“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.”
“Thank you.”
Turning back to the steering wheel, he starts the truck and leans over to turn the radio to the country station as I bite back a smile.
“So,” I start as we pull out of the parking lot. “Do I get to hear about your family now?”
He steals a glance in my direction before shaking his head as he blows out a breath. “That’s a heavy conversation that should probably be saved for later.”
“Oh.”
“I’m sorry… it’s just…”
“Dark and complicated?” I supply, remembering our conversation from last night.
He nods. “Yeah.”
Nothing I know about him would suggest that he is playing games with me but his unwillingness to tell me anything about his past doesn’t sit well with me. But then again, how well do I really know him? It has only been four days since the accident. God, I’m officially losing my mind.
We spend the rest of the ride home in silence and by the time he pulls into the driveway, I’m practically scrambling out of the truck to escape the tension. He meets me around the front and wisely doesn’t reach for my hand as we walk up to the front porch. At the door, I turn to him.
“Well, thank you for your help today.”
He runs his fingers through his dirty blond hair and sighs. “Listen, I know things got weird back there but I’m really hoping that you’ll still agree to that date we talked about.”
“I don’t…”
My words are cut off by the front door opening and Alice sticks her head out and grins at me. “Quinn, can I talk to you for a second?”
“Uh… Can it wait?”
She shakes her head and I peek over at Lucas before nodding.
“Just give me a second, okay?”
He nods and I duck inside with Alice. As soon as the door closes, my gaze roams over the hallway, searching for Brooklyn.
“Where’s Brooke?”
“Sleeping.”
I turn back to her and scowl. “So why did you call me in here?”
“Because you’re about to turn down a date with that ridiculously hot man out there.”
Sighing, I lean back against the door. “It’s complicated, Alice.”
“Because of…”
I cut her off by pressing my hand to her mouth, aware that she was able to hear my conversation with Lucas through the door.
“No,” I whisper.
“Do you like him?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“Okay, so then give this thing a shot.”
Dr. Jeffers’ comment from my session two days ago pops into my mind and I suck in a breath, peeking over my shoulder at the closed door as my heart races. Shit. Am I really going to do this?
“C’mon, Quinn. I have a good feeling about this guy.”
Sighing, I meet her gaze and nod. “Okay. I’ll agree to one date but that’s it.”
“Yes!” she squeals, jumping up and down excitedly. Shaking my head, I leave her to her victory party in the foyer as I step out onto the porch again. Lucas smiles as I meet his gaze.
“Okay,” I say with a nod and his grin grows.
“Yeah?”
I nod again. “One date - that’s all I’m agreeing to.”
“That will do for now,” he answers, pulling me into his arms and pressing his lips against my forehead. I say a little prayer to whoever is up there watching over me that he doesn’t destroy me as I melt into him, already in way too deep.
Chapter Seven
Quinn
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
What the hell am I doing?
I’m not ready for this.
“Alice!” I scream, blinking away tears as I flatten my shaking hands against the white lace of my dress. It is a little sexy, ending mid-thigh but with my cowboy boots, it doesn’t look quite so risqué and I’ve spent the last hour and a half curling my hair and doing my makeup but I don’t think I can do this. Alice runs into the room with Brooklyn on her hip.