Lucas
Inearly letthe news about Trick ruin my day, until I see Rainey about to get into her car. Suddenly letting her drive off didn’t seem like a good idea. Though I’m hungry, I’m not in the mood for a sit-down restaurant.
I hope she’s adventurous because I’m not taking her for a typical date. Not that this is a date. Which is a good thing because the place I have in mind isn’t the elegant type of eatery a woman like Rainey deserves. It’s my favorite take-out joint and serves as a reminder of our differences.
Although I have an SUV, today’s beautiful weather means I drove my convertible to work. We take my vehicle with the promise I’ll bring her back to the club later to pick up her car.
As I drive, I think back to our conversation, still surprised I spilled my guts, something I don’t normally do. My business partners know my history because Jack was around back then, and I wouldn’t go into business with either man without being one hundred percent honest. Beyond that, I never talk about those days.
But Rainey was there when the call came in and she’d been a good listener. I’d felt comfortable confiding in her even if the admission hadn’t been easy. In fact, it had been mortifying admitting details of how I’d grown up and the things I’d done. Instead of being horrified, Rainey had been understanding and accepting, making me feel okay about my past and the things that were out of my control.
I pull into a parking spot by a food truck on the beach and turn to my passenger. “Here we are.”
She lifts her sunglasses so I can see her gorgeous eyes. “A food truck? Really?” She unhooks her seat belt and is reaching for the handle before I can get out of the car to help.
I wondered how she’d feel about such a casual meal, and I have my answer. The more I learn about her, the more I realize she’s everything I would want in a woman, assuming I was looking. But I’m not, no matter how perfect Rainey seems.
As I walk around the back of the car, I count all the reasons we can only be business colleagues, or, at the very most, friends. And when my phone in my pocket rings, and I pull it out to see her brother’s name, my reasons are reinforced. I send the call to voicemail and decide to just enjoy Rainey’s company for the afternoon.
We wait in line to order, and she chooses an overstuffed roast beef sandwich with a huge variety of toppings, a tub of French fries, and a large soda.
“A girl after my own heart,” I say as she accepts the sandwich from the server inside the truck.
“What do you mean?” she asks, as she takes a fry and pops it into her mouth.
I watch as her pink-colored lips move as she finishes and swallows the fry, doing my best not to think about her glistening mouth and the things I’d love to do to it and to her. Nothing she needs to know. As I glance down, it’s pretty damn obvious what I’m thinking.
I shift toward the truck, waiting for my food as I answer her. “I like that you ordered a full sandwich and not a salad. That you’re willing to eat around me and not starve yourself. I’ve seen too many stick-thin females, and frankly, it’s not appealing.”
The server calls out a number, and I move to the window to pick up my order. It’s late for lunch, so Rainey and I are ableto snag an empty picnic table that overlooks the beach and sit across from each other.
“I’m going to be honest,” she tells me. “I take after my mom, so I’m never going to bestick-thin,” she says, using air quotes around the words.
I think her curves are perfect, but I’m aware it’s inappropriate to say so. “You’re perfect just the way you are.”Shit.
“Well, thank you.” Her cheeks flush, made more visible by the sun shining down on us. She swipes at her hair, then clears her throat, obviously and adorably flustered. “I enjoy my carbs and sugar too much to give them up. And I work out just enough to alleviate any guilt for eating what I love. But not too often.” As if to prove her point, she picks up the huge sandwich and takes a big bite.
Grinning, I do the same with mine.
We eat in comfortable silence until she finally groans and pushes her paper plate away. “I amfull.” She places her hand on her stomach. “And despite what I said, Iwillhit the gym after this because I feel overfed.” She laughs out loud, a sound that goes straight to my cock.
“I go to the gym nearly every day,” I tell her.
She raises her eyebrows. “Really?” She looks me over, her eyes darkening. “It shows, even though you’re dressed.”
“Sounds like it’s my turn to say thank you,” I say.
Her blush gets redder. “Do you like the gym? Because I despise it,” she admits.
“I do.” I run a hand over my face, realizing it’s about to be more revelation time. “Afterithappened—”
“What you told me about earlier?” Her voice is low and soft.
“Yeah. That incident was the final straw after a bunch of smaller incidents. After I came to live with Jacinda and Matthew, I was a little shit, causing problems in school, gettinginto fights. I didn’t hang out with those guys because they were my friends. They had issues, too. Like me.” My hand goes to the skin above my heart, the skull tattoo on my left pec that bears evidence of those days. Dark times and darker themes, I think to myself.
“I know you went through a hard time, but you should be proud of where you are now,” Rainey says.
I raise an eyebrow. “Youknow? Or you assume?” I ask because I’m well aware her parents didn’t want Jack to be friends with me. Plus, Jack knows a shit ton more about my past than I normally reveal to anyone. I never thought about him repeating it to anyone, especially his sister, and I stiffen at the possibility of him sharing my darkest days.
