She crossed her arms. “Is that a problem?”
“Of course not.” I set everything down, stacking them as neatly as I could.
“What can I help you with? Do you need another tux?”
My chest twinged at her frosty tone and the confirmation that I had hurt her.
I stepped toward her. She stepped back.
I growled. My alpha saw it as a challenge. I kept advancing until her back was pressed against the wall, her chest heaving as I caged her in.
“King,” she whispered.
“I love my name on your lips. It sounds so fucking good, baby.”
Her scent deepened with arousal, but there was still an edge of anxiety in her eyes that I was desperate to erase.
“What are you doing here?”
I had no business touching her, but I couldn’t stop myself fromcupping her jaw and running my thumb along her cheek. “I’m here to see you. I brought you flowers.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I can’t stop thinking about you and our night together. I couldn’t stay away anymore.”
Hurt flashed across her face, and I furrowed my brow in confusion. Why would that make her upset?
“You’re here for another one-night stand, then? Can it still be called that if it’s not just one night?”
I snarled, tightening my hold on her chin and forcing her to meet my gaze. “I am not here for a fuck. I’m here foryou.”
“What—what does that mean?”
I opened my mouth and shut it again. Shit. What did it mean? This was why I didn’t fly by the seat of my pants. My life was planned out, orderly and predictable. Relationships were the opposite of that. I’d used my work as an excuse to push people away the past decade, and once I’d hit forty, I’d resigned myself to staying single. But…maybe I could do this. Court Lucy. At least until she realized I wasn’t nearly good enough for her.
She sighed and pushed her hand against my chest. I took a reluctant step back.
“King, if you don’t even know what you want, this isn’t…”
“Just hold on one second.”
She chewed her lip and I freed it with my thumb. Touching her mouth was the ultimate temptation, but I resisted kissing her. She needed to know I was interested in more than just hooking up.
“I don’t know how to do this, baby. My life has been a mess the past few months, and nothing has made sense until that night with you.” My hand shifted to her throat. Her eyes flared. “Can I take you out on a date tonight, princess? Let me spoil you like you deserve, and we’ll figure the rest out.”
She shook her head and my heart dropped.
“I can’t tonight. I’m setting up for a craft night I’m hosting tomorrow. But…I could add an extra chair for you if you wanted to come.”
My heart skipped a beat. I possessed absolutely no artistic talent, but I didn’t give a fuck. Lucy was giving me an opening.
“I’ll be there.”
Her lips quirked as she tried to hide her smile. “Okay. I’ll see you then.”
“Let me help you set up.”
“What?”
