I jerked my head back.“Why is it smart?”
“Because unless it breaks, it’s a keepsake they’ll have for a long time that’ll always remind them of you.Something they can pass down.Most of the junk out there the baby will grow out of or chew up.And don’t get me started on diapers.Congratulations on your bundle of joy.Here’s something for your baby to shit in.”
I bit my lip to keep from laughing.It was difficult to tell if he was being literal or trying to be funny, but the truth could be humorous.
He studied me closely.Even though Lucian wasn’t over six feet like most Chitahs, he still put a shiver down my spine with his chiseled features and predatory gaze.
“Have you been avoiding me?”I asked.
“Why do you say that?”
“Oh, I don’t know.I’ve seen the back of your heels more today than your face.”
“It’s been busy around here, and people keep asking me to do things.”
After admiring him for a lengthy stretch, a slow song playing outside, I broke the silence with an observation on a physical attribute I couldn’t stop staring at.“I never realized how black your hair is.”Maybe that had to do with his complexion being on the pale side, but I didn’t mention that.“It looks like it’s been shaved for so long it doesn’t know which direction to grow.”
“It was always wild.”
“Like you?”
When he started to flatten it with his hand, I felt instant remorse and captured his wrist.“Don’t.It’s perfect the way it is.”Bringing his arm down, I kept hold of his wrist.“You have nice hands,” I said while splaying open his fingers with my other hand.“Strong but not callused.”
Lucian’s breath hitched as he stared at our connection.
I traced my finger down the lines that marked his palm like roads on a map.“You have a lot of deep lines, Mr.Cross.It makes me wish I had a book on palm reading.”
He pulled back and put his hands beneath the table.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not you,” he said quietly.“I’m not used to people touching me.Unexpectedly, I mean.”
“You’d be surprised how impactful a touch can be.I’ve always been able to create an instant connection with people.”I folded my arms, and when I did, I noticed the second hand on my watch had stopped.“Oh no!What time is it?”
“Does your carriage turn into a pumpkin?”
I shot up, and when I did, his nostrils flared.
Lucian read his watch.“It’s nine twenty.”
“I have to go.”
Panicked, I fled from the house so fast that I left my shoes behind.When I jogged up to the garage, horror washed over me.My Mercedes was wedged in so tightly that it would be impossible to open the door.
I’m never going to get out of here.
Lucian coolly flipped on the garage light.Then he climbed onto the cheaper car beside my Mercedes, put his feet through the open window, and slid inside so easily that it stole my breath away.A second later, the engine fired up.I walked backward while he slowly pulled out, and as the car passed me, I inspected the paint and didn’t notice a single scratch.
“Sometimes that man is ridiculous.”Lucian poked his head out the window and looked back at the garage.“I feel sorry for whoever owns the Jaguar in the back.They’ll be here all night.Don’t worry; I’m sure there’s not a scratch on it.Hope’s old man owns a few expensive cars and knows how to park.So does my sister-in-law’s Ghuardian.She’s a Mage.”He waved his hand.“Long story.”
“Maybe another time.I’m sorry to run off like a lunatic.”After opening the door, I glanced up at the night sky, still hearing laughter and music from the backyard.“I never planned on staying this late, but time slips away when I’m having fun.”
Lucian exited the vehicle.Instead of moving out of the way, he lingered so close that I thought he was about to kiss me good night.Without my heels, we were exactly the same height—five ten.
“Do you need any assistance, female?”The weight of his gaze implied he was reading my emotional scent.
“The time took me by surprise is all.I have things I need to attend to.I’m only sorry we didn’t get to talk longer.Next time try not to hide in a corner.”
