Page 52 of Falling for the Maverick

Lucas didn’t know what he’d done or said for Michelle to appear so distant and quiet. Growing up with three sisters made him aware that there were times when they just wanted to be alone with their own thoughts and it had nothing to do with him. When he’d asked his father if he’d done anything wrong, Phillip would tell him not to worry about it because women were complicated creatures.

Of course, now that his mother had his father watching rom-coms with her, Phillip no longer believed women were all that complicated. His father might have figured out why women acted the way they did, but that wasn’t going to help Lucas. Suddenly he feared losing the woman sitting six inches away from him.

“Are you all right, bae?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“You’re very quiet.”

“That’s because I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, Lucas.”

“What about?” he asked.

“It’s not what but who.”

He huffed. “Then who, darling?”

“About us.”

“What about us?” Lucas couldn’t believe they were indulging in a game of questions and answers, and then even more questions.

“Aren’t you tired of what we’re doing to and with each other?”

“If you mean my being with you, then no.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. I don’t know how much more of this I can put up with, this pretense that there’s nothing going on between us. I know it was my idea that we see each other in secret, but now it’s beginning to wear me down.”

Reaching over, he placed his hand on her knee. “It’s going to end soon.”

“Promise?”

“Even though I believe promises can be broken, then yes, Michelle. I promise.”

“Good.”

Her hand rested on his, and Lucas wasn’t quite sure what he’d just promised. If the secrecy was wearing her down, it was the same with him. He’d go to bed bone-tired, but then sleep proved elusive. And when he did fall asleep, he woke more exhausted than he’d been before.

Michelle was not the only one feeling restless and anxious about their relationship, but he had been more successful at hiding it from her. He’d promised her it would end soon.

“Do you want me to turn up the heat?”

“No, Lucas. I’m not cold.”

“Just asking because your dress isn’t made with a lot of material.”

“That’s why it’s called a little black dress.” There was a trace of laughter in her voice.

“I didn’t know why it was called that.”

“It appears there are some things I’ll have to teach you. While we’re at it, I should school you on a few things about me,” she said.

* * *

“Like what?” he asked.

“I don’t want to be with you, then watch you practically break your neck to look at other women.”

“I’ve never done that. How disrespectful. What else?”