Please be nice to me, universe.
48
Lucy
I was walking down MainStreet toward the community center when a golf cart pulled up beside me.
“Your slightly late chariot awaits!” Leo declared. He looked way too good in a dark green suit and white shirt that was unbuttoned enough to be deliciously slutty. “Unless you just want to stand there and eye-fuck me?”
I pursed my lips at his cocky grin and rounded the cart to hop into the passenger’s side. “Just making sure you weren’t a serial killer.”
He curled a lock of my hair around his finger. “That’s good, pretty girl. Safety is very important.”
His floral cardamom scent was strong, practically hypnotizing me as I swayed forward. “Hi,” I murmured.
“Hi.” He ran his nose down the side of my cheek. The tension and uncertainty I’d carried with me since we last parted melted away. Leo’s arms felt like home.
His hand shifted to my neck, his grip firm and confident as his lips found mine. The evening air filled with my perfume until we were a perfect blend of wildflowers, cardamom, and berries. I’d considered wearing de-scenting deodorant tonight, but the vain part of me wanted my guys to be taunted by my perfume all night. That might also have influenced my outfit decision—a floral miniskirt paired with a blue sweater that hugged my curves.
Leo’s fingers trailed up the bare skin of my thigh and he groaned. “Are you trying to kill me, joonam?”
I didn’t know whatjoonammeant, but his voice was low and reverent and I wanted to hear him say it again.
“Maybe,” I said against his lips. “Is it working?”
His hand squeezed my leg and I was moments away from begging him to move it higher when he pulled away.
“We have an event to go to.” He shifted in his seat and I smirked when I realized he was subtly trying to adjust his cock.
“Or we could skip it.”
He shook his head as he pulled away from the curb. “I’m pretty sure Wilder and King would hunt us down and kill me, which would leave speed dating night without any hosts.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You’re hosting?”
“I’ve learned not to question the wisdom of the tea leaves,” he said, just as we passed Marisol and Carmen standing outside the market. They gave me an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Leo was all smiles, seemingly unbothered by the town’s shenanigans or my hesitancy.
My quickly crumbling hesitancy.
His warm hand surrounded mine for the entirety of the drive, which was about three times longer than usual with Leo’s snail pace.
“You drive like Ivy,” I said as he finally turned into the community center parking lot.
“She must be an exceptional driver.”
I snorted. “I was going to sayboring, but sure. Exceptional works, too.”
“Just let me know who in town drives like you and I’ll make sure to never get into a vehicle with them.”
I fixed him with a glare, but he just grinned as he grabbed his cane and got out of the golf cart.
I hopped out after him. “Thanks for picking me up.”
He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me flush against his chest. “I’ll steal Stanley’s cart for you anytime, azizam.”
How did he make that sound so romantic?
