Riding Dirty: Luciotti Crime Family (A Bad Boy Mafia Romance) by Kara Hart

something.
    “Yes, ma’am.” He saluted me and winked at Jen, who had already taken a liking to him.
    We pulled onto Loraine Avenue, our little neighborhood. It was a quaint neighborhood, like those in the movies, and I felt real lucky I got a chance to rent a house there. Back in Seattle, we lived in a one-bedroom apartment infested with rats. But because no one in their right mind would move to a small town like Monroe, it was much cheaper to live here.
    “Nice house,” he muttered. “You should see mine sometime.”
    “I’m good.” I parked the car in the driveway and got out of the car. Within seconds, Lucas was already helping Jen out, even with the groceries in his hand
    “Up we go!” He said, picking her up and setting her gently on the ground. For a guy who was made in the streets, he surprisingly had a way with children.
    I gave a guttural throat noise of annoyance and walked inside the house. “Get that homework out, girl! We’re about to learn all about subtraction.”
    “You don’t know anything about math, do you?” I whispered to him.
    “I know a little,” He winked. Jen got out her math book and turned to Chapter 4: Subtraction and we both dove in.
    It was actually nice to have a man around the house for once. Usually, it was just me struggling to keep up with all I had to do in the day. All the wives in Monroe had devoted husbands, set with good incomes and nice homes, and they all stayed home with the kids. Well I had none of that. I had a job, responsibilities, and on top of it all, I was trying to be a good mother to Jen.
    We leaned over her books together and figured out each formula in different creative ways. Lucas had his way of seeing things and I had mine. Of course, Jen had her way as well. It didn’t take long to figure out where she went wrong on her test. And by the end of her studying, she completely grasped the material. It was amazing.
    “Now for the best part. Dinner and ice cream sundaes!” He announced.
    “You always buy ice cream and fudge?” I asked him, laughing slightly.
    “Hell yeah, baby. Don’t you?” He looked bewildered, as if he was wondering how I could ask such a question. He then turned to Jen. She was looking happier than she had been for a while. “Jen, honey. Why don't you watch some TV in the family room while your mom and I cook?”
    “Okay!” she said, skipping into the other room.
    “I didn't know you liked children.” I grabbed some pots and pans as he got out the ingredients for lasagna.
    “What, I don't look like the kind of guy who's good with kids?” he asked me. He started by boiling some salted water and preparing the ground beef. He threw a little garlic, oregano, and black pepper onto the meat and stepped back as it started to heat up.
    “I don't know. I guess I shouldn't judge. It's not like I'm good with them,” I said, pouring myself a glass of apple juice.
    “Toss the juice. I have some red wine,” he said, eying me sipping out of the cup. “By the way, I don't know what you're talking about. But from the looks of it, you're a great mother.” He flipped the meat with the spatula as it started to simmer. I felt my stomach start to move with hunger.
    “Thanks, but I don't drink. I'm okay at it, I guess. It's just hard being a single mom sometimes. I'm starting to think Jen needs a little more out of life and I can't give it to her,” I said, now downing the juice as if it were wine. I could use a good drink, right now, I thought to myself.
    “Kids always need more out of life. Sometimes it’s up to them to make it happen. You used to have a problem with alcohol or something?” His jacket was off now, revealing a tight white undershirt that practically pushed against the rivets of his muscles. He rolled up the sleeves to the shoulders and, in a bowl, he began mixing the cheese and eggs. I wasn't sure if I was salivating because of the food or because of him. None of this is what I need right now.
    “I used to have a