“Why don’t you tell him?” I ask. “Wasn’t that who you were talking with in the hall?”
Joseph frowns. “No, I was talking to Chip.”
“Mm. He sounded upset with you.”
I’m digging, but one thing I know about Joseph, he likes to talk about himself.
“Yes, I made another cut in funding that didn’t go over well. All in a day’s work,” he grumbled.
“Joseph, are you ready to go?”
I spin around to see a man in the doorway.
He smiles at me. “We have a meeting.”
“Yes, I’m ready to go.” Joseph stands and walks past me, then turns back. “Have a good weekend. Oh, and good luck with Lucy. You’ll need it.”
Great, now I need to go for a run. Burn off some of my anger toward this man before my date tonight. My date with Lucy. I never thought I’d get a second chance, but I’m damn sure going to make the most of it.
* * *
I pacethe living room as I wait for Lucy to get ready. I’m so fucking nervous that I’ll screw this up. Or that she’ll hate what I planned. But then she steps out of the guest room and takes my breath away.
I can’t help but stare. She’s wearing a fitted, green, V-neck sweater and black jeans with boots that come to her knees. The outfit is sexy as hell, and I’m loving that she’s showing a little cleavage. Her hair falls in waves, with the highlighted pieces framing her face. And her legs, they look so long in those snug jeans. I can imagine them wrapped around me.
“You’re so fucking sexy,” I say.
She blushes. “Thank you.”
I step up to her and run my thumb from her jawline up to move a few stray hairs off her face. I can’t be near this woman and not touch her. But the desire to pull her into my arms and kiss her senseless is strong, so I shove my hands in my pockets instead.
“Ready?” I ask.
“Yes. Are you going to tell me where you’re taking me?”
I grin. “No.”
With my heart pounding so loud I don’t know how she doesn’t hear it, I hold out my hand, and she takes it. Knowing I need to take this slow in order to convince her is the only thing keeping me from trying to kiss her right now.
Neither one of us speaks until we’re on the road and halfway to our destination.
She looks around, then gives me a smile. “Are we heading to Pine Valley?”
“Maybe.”
When I pull up at the old pizza place, she turns in her seat.
Then she arches a brow. “Are we going to Picnic Point with a pizza?”
Well, shit. Now I’m second guessing my choices. I thought it would be great to recreate our first date, but now I’m worried it might be cheesy.
I hesitate. “Yes, is that okay?” My palms begin to sweat as I hold on tight to the steering wheel.
“Cody, it’s perfect.” She leans over and kisses my cheek.
The contact surprises me, but that’s all it takes to set my body on fire; memories of holding and kissing Lucy are burned into my brain. We’ve always had great chemistry. I glance over and she’s smiling. I meanreallysmiling all the way to her eyes. I haven’t seen her smile like that since I’ve been back. I grin in return, because hell yeah, I’m going to win my girl back.
We go inside the pizza place, and the smell is heavenly. I called ahead while she was getting dressed, so ours is ready by the time we make it up to the counter.
