“Sounds like a good plan.”
Twenty-seven
Vivian
Outside the restaurant, Lucas insists on sharing a cab ride home, even if we don’t live anywhere near each other. Still, I agree.
Dinner was fantastic, and I’m not just talking about the upscale Italian food. When the meal ends, I’m not ready for our date to be over. Now that I’ve let some of my walls down, I can finally admit that I like Lucas. He’s funny, charming, handsome, a stellar kisser…
Oh, who am I kidding? My barriers are lowered all the way, have been for a while.
In the back of the cab on the ride home, we don’t talk. But my heart beats faster and faster the closer we get to my house.
And when the taxi finally stops on my street, the jitters worsen.
I offer to cover the ride, but Lucas refuses, just like he did when I tried to pay my half of the bill at the restaurant. Letting the man pay might be old-fashioned, but I’m okay accepting a little gallantry. Especially if it’s coming from him.
Lucas walks me to the front steps, where I stop to face him.
“You know I can’t invite you in. Tegan is home.”
His smile is positively wicked. “Why on Earth couldn’t I come in while your daughter’s home? Unless…” His eyes widen comically large. “Miss Hessington, don’t tell me you were thinking of doing naughty, naughty things to me.”
My knees melt at the mere mention of naughty things. I haven’t been with a man in forever, and I’m sure Lucas would make the wait worthwhile.
Now he takes a step closer, and with his finger traces the contour of my collarbone. His exploration continues along my shoulder and over to my bra strip, which he tugs into view—bright magenta lace. What can I say? I have a thing for fancy lingerie.
“What—what are you doing?” I stammer.
Eyes all dark and intense, Lucas says, “Just testing a theory.”
Lucas’ hand lets go of my bra strap and rises in a slow caress to cup my cheek.
“And now what are you doing?”
“I’m kissing you, like any sane man would at the end of a great date.”
Lucas’ mouth is on mine in a heartbeat, leaving me no time to reply. I don’t even try to pretend I’m not all-in for the kissing. I dive right in, sinking my fingers into his soft hair and pressing my body to his.
Without the ticking clock of an elevator ride, I have no idea how long the kiss lasts. But it’s almost definitely an indecent amount of time. And I’m a little ashamed to admit that, when Lucas finally pulls back, I want more. So much more.
From the way he’s looking at me, it’s clear we’re on the same page.
Why didn’t we go to his house?
“Would it be too soon to ask you on a second date?” Lucas asks.
I smile. “No.”
“How about tomorrow? Or is that too soon?”
“It’s not, but… Sorry, this week has been a nightmare for me.” I put my hands forward. “It’s not an excuse; I really have a ton of work to do. I should hire a paralegal to help me out, but I’m the worst at delegating. Even for the smallest things.”
“Relax,” Lucas says, unperturbed. “I’ve waited this long. I can wait for another week.”
“What do you mean, you’ve waited this long?”
“Well, in case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been trying to woo you for a while now.”
“Really? How?” And then something clicks in my brain. “Is that what the donuts were about? I thought the sweets were a professional courtesy.”
“None of my other clients get a hand-delivery of their favorite breakfast, I can assure you.”
I can’t stop the huge, silly smile that parts my lips. “Bribery and attempted corruption of an attorney-at-law! You’ve been terrible, Dr. Keller.”
“Is that a ‘no’ to more donuts and vanilla lattes?”
“Well, a girl has to eat…”
“Especially breakfast,” Lucas adds. “It’s the most important meal of the day.”
“Right, I’m basically forced to say yes. But can we make it an early breakfast? I’m swamped with casework all week.”
“Deal,” Lucas says. He leans in closer and whispers, “Good night, Vivian,” before he kisses me again.
***
I expect the house to be silent when I get in, and for Tegan to be already in bed. Instead, she’s waiting for me behind the entrance door, barely leaving me enough room to step into the hall before she barrels into me.
“Was that Luke?” she asks, hopping from foot to foot with her hands joined in front of her chest. “Were you kissing him?”
“What are you doing still up?”
“Don’t change the subject! You were totally kissing Luke. But how? Weren’t you supposed to be on a blind date?
“I was, honey, only the agency paired me with Lucas.”
“Really?” She claps. “How wonderful! So, you like Luke now? Didn’t you hate him?”
I kick off my heels and massage my ankles. “I never said I hated him.”
“Oh, Mom, it doesn’t matter.” Tegan wraps her arms around my waist. “I’m just glad it’s Luke.”
“Yeah,” I say, hugging her back.
“Luke would be the best stepfather,” she says idly, a faraway look in her eyes.
I keep holding my daughter, wondering which one of us is developing the biggest expectations about this relationship. I’m afraid we might be two goners. And I should be cautious before I let my feelings roam wild… but, for once, I don’t want to be cautious. I want to enjoy a moment of happiness and hope for the best, like any other single woman would after the most fantastic first date in history.
Twenty-eight
Lucas
To meet Vivian every morning for breakfast, I have to push my running sessions to the evenings and add an extra mile to burn off all those donuts.
But even with all the saturated fats, I’ve never felt better.
By Friday, both Max and I have completely settled into this new routine. He initially resented me the lack of our morning jog, but once he understood we were simply shifting it to the evenings and not canceling altogether, he got on board.
Speaking of
