy to tell me that tonight.”

Jealousy sparks up inside of me. “I’m not?”

She shakes her head. “James said the same thing. And some other guy when I first walked in.”

I swallow hard, letting that jealous feeling inside of me unfurl. I’m not at all surprised. Lucy is gorgeous, and in this sexy little outfit, she’s insanely hot.

I clock a dozen guys around us sneaking glances at her. They don’t spend very long looking at her though. Probably because I’ve got my hands on her.

Good. They can look all they want. They’re not getting anywhere near her.

That jealous feeling morphs into protectiveness.

“Leo! Hey!”

I look up and see Anna walking over to us. “What are you doing here?”

Oh, right. I forgot to come up with a convincing lie.

Because the truth is gonna make me sound like a psycho.

I was at home with the guys when Briar texted Blake that photo of her, Anna, Poppy, and Lucy. When I saw how insanely sexy Lucy looked…and heard that they were headed to DJ’s bar…I left the house. I knew that guys would be all over Lucy, and I didn’t want that. I didn’t want some creep hitting on her or trying to buy her a bunch of drinks to get her drunk enough to make her go home with him.

So I made an excuse that we needed more beer and left to come here. So I could look out for her. So I could be with her.

I clear my throat. “I, uh, needed a break from the house party.”