The Luck of Love by Serena Akeroyd Read Free Book Online Page A

she hooted, “So says you, Mr. Zip-Mouth. Hell, the day you learn to share is the day the earth stands still.”
    “I’m not that bad,” he mumbled, sniffing indignantly.
    “No, you’re worse.” She glanced at Luke as he uttered the condemnation, and they both burst into muffled laughter.
    “He’s right, Josh. He’s right,” she gasped out.
    “Yeah, yeah. Let’s change the subject, why don’t we?”
    “It’s your fault,” she told him, pressing a hand to her mouth to withhold her amusement. Managing to hide her smile, she murmured, “You mentioned the sharing word.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Go on, Luke. This is important.”
    His lover shrugged. “There isn’t much to say, Josh. I’ve said it all.”
    “No. You haven’t. None of that states why you won’t marry me.”
    “Because it’s not the right time.”
    “Do you know of a better moment? You think you’re going to die over there, and you don’t want the world to recognize how much we love one another?”
    Luke bit his bottom lip. “It’s stupid. You two should get married.”
    Gia huffed. “Why would I want to marry him? Can you imagine how much bossier he’d be? If I was getting married to anyone, it would be you, Luke. I don’t know why you think Josh and I are perfect for each other. I love him—God knows, that’s why I put up with his OCD shit—but you’re the glue. You smooth over the rough edges. When I want to wring his neck, then fuck him raw, you temper it and remind me why I love him like I do. When he misses Lexi’s recitals and I want to scream at him, you make it better; you make his position in the ranks bearable. Without you, we’re nothing.”
    Luke’s baby blues turned surprisingly glassy. “You mean that?”
    “I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t. Josh and I, we’re similar, honey. We rub against each other, sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad. You’re stuck in the middle. You love us enough to be the peacekeeper, to maintain the household. What would we do without you?”
    He raised a hand, unashamedly wiping his eyes. “You love me so much?”
    “Oh, baby,” she said breathily, then leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. “You’ve no idea how much.” As their mouths met and entwined, she felt Josh at her back. He rested his hands on her shoulders, and she felt his silent support, even after she’d insulted him to his face.
    Well, she had her back to him, but she’d told the truth.
    Gia kept a tidy house, but Josh had to have it cleaner. There were days when the steamer couldn’t get the floor sparkling enough. She could concede defeat and hire someone to do it for her, but it was her home. Her place. She took as much pride in it as Josh. Only at times, she wanted to shove the steam-cleaning rod up his ass and tell him to do it himself.
    Luke balanced all Josh’s flaws, added equilibrium to hers.
    He was the perfect middle.
    Sometimes the woman, the so-called weaker sex, went there. Sandwiched between the two strong he-men, she was protected. Kept secure from all dangers.
    But in this case, Luke went there.
    Not because he was a wimp or weak. He’d reached lieutenant colonel on his own merit and could kick ass with the rest of them, yet he was a soldier not to make war but to make peace.
    And he did that in their household.
    Without them, the house of cards would tumble.
    Why couldn’t he see that?

Chapter Four
    “Where’s Lexi?” Lucas mumbled the question against her lips.
    “She’s reading in the family room.”
    “Oh thank God.” He groaned, the words a faint vibration against tender skin that had already been sensitized by Josh’s earlier attentions. That groan also told her what was about to happen, and her body did a Mexican wave.
    She was sore. Josh had fucked her so well that everything was aching. But there was no way she could deny Luke, not at this moment when he needed her.
    She knew exactly what was going on as well. And though she was thrilled at the notion of