Likeis an understatement. I had a feeling he might take me to a board game cafe after our phone call last night, but I could never have imagined how amazing it would be.
Down the center of the big room is a row of wooden tables and chairs, two of which are crowded with groups playing games. There are sofas and coffee tables down the back, and to the right is the counter with a coffee machine and low glass cabinets filled with treats. The ceilings are high, with light fixtures dangling low, giving off a golden glow. The whole place is cozy, warm, and inviting.
But none of that takes my breath away like the wall to the left: floor to ceiling, lining the length of the cafe, are shelves crammed with every board game imaginable. And it’s not just games—there’s books, figurines, comics, all kinds of things.
“Oh my God!” I breathe, rushing over to the wall. There are so many games I lose count—loads I’ve never even heard of. I sense Luke behind me and turn to him with an incandescent grin. “Thank you so much for bringing me here.”
He smiles proudly in response. “You’re welcome. Coffee?”
I nod, fastening my gaze back on the shelves. There’s a whole section with fantasy books and I’m drinking them all in.
He laughs, then I hear him go to the counter to order. But my mind is too busy whirring with the sight before me. It’s like I’ve stepped inside a dream—my own dream, which I’m only realizing right now I wantdesperately.
Luke appears beside me again, gesturing to a table, and I wander over with him in a daze. He pulls my chair out for me, but—oh, shit—my foot catches on something and I stumble, losing my balance. My bag drops from my hand and I slam face-first into Luke’s chest. His big hands grasp my shoulders to steady me, and for a second I’m pressed against him, so close my nostrils fill with the scent of his laundry powder and that familiar, woody cologne. My heart is galloping and I’m not sure if it’s because I almost fell or because I’m practically in Luke’s arms.
“Well, hello there,” he says with a chuckle, and heat spreads over my cheeks as I remember falling in his lap on the plane. A sly grin slants his mouth, then his expression turns serious. “Are you okay?”
I nod, wishing my pulse would calm down. “Sorry, yes.” A laugh tumbles out of me as I step back. I glance down to see a stack of board games beside the table. That’s what I tripped on.
Oh, and there’s the contents of my bag, scattered across the floor.
“Shit,” I mutter, getting down on my hands and knees, hastily gathering my things.
God, what a way to make an idiot of myself in front of Luke.
I finally take a seat opposite him, the warmth in my cheeks fading as I get some air in my lungs and pull myself together.
That is, until I look up to see a smile playing around Luke’s lips. His eyes flit over my shoulder and back to mine, the smirk on his face growing. “I, uh, think you missed something.” Before I can respond, he stands, takes a couple of strides, and reaches down to retrieve something from the floor. Then he’s back, sitting opposite me, grinning like mad.
And in his hand is the box with the John Stamos vibrator.
My jaw drops in horror.Fuck. I forgot that was in there.
I meet Luke’s amused gaze. “That’s not—”
“An exact replica of John Stamos for your pleasure,” he reads aloud, his eyes dancing.
Heat flares up my face. I’m going to kill Alex.
“Really? John Stamos?”
“It’s not—I mean, I didn’t—”
“I would have had you pegged as more of a Bob Saget girl,” he says, lips twitching.
Oh my God.
He turns the box over and reads from the back. “Let John Stamos fillyourhouse with this anatomically correct model…” He quirks an eyebrow at me. “Did you pick this up today?”
“No!” I swipe at it but he holds it out of my reach, still inspecting the package with interest. A few tables over, a group of young guys are playingSettlers of Catanand they turn to watch us, snickering amongst themselves.
“Will youstopwaving it around!?” I hiss, shrinking with mortification. At that moment the barista brings our coffee and I can’t even make eye contact. As soon as he’s gone I reach for the box again, but Luke is still holding it away from me.
“What is it with women and John Stamos?”
“I don’t know,” I mutter. “Well, he does have great hair. But that’s not why—” I cut myself off, trying to get back on track. “Alex bought it for me as a joke. It’s not like I’m going touseit.”
He lowers the box, peering at me. “Really?”
