Considering his prior Russian bombshell, I suspected his tastes ran more toward mail order brides, but whatever. "Hmm."
"I've met all your requirements. I've agreed to your demands. One date."
"You make this sound like a hostage situation."
"You make it sound like you're trying a multimillion dollar case. The defense rests, Miss Banner." Tension crackled over the line. "Say yes."
I was so going to regret this. "Fine."
"No," Lucas said. "Yes. Say the word."
"Yes," I growled.
"Excellent. I'll pick you up at eight -"
"Nope," I interrupted. "I'll send you an itinerary."
I clicked off the line as soon as I heard Lucas' chuckle. This was going to be a disaster.
But now I was intrigued. And suspicious. Possibly more intrigued than suspicious, but a good, healthy combo of both. Why was he still pursuing me? My phone had been blowing up for days with text messages from him. They were so damned witty, too. It made the nerd in me shriek in pain every time I deleted one of his quips without answering. Whenever I failed to answer something clever, he resorted to kindness and humility. Two more of my kryptonites. He claimed he made a mistake and that he wanted to fix it. But this time he sounded sincere. Like he wanted to apologize and no one put him up to it. So I wanted to believe him.
And Iknewhe wanted me to believe it. So I got suspicious all over again.
I've beena nervous wreck ever since my phone call with Lucas. Excitement warred with dread, turning me from a once confident woman into someone who can barely get a single sentence out correctly. I've managed to run into every single piece of furniture in my house so my legs looked like I'd sat there and allowed tiny children to punch them repeatedly. Journaling was helping, but it seemed like every time Lucas somehow managed to come back into my life for any period of time, all of my progress fell to the wayside.
However, I had decided to give him a chance. Even though I was still suspicious of his motives. This did not mean that I should snap off at the mouth at every given opportunity. It was going to be hard because it was basically my MO when he was around. I dug through my closet bemoaning the fact that I couldn't wear a dress because of my clumsiness until I finally found a cute pair of ankle pants and an off the shoulder pima cotton top. I dressed quickly and strapped on a pair of tall wedges so Lucas wouldn't loom so much over me.
I slapped on a little makeup, tossed my hair into a ponytail and declared it good enough for the man who made me want to smack him every time he was around. A quick check of my cell told me it was twenty minutes before he was supposed to be here. I debated running into the kitchen and downing a couple of shots to calm my nerves, but I held fast and remembered that I was not a total hick. I was a strong, confident woman who didn't need booze to drown her troubles.
But as soon as the doorbell rang, I was cursing myself for not rushing to the vodka as soon as I'd thought of it. I took a deep breath and opened the door.
I frowned as soon as I saw him because, like always, he looked stupidly handsome. He wore a pair of pale colored khakis, not enough to be a Don Johnson white, but enough to make him look dressed appropriately for the season. A pair of brown slip on shoes and a button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up completed the look. Lucas was relaxed, looking handsome as sin, and smirking at me.
"Hey," he said.
Goosebumps broke onto my skin and I knew he saw them. I also knew he could feel my heartbeat picking up. I must be four kinds of stupid to have ever thought dating a vamp was a good idea.
"Hey," I said, barely able to keep my voice from a growl.
His smile grew wider. "So glad to see you're your usual cheerful self."
"What can I do? Certain people bring out the best in me."
His smile faltered for a second before he burst out laughing. "Are you ready?" he asked, completely ignoring my barb.
I shrugged and grabbed my purse. "Guess so."
"So fatalistic," he murmured. He gestured out to his old truck. "After you."
I shut and locked the door behind me and allowed him to open the vehicle door to help me in. He waited until I had my seatbelt on before he shut it.
Moments later, we were on the road. I glanced to the backseat only to see a basket there. A stereotypical picnic basket and an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne. Someone was trying very hard today.
I decided not to smart off. See? I was already growing as a person. I was, however, regretting the fact that I hadn't drove myself, so I couldn't resisting tossing a barb his way about it.
"Before I left I made sure I installed the Uber app. Just in case I somehow get abandoned." I paused for dramatic effect. "Again."
I watched as his jaw clenched. "Whoever did that was a giant asshole," he said.
