My Lucky Catch (University Park #6)
Read My Lucky Catch (University Park #6) Online
Authors: C.M. Doporto
My Lucky Catch
A University Park Series Novel
By CM Doporto
My Lucky Catch
A University Park Series Novel
Version 1
Copyright © 2016 CM Doporto
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form without written permission except for the use of brief quotations embodied in articles, reviews, or posts.
Published by:
http://www.cmdoporto.com
Cover design by Indie Solutions
Photo by Gandee Photography
Edited by Lindsey Medenwaldt
Copyright 2016 by CM Doporto
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, educational facilities, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental. Any trademarks mentioned herein are not authorized by the trademark owners and do not in any way mean the work is sponsored by or associated with the trademark owners. Any trademarks used are specifically in a descriptive capacity.
Acknowledgements
I’d like to thank my husband for his continual support. I can’t do this without you babe. To my son and daughter, for allowing me to write when I should be playing with both of you.
Many thanks to my fan club, CM Doporto’s Heroes and Heroines. I appreciate your dedication and the time you spend supporting my books. Thanks to Lindsey for editing the book for me. You know I’m not perfect. Thanks to Murphy for creating another beautiful cover!
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the bloggers and reviewers who take the time to read and post reviews. Your support of indie authors helps get the attention of readers we work hard to obtain.
A huge thank you to you, the reader. Without you, there would be no one to read my story. I appreciate you taking the time to read it. I hope you enjoy it because I’ve been waiting patiently to tell Delaney and Luke’s story, planting hints along the way.
Most of all, I want to thank our Heavenly Father for providing me with the opportunity to do what I love, write.
Dedication
To my husband,
You are My Lucky Catch!
Table of Contents
Prologue
Fourteen years ago
“Delaney, I’m not going to tell you again.” My dad shot me an evil eye through the rearview mirror. Even in the darkness, I could see the white of his pupils widening as his brows furrowed.
“But why, Dad? Why can’t I spend the night with Alanna?”
Dad sighed and shook his head. “Because I said so.”
Anger boiled through me, and I was so mad that he wouldn’t let me stay the night with my best friend. I just couldn’t understand why he refused when I had stayed with her a few times before. “Why? There are lots of adults there. It’s safe.”
“Oh, Delaney.” Dad reached over and turned off the music. “For once, don’t talk back.”
“Sweetie,” Mom quickly chimed in, like she always did when my dad was getting mad at me. “You have to understand that dad and I are making decisions to protect you, not to harm you. We love you.”
“But Alanna and I built this neat house with sheets in her room. It was our white mansion, and now her brothers are going to tear it down.” My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard. “We were going to sleep in there tonight.” I grunted and pushed with the balls of my feet on the back of my mom’s seat.
“Stop it, Delaney.” Mom turned around. “I’m warning you now. You won’t be going over to her house next week if you keep this up.”
“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes. “Her parents are your friends, too. We’ll be back over there next weekend.”
“Delaney!” Dad snapped, and I jumped in my seat. “I’m not going to tell you again. That’s enough.”
I settled back in my chair and huffed. “Just tell me why you won’t let me spend the night?”
“Ugh.” Dad sighed as he gripped the steering wheel tighter.
“Oh, my, where did we go wrong?” Mom breathed out a heavy breath and ran her fingers through her long, dark hair.
“Tell me,” I demanded.
“Damn it!” Dad hit the steering wheel with his fist. “Because it’s New Year’s Eve, and they’re having a party. I don’t want you to stay at a house with a bunch of a people who are drinking, okay?”
“Alanna’s mom wasn’t drinking.” I made it a point to call that fact to their attention.
“Delaney, just trust us, please.” Dad’s voice was getting more irritated by the minute, but I knew I had him on the verge of changing of his mind. All I had to do was beg and whine a little more.
“Please, take me back. I promise I’ll call you to come get me if things get crazy.” I narrowed my eyes, pretending I had powers to change his mind. “I know our phone number now.” For a brief moment, I stopped and repeated the numbers, making sure I did know the number.
“Delaney, Dad said no,” Mom scorned. “So, stop asking.”
I groaned as I fought back the tears. “I hate y’all.” I muttered through tight lips as tears streamed down my cheeks. They weren’t being fair, and I hated them for that.
“You what?” Dad’s voice deepened, and his jaw clenched.
Fear shot through me, and I knew I had messed up.
“You’d better never say that again.” He reached his arm behind the seat, his finger pointing directly at me. I immediately recoiled as his hand shook in the air. “You hear me?”
“I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean it.” I whimpered as tears poured from my eyes. Retracting as far as possible in the corner of the back seat, I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms tight around my legs.
“We do so much for you and this is how you treat us.” Dad continued to hold his finger in the air as he shook his head. “I can’t believe—”
“Lorenzo!” Mom screamed. “Watch out!”
“Oh, shit!”
I glanced out the front windshield and quickly turned my head when a bright light shined on my face. The car jerked to the right, and the tires screeched as they hugged the street. What was going on? My heart raced, and I tried to focus on what was happening, but everything was spinning so fast, like we were on a ride at Six Flags. A loud bang thundered inside of the car, and metal scraping metal made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
“Mom! Dad! What’s happening?” I tried to reach for them but the force inside of the car was too much.
I closed my eyes and ducked my head, like the way they taught you during a practice tornado drill, and I pulled my legs tight against my chest as our car tumbled and crashed against the ground. I squeezed tighter, praying to God to protect my family.
To forgive me for being a brat.
I yelled and screamed, pleading for someone to hear me. For someone to help us. My head spun, and my stomach turned and twisted, pushing up through my throat. Another loud rumble crashed against the car, and everything went black.
Chapter 1
End of Spring Semester—Sophomore Year
Luke
“That was fucking amazing!” The hottie peeled her body off mine and moaned a few times before falling to her side of the bed.
“You were damn good, too.” I panted for air, trying desperately to refill my lungs. This woman was desperate to wear me out. After a few deep breaths, I rolled to my side, eyeing the gorgeous brunette next to me. “So, are you going to tell me your name?”
“No.” She laughed, finger-combing her messy hair. “You don’t need to know it. Trust me.”
Strike one.
I grunted. “That’s not fair.”