“I understand that.”
“You do?” She looks up at me.
“I do. I had always wanted a family, so when I found out Maddi’s mom was pregnant I latched on to the idea of building a life with her. I knew she wasn’t the kind of woman to give me a solid foundation, but I still tried because I wanted that dream. It sucked when things came to an end, but I was also glad I no longer had to live a lie.”
“We sound kind of depressing,” she jokes with a smile, causing me to smile in return.
“What do you say we stop talking about our exes and watch a movie?”
“I’d say that sounds like a plan,” she agrees.
We both get up. She clears our dishes while I set up the movie—a comedy that I hope will lighten the mood.
When she takes a seat on the couch, I take a seat next to her and wrap my arm around her shoulders, curling her into my side.
“This movie sucks,” I tell her forty minutes later. Her body starts to shake, and then she presses her face into the side of my chest. She’s snorting with laughter.
“It’s a movie about hot dogs!” she snorts again. “What did you expect?”
“I guess I had my hopes up.”
I press “Stop” on the remote.
“You had your hopes up about an adult cartoon that features talking meat products and produce?” She giggles, and I chuckle.
“Basically.” I lift my hand to her cheek.
All the humor leaves her face as her eyes search mine.
“Lucas?”
“Yeah?” I drop my eyes to her lips just as her pink tongue darts out to swipe the bottom one.
“Will you kiss me?”
I growl as I lean in and capture her mouth. Her lips part, and my tongue slips in. The first taste of her has my cock jumping against the zipper of my jeans. She tastes like peppermint and her own unique flavor—something I know I could come to crave. Hearing her moan and feeling her fingers dig into my shoulder cause me to lose it. I lay her back onto the couch and cover her with my body. I deepen the kiss while her legs wrap around my hips and her hands slide up my back.
Fuck, she can kiss.
She feels good under me—all soft and all woman. I grind myself against her, then pull back and look down at her. She’s beautiful when she’s turned on. Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes dark with want, her breathing erratic.
God, I want her.
Before I screw this up by going too fast, I sit back and pull her up with me.
“You stopped,” she complains breathily.
I smile.
Fuck, she’s cute. And so damn sweet.
“I know, but I told you we’d go slow. I meant that when I said it.”
“Oh . . . right.” She bites her lip, and I groan while adjusting myself.
“As much as I don’t want to go, I think I should,” I tell her as I wrap my hand around the side of her neck and rest my forehead against hers. “How about dinner on Tuesday?”
“You’re leaving?” There is no missing the disappointment in her expression or voice.
“I don’t trust myself to stick around and keep my promise at the same time. So yeah, baby. I’m gonna go,” I say.
Her eyes widen as they drop to my lap—and my obvious erection.
“Exactly. So what do you say? Does dinner Tuesday work for you?”
“That works for me.”
I touch my mouth to hers in a soft kiss before pulling away and forcing myself to put distance between us. I head for the door.
“I’ll see you Tuesday, but I’ll call tonight when Maddi goes to bed.”
“Sure. Um . . . Thank you again for today. It was nice.”
“Yeah. Nice.” I move my eyes over her, then open the door. I have to bite back a groan. She’s just too damn pretty. “Don’t forget to lock up after me, and check your peephole if anyone knocks.”
“Right.” She bites her lip.
I can’t fight it. I start back across the room, and she rushes at me. My mouth opens over hers, and I thrust my tongue between her lips, kissing her hard.
“Tuesday,” I say when I jerk my mouth from hers.
“Tuesday,” she pants.
I push her away and leave without another look—because I know I won’t be able to go if I see the warm look in her eyes again.
As I head down in the elevator, I wonder if she might just be the kind of woman who’d give me the foundation I need to build a new dream.
Chapter 7
DATE NUMBER EIGHT, AND FALLING IN LOVE
COURTNEY
“What are your plans tonight? Do you want to get a drink after work?” Abby asks as we catch a cab back to the office from the home of a potential new client. The woman is looking to divorce her husband and leave him for another man. Since she entered the marriage with more money than her husband, though, she doesn’t want to lose it all. I really do not understand the way people think. I can’t understand why some people cheat. Why not just end your relationship before looking elsewhere? “Earth to Courtney . . .” Abby nudges my shoulder with hers.
“Sorry. What was that?” I look up at her, then hear my phone ping with an incoming message.
“Drinks tonight?”
“I can’t. I’m having dinner with Lucas,” I say while texting him back about where we’re meeting.
It’s Tuesday, and two days since he left my apartment after kissing me so passionately that I couldn’t think straight for the rest of the evening. Never in my life had I been kissed like that. He made me forget everything when he kissed me. I bet if you had asked me my name just afterward, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you.
“Where are you guys going?”
I look up from my phone after I press “Send.”
“A small Italian place between his apartment and mine.”
“Convenient if you don’t want the night to end.” She wiggles her brows, and I roll my eyes.
“We’re just having dinner. He has full custody of his daughter, so he has to get home to her. There won’t be any of that.”
At least not yet, anyway, I leave out.
“Is she going to be at dinner?” Abby asks.
“No. He asked his brother to look after her for a couple hours while we are out.”
Even though I’ve already met Maddi, I’m starting to get the idea that I won’t see her again unless things between Lucas and me progress. Really, I respect him so much more for thinking about her feelings.
“What was she like?” she asks.
“She’s beautiful and sweet. A total daddy’s girl.” I smile.
“I like this for you.”
I let out a breath. I like it, too. I’m also scared out of my mind.
“You’re worried?” She reads my expression.
“Terrified. You know what happened to me. I . . . This is all so sudden. I just don’t know if I’m ready.”
“You like him.”
“I do. He gets me. And he’s sweet and understanding.” I sigh dreamily.
“And hot.” Her eyes light up.
“Yes . . . hot. God, so hot.” I let my head fall back against the leather headrest. “I don’t even know why he’s interested in me.”
“Um, because you’re beautiful and sexy and sweet and generous and loving and—”
“Okay, you can stop.” I shake my head while a smile twitches my lips.
“Not until you tell me that you understand why he’s interested in you.”
“I understand,” I lie.
I didn’t used to be so jaded, but having a man cheat who’s supposed to love you makes you question your own self-worth.
Abby presses her lips together in disapproval, then waves her hand at me. “You know what? I’m not even going to get into this with you. I have a feeling that Lucas is the kind of man who will make it perfectly clear why he’s into you.”
“What does that mean?”
“Just mention to him that you are unworthy of his greatness, and you’ll see.” She shrugs; then her eyes fill with mischief. “Also record his reaction on your cell phone so I can see.”
“Are one of you gonna pay?” the cab driver asks, impatiently breaking into our conversation. I see that we are parked in front of our office building.