Lucca by Karen Michelle Nutt Read Free Book Online Page A

him in any way and the doctor,
who was Nephilim, told her not to worry, stating once Owen matured,
he would out grow the allergies. The runny nose was something all
Nephilim children experienced until they went through their
Awakening. Leroy promised to find a reliable Watcher to walk him
through the Awakening if Raziel didn’t come through for his son.
Owen would need one of the Nephilim to help him to control the
shifts.
    They arrived home and she expected the man
to step aside and let them go on ahead, but he did just the
opposite. He opened the wrought iron fence, stepping inside first.
His gaze swept over the area as if he expected trouble awaited
them. When he deemed the area free from intruders, he stepped aside
allowing them to enter.
    “I’ll see you around then,” he said to her
and she swore he drew in a deep breath as she past by, as if he
were sniffing her hair again. However, when she looked at him, he
had already turned away, heading for his apartment.
    “Yes, see you.” As soon as he closed his
door, she and Owen headed for their apartment across the way.
    Safely inside with the door locked and
bolted, she realized she didn’t know the guy’s name. “I didn’t tell
him mine either,” she reminded herself.
    Owen plopped down on the couch, reaching for
the remote to turn on the television.
    “No TV, young man. It’s late and you need to
take a bath.”
    “Ah, do I have to?”
    “Yes.”
    Owen dragged his feet toward the bathroom as
if she ordered his execution. He may be half angel, but he acted
like a typical human boy. “And don’t forget to brush your
teeth.
    Another groan and her lips curved.
“Definitely a human response.”
    They still had boxes to unpack, but the
kitchen had all their necessities put in order. She placed the
groceries on the counter. She had noticed her neighbor liked
cookies. She could bake a dozen as a thank you for his help.
    She strode into the living room, heading for
the window that overlooked the courtyard. Her hand pulled back the
lace material. The courtyard was well lit, giving her a perfect
view of the plotted plants, lounge chairs, and the front door of Mr. Hair Sniffer . Her lips curved.
    She needed to find out more about him, and
not because she thought him attractive. She made it a point to know
her neighbors, what they did for a living, and what hours they
kept. Leroy assured her this complex was secure. He also asked her
tonight if she’d met any of her neighbors yet. “Hmm...” Had Leroy
meant the neighbor across the courtyard?
    Leroy never steered her wrong before and he
claimed the Courtyard Apartments were safe. To tell the truth, she
fell in love with the apartment as soon as she entered the
courtyard. The trees, the ornate fountain with its soft bubbling
sounds as the water spilled over the bowlike lip. An angel topped
the fountain with its baby wings and bow and arrow, giving the
cherub the appearance of a stone cupid guarding the courtyard for
potential clients.
    A movement caught her eye and her gaze
riveted to her neighbor’s window. Hair-sniffer stood at his
window, checking the lock. The man did have a chest on him and
she’d bet a washboard stomach the way it tapered off to slim hips.
He must work out. No one was born looking like a Nordic god.
    The man hesitated as if he sensed someone
staring at him. His gaze turned toward her place and she hastily
stepped back, letting the curtain fall into place. Her hand flew to
her chest as if to still the pounding against her ribcage. She
chewed on her lower lip, annoyed that she wasn’t entirely sure the
rapid heartbeats had anything to do with her close call at being
caught ogling.

Chapter Eight
     
    Lucca crawled out of bed, showered, and
dressed before he sat behind his computer to do a little
investigating about his lovely neighbor. He spotted her peeking out
her window last night, while he’d been securing the locks, but once
he glanced her way, she became spooked and retreated out of