“That’s good. I need to stop by and see her,” Hope said. Bell King used to live a few blocks from Hope’s house, and they’d relaxed on Bell’s porch while they talked over coffee a few times a month. But since she’d moved in with Lucas, Hope had only seen her once. And she missed her. They’d always been close even after Lucas had left town. Mrs. K. had been a second mother to Hope. That guilt was back, poking at her conscience. Why had she let her feelings about Lucas cloud her relationship with his mother?
“I’m sure she’d love that. She asks about you a lot. Always wants to know how your business is doing and who you’re dating.”
Hope snorted. “She asks you who I’m dating?”
He nodded, pursing his lips to indicate he was not amused. “Apparently you have a robust dating life. She misses your stories.”
“I don’t date that much,” Hope mumbled. That was a lie. Hope hadn’t had any serious boyfriends. Not since Lucas anyway. But she did date for fun quite a bit. Or had until Lucas walked back into town.
“Whatever you say, Hope.” He grabbed her hand. “Ready for dinner?”
A tingle that was a direct result of his touch started at her fingertips and ran up her arm. She shivered slightly and pulled away. “Yeah. Let’s go before we miss our reservation.” Hope grabbed her sweater and led the way outside to Lucas’s truck.
He opened the door for her, and once they were on their way to town, silence settled between them.
Hope considered trying to open her mind to listen to what he was thinking but quickly shut that idea down. That just always felt like a violation, and to be honest, she wasn’t sure she even wanted to know what he was thinking. Not after that comment about her dating life. She was sure he hadn’t stopped dating. It had been fifteen years since they’d last been together, after all.
“You’re thinking too much over there,” he said as he pulled his truck into a parking spot at Abalone.
“Yeah? I could say the same about you,” she said.
He glanced over at her. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were listening in on my thoughts.”
“What makes you think I’m not?” she asked.
He chuckled. “Because if you were, I’m certain you wouldn’t be silent right now.”
The curiosity almost killed her, but her determination won out. She didn’t want to force her way into his private thoughts because she knew he was taunting her. Whatever he was thinking, he wanted her to listen. But she wasn’t going to take the bait. If he wanted her to know something, he was going to have to spit it out on his own.
Lucas placed a hand on the small of her back as he led her inside the restaurant. It was right on the waterfront, with gorgeous views of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean, but the restaurant itself wasn’t all that fancy. Most of the patrons were in jeans, though they’d dressed their looks up a little with button-down shirts or blouses. The building was from the early 1900s and had old wood floors and rustic lanterns for lighting.
After they were seated and had ordered drinks, Hope glanced at Lucas. “How’s business? Any leads after the open house?”
“Actually, yes. A few. I have a realtor from a few towns over who signed a contract for furniture rental for staging houses, and the buyer from Lux and Comfort sent a contract over this morning. Looks like that’s going to be an interesting arrangement. And the mayor’s husband stopped in to purchase a side table, and while he was there, he told me his company can take care of the sawdust from the workroom. They’ll compress it and make it into kindling or something. It’s a win-win for both of us.”
“Good! I’m so glad,” Hope said, meaning it. She really did want him to succeed, no matter what happened between them.
“It’s because of all your hard work, so thank you.” He reached across the table and brushed a lock of her dark hair out of her eyes. “This is probably unprofessional of me to be taking my event planner out for dinner, isn’t it?”
She chuckled. “No doubt, but we never were much for the rules, were we?”
The mood shifted between them again, and the sudden sexual tension was just too much. The way he was looking at her, like he wanted to devour her, was overwhelming. She had to glance away to keep from throwing herself at him right there at the table.
“Are you happy, Hope?” Lucas asked.
She jerked her head up and stared at him. Finally, she asked, “Why?”
“I’ve always wondered if you were happy with your decision to stay in Premonition Pointe. If you ever wondered what would’ve happened if you’d come with me fifteen years ago.”
Anger bubbled in her chest. That was not a question she wanted to answer. It wasn’t even one she’d been willing to ask herself. It was too painful. “Of course I’m happy. I have a successful business, great friends, a great home. It’s a good life.”
He nodded. “I can see that. I could say the same for the life I built back East, but there was always something missing.”
Hope averted her gaze and grabbed a sourdough roll from the breadbasket that had been placed on the table. “You wanted a wife?”
“No.”
When he didn’t continue, she reluctantly met his gaze. The intensity that he was reflecting back at her made her nervous, and she went for the joke instead of encouraging this conversation. “A private jet? So you can join the mile-high club?”
He chuckled as she knew he would. It was something they’d joked about when they were kids. He’d say he was going to be so successful that he’d buy her one of the houses on the beach. And she’d say she didn’t need that. Just a jet so they could join the mile-high club without having to stuff themselves in a bathroom on a commercial airline. “I’d only want that if we were still together. I can’t imagine joining the mile-high club with anyone other than you.”
Well dammit. Why did he have to go and say that? “You’re just being a sap now.”
“You’re right. I am.” He reached across the table and took her free hand in his own. “Hope, you’re what my life’s been missing. The first time I left you, I was young and so were you. We both had college, and I know I broke my promise when I said I’d stay here and go to the state school with you, but I couldn’t pass up my chance to go to the school of my dreams. You know that, right?”
She nodded. “Of course I do”. She wasn’t so selfish that she’d expected him to give up a scholarship just because he’d promised to stay in Premonition Pointe with her. “But that doesn’t mean you didn’t break my heart when you left and said we’d do long distance and then changed your mind two months later.”
He winced. “That was my twenty-year-old ego talking. When you decided to not go with me, I just… I was mad, and I missed the hell out of you, okay? I admit that I didn’t handle it well.”
After they’d graduated high school, they’d moved in together and both gone to the local community college. Their plan was to transfer to the state school their junior year. But then Lucas had gotten an academic scholarship to a small private school back East. One that was way too expensive for Hope to manage without crippling debt. So even though he’d asked her to go with him, she’d declined and stayed in Premonition Pointe, thinking they’d do long distance for two years and then he’d come home.
“Can you just tell me the truth about something?” she asked, already feeling defeated. She didn’t want to have this argument again, but here they were over twenty years later, still hashing out their past.
“Of course. I’ve never lied to you.”
She stared into his unrelenting gaze and decided that he was telling the truth. But she still had to ask. “Did you break it off back then because you’d met someone?”
Lucas sucked in a deep breath, and Hope felt like her heart was going to bust in two. How could she still not be over something that happened twenty-six years ago? It was because it was Lucas, and she’d never gotten over him. “Yes and no.”
Hope rolled her eyes. “That isn’t an answer.”
“I know. Here’s the truth. I did meet someone. She asked me out, and I was so lonely that I wanted to go. You and I, we were everything to each other. And at the time, you were working and going to school full-time. Our schedules were completely out of sync, and I just needed someone in my life. So I told you that maybe it was better if we allowed each other to see other people while I was at school.”
“And I flipped out,” Hope said, still feeling the echo of the pain she’d felt back then.
“Yeah. I tried to take it back, but it was too late. You told me to live my life and you’d live yours. And if I ever came home again, not to count on your being available.” He let out a low chuckle. “Dammit, Hope. You were so hardheaded back then. I expected you to find someone and marry them right away just to spite me.”
She had considered it. But she’d never fallen in love with anyone else. Besides, getting married had never been her style anyway. “And the girl you wanted to date? How’d that work out for you?”
“We didn’t date. We went to dinner one night and became really good friends. That’s it,” he said.
“That’s it? Really? You didn’t sleep with her?”
He shook his head. “Hope, I didn’t sleep with anyone but you while I was in school.”
“You’re kidding?” she asked, shocked. “Seriously?”
“Do you really think I’d lie to you, especially now that I know you can read my thoughts?” he asked with a chuckle.
“I’m not reading your thoughts,” she said. “In fact, I’m actively trying to not invade your privacy.”
He tightened his hold on her hand and shook his head slightly, looking amused. “That right there is one of the reasons I never got over you.”
“Why’s that? Because I have some ethics?” Because if that was the reason, he was giving her far too much credit considering she’d just spent half the week trying to listen in on the residents of the town.
“Because you have a good heart and you always want to do the right thing. You love passionately and are fiercely protective of those you love. I miss that. I miss you.”
She desperately wanted to avert her gaze again, but she didn’t. It seemed important that she tell him her truth. “I miss you, too.”
Relief flooded his eyes, and his shoulders seemed to relax slightly. “You obviously know I’ve been hoping to rekindle what we had. You had to know it the moment you realized I bought our house.”
She just nodded because refusing to acknowledge what was between them was futile. At some point, they both needed to decide if they were going to try again or walk away for good. Because they couldn’t keep dancing around each other forever.
“Do you think we can try this out? See where it goes?” he asked.
The waitress appeared, interrupting them to take their order. Hope ordered the linguine with clams while Lucas went with the scallops. After their server left, Hope took a sip of wine, stalling for time.
Lucas sat back in his chair and waited. His gaze was fixated on her, as if he were the one trying to read her mind now.
Finally, she said, “I just don’t know. I want to say yes, but I just don’t trust you to not leave again.”
There is was. The undeniable truth that kept tearing them apart. Twice now, she’d given herself to him completely and he’d left. How could she go through that again?
“I don’t plan to leave again,” he said.
“You didn’t the last two times either,” she countered.
He leaned forward. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” She didn’t have anything to hide. But if he started asking her about the men she’d dated, it was going to quickly get very uncomfortable.
“Why wasn’t I important enough for you to take a chance on leaving this town? I asked you both times to come with me.”
Asked was a mild way of putting it. He’d actually begged her to go with him the second time. Lucas had been offered a prestigious apprenticeship with a world-renowned woodworker. There was no doubt that the reason he was so successful now was because of that education and the business contacts he’d made. “You were important. You are important. But so was I. First I had to get my education.” Hope had a business degree with an emphasis on marketing. It had served her well. “Then when you got your apprenticeship, I’d just open my art gallery. Not only did I have a bunch of artists relying on me, but it was starting to take off. How could I just give that up to follow a man around the country?”
“A man?” he asked, frowning. “So, I’m just a man now?”
“No. But look at it from my perspective. If you had just opened your retail shop and it was taking off, and I asked you to move for my education with no plan for what you were going to do, would you have done it?”
Silence.
“That’s what I thought.” She picked up another piece of bread and slathered it generously with butter. Normally she tried to keep her bread intake to just one piece so she wouldn’t be too full for her meal, but this conversation was driving her to OD on the carbs. Didn’t he understand that she needed to be her own person? That she couldn’t and wouldn’t just drop all of her dreams for someone else?
“I think I would have done it for you,” he finally said.
Hope dropped the roll onto a small plate. “Seriously? If I told you right now that I was taking a job in Denver or Chicago, you’d close your shop and just come with me?”
“If we could work it out so my mom could come with us and have good care, yes, I would.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “But you didn’t stay before.”
“I know. Life is different now.”
“How is it different?” she asked, exasperated. Why was he making it sound like she was the selfish one? She’d never run away from him. In fact, she’d stayed put in Premonition Pointe her entire life. If he’d been so desperate to be with her, he knew where to find her.
“I’ve realized what’s most important. When I was younger, I had something to prove. Now…” He shrugged. “I just want to live a life that makes me happy. You always made me happy.”
But for how long, she couldn’t help but think to herself. How long until something better came along and he wanted her to uproot her life for him? “I just don’t know, Lucas. You know that I’ve always loved you. But it’s been a long time since we’ve been together, and it took way too long for me to get over you the second time. I just don’t know if this is a good idea for either of us.”
“It’s a good idea, Hope. In fact, I guarantee that it’s the best idea I’ve ever had. I’m definitely not going anywhere. And I’ll spend the rest of my days here on earth proving that to you. All I’m asking is that you think about it, to consider dating me again. I’m not asking for forever tonight. But I’ll warn you; it is my end goal.”
Dammit. Why was he sitting across from her saying all the things she’d wanted to hear fifteen years ago? She desperately wanted to say yes, but the word just wouldn’t pass her lips. Her eyes stung with unshed tears as she said, “I just need some time.”
“Time is something I have in abundance. Take all you need, and when you’re ready, I’ll be here waiting to sweep you off your feet.”
That was just it. She didn’t want to be swept off her feet. She wanted stability. Consistency. Trust. Could she find that with Lucas? Or would he always be knocking her off her axis?
Chapter Fourteen
“How about a walk on the beach?” Lucas asked when he was driving her home from Abalone.
She glanced out the window at the gigantic full moon and the light reflecting off the ocean. It was one of those rare perfect evenings when the winds had died down and time seemed to stand still. “I’d love a walk on the beach.”
He pulled his truck into a parking lot at the public access and then ran around to her door to open it for her.
“Thank you,” she said, letting him help her down.
“You’re very welcome.” He slipped his hand into hers, and when they got to the s
and, they both kicked off their shoes and continued on toward the water.
“Remember that time we came down here and watched those people skinny-dipping?” Lucas asked out of the blue.
She glanced at him and started laughing. “The old people you mean?”
“They weren’t old. Late thirties. Early forties at the most.”
“Yeah, that’s old to eighteen-year-olds,” she said. Then she added, “Why were you thinking about that?”
“Well… It’s a really nice night. If you were interested, I could probably be talked into it.” He had a cheeky grin that made her shake her head.
“You want me to get naked and dive into the Pacific Ocean? The freezing Pacific Ocean? Have you lost your mind?”
“No.” He stopped and stared out at the sea. “I just remember how much fun they were having. They were laughing and playing and seemed to really be in the moment. It’s been a long while since I’ve felt that way, and I thought… Well, I really wanted to experience that with you.”
Oh, hell. Hope’s heart started to pound against her breastbone as she studied his profile. She could see his long eyelashes in the moonlight, and something shifted inside of her. The resistance she’d been holding onto so tightly eased, and she could no longer deny herself the one thing she’d always wanted. To be connected to Lucas again.
“It would be pretty bold to take it all off right here don’t you think?” she asked him.
His gaze shifted to hers, and a slow smile tilted his lips. “What do you think? Should we move to the cove?”
“If we want to hold onto a shred of our dignity, it’s probably a good idea. I mean, considering we both have businesses in town, we should probably—”
“Let’s go.” He grabbed her hand and started running down the beach.
Witching For Hope: Premonition Pointe, Book 2 Page 10
