LUCIEN: A Standalone Romance Read Online Free

started to shake his head, but Lucien said, “Of course he will. It’d be rude to run off without having at least a single glass of wine.”
    Jacob shot his younger brother a dirty look, but he didn’t argue. He simply walked to one of the many beautiful distressed wood cabinets and took out three large wine glasses.
    It’s my habit to notice everything about my surroundings. I served a tour in Afghanistan, so being observant had been a matter of life or death. But I’d been taught the skill of observation when I was a child, too, by my father. He was a detective for the Houston police department. His idea of entertainment was to create fake crime scenes and see how long it would take me to pick out the clues the ‘suspect’ left behind. So I found myself looking around the kitchen, noting the door we’d come through, the archway to the hallway that I’d just come from, and another archway that led into the spacious living room that I could see just past the breakfast bar. I also noticed the expensive appliances, the fancy pots hanging from the ceiling above a butcher block-topped island. I wondered which of these guys was the cook.
    “Wine?” Jacob asked, handing me a glass Lucien had just filled.
    Our fingers brushed as I accepted. He wouldn’t meet my eyes as he backed away.
    “Let’s go in the living room,” Lucien suggested, holding his arm out for me. I moved into it and reminded myself not to stiffen as he laid his hand on my back and guided me in that direction.
    Jacob settled on a large, overstuffed club chair. I eyed the other club chair, but Lucien guided me to the couch. I sat against the arm, twisted a little so that my back was against the armrest and I was facing Lucien. He did the same, turned slightly so that we were facing each other instead of the room, as the furniture placement had intended.
    “What do you do for a living, Adrienne?” Jacob asked.
    I glanced over at him, chewing on my lip a little. “I work at a law firm downtown.”
    “Oh?” His eyebrows rose. “Are you an attorney?”
    “No. I’m a researcher. I’m the one who goes through the law library and finds previous cases that can potentially help or hinder a client’s case.”
    “Sounds interesting. Do you like it?”
    I shrugged. “It can be interesting sometimes. But it’s usually pretty boring.”
    “Have you thought about going to law school?”
    “What is this, Jacob? A job interview?” Lucien asked, his hand suddenly sliding over my knee. I glanced at him, but he was focused on his brother.
    “Just curious,” Jacob said, setting the wine glass he’d been holding on the side table, untouched. “You never really gave her much of a chance to say anything before.”
    “What do you want to know?” I asked, waving my free hand. “I’m an open book.”
    Jacob’s eyes moved slowly over me, and then he looked away, almost like he was embarrassed to be caught showing a little normal male behavior.
    “Are you impressed with this house?”
    “Jacob!” Lucien said.
    I slid my hand over his thigh. “It’s okay.”
    I sat forward a little, holding the wine glass between both hands now. “I understand that you’re concerned about your brother, Jacob. But I also know that anything I might say right now wouldn’t set your mind at ease. I won’t disrespect you by saying I didn’t notice the expensive suits you’re both wearing, or that I wasn’t impressed by the obvious expense of the car or the house. I did notice. I do realize you must have money. And I am impressed because I come from a background that could never compare to the world you live in.” I had Jacob’s full attention now. He was watching me closely, his eyes focused on my eyes and nothing else. “But I will also say that I like you, and I like your brother. And I’d like to get to know you both better, not just because of your money, but because you fascinate me and Lucien is an amazing kisser.”
    Jacob’s expression didn’t change,