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He laughs and his whole face lights up, bringing back the carefree man I’ve been getting to know over the past few days. “Naw, I was just reminding him of his manners.”
“Mmhmm,” I murmur, glancing out across the lot as I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m pretty sure his shorts were wet.”
He laughs again and it warms my entire body. “He is right about one thing, though.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“You’re gorgeous,” he whispers, taking a step toward me. I back up until my shoulders touch the truck but he keeps advancing until he’s mere inches away from me.
Men have called me beautiful or gorgeous my entire life but somehow, when Lucas says it, it feels different - like he’s looking at me as a person instead of just long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a decent figure. With him, it feels like he sees the real me when every other man I’ve ever met was only interested in having me as a trophy on his arm but I’m still so scared to take this leap.
“Lucas, I…”
“I keep trying to remind myself not to rush this because I think from the moment you looked my way amidst the chaos of that car accident, I knew you were special but that’s so damn hard when all I want to do is kiss you every time you’re near me.”
“Oh, god,” I breathe out, trying to focus on anything other than the thought of him leaning in right now and planting his lips on mine.
“Tell me you feel the same way,” he urges, his breath fanning out across my face. “Tell me that I’m not losing my mind.”
“It’s complicated.”
He shakes his head. “No, it isn’t. This is the easy part so tell me, does your heart race just like mine every time we’re in the same room?”
“Yes, but…”
My words are cut off by his lips pressing against my forehead and I close my eyes, just soaking it all in as my body trembles. When he pulls away, our gazes connect and he smiles.
“That’s all I needed to know. Now, why don’t we go find you a car?”
* * * *
“Congrats, Darlin’!” Calvin exclaims as I sign the paperwork for my new Toyota Camry. When I’m finished, I drop the pen on the desk and smile up at him.
“Thank you for all your help.” We shake hands and he hands me the keys.
“You’re mighty welcome. Make sure you bring her by for the first oil change in five months. I had one of the boys put a little sticker on the windshield to remind ya.”
My smile is a little forced as I nod. Calvin seems like a nice enough man but I get the sense that he thinks I’m an airhead because of what’s between my thighs and my patience is wearing thin.
“Thank you.”
“Thanks, Calvin,” Lucas adds, his arm securely around my waist as he leans forward to shake Calvin’s hand. We all say good-bye before Lucas leads me outside where my new car waits for me and he holds his hand out.
“Let me get those keys, babe.”
I arch a brow. “Why?”
“Because I’m gonna have one of the prospects swing by and drive the car to your house.”
“I’m a big girl, Lucas. I can drive home,” I protest, pulling away from him. He nods, grabbing my hand and pulling me close again.
“I know you can but I want to take you home myself.”
“Oh,” I mutter, studying him for a moment before I hand the keys over. He grins and leans in to kiss my forehead again. Since we started our shopping trip three hours ago, he’s gotten more and more bold - grabbing my hand out of the blue and kissing my forehead anytime he pulls me close. I still have no idea what we’re doing or if I’ll even agree to a date but I can’t deny that I’m quickly becoming addicted to the feel of his arms around me. He makes me feel like the girl I was before everything went to hell and that’s a powerful drug.
Grabbing my hand again, he leads me over to his truck and opens the door for me before helping me up. Once I’m seated, he closes the door and rounds the front of the truck, texting someone and when he climbs behind the wheel, he glances across the truck at me.
“Someone is on their way to retrieve your new car.”
