by Ann, Natalie
She wasn’t sure how he talked her into buying so many things. Maybe it was his charm, or her willingness to please him. Which she sincerely hoped wasn’t the case, since that would have validated her mother’s upbringing.
But he had looked so cute and funny pointing out pieces in the windows telling her how that particular color would look great with her eyes, or how that dress reminded him of her at work. At one point he picked out a bright purple shirt in a women’s store and said, “I love that color, but it would look shocking on me.” She knew it was all good-natured flirting, and maybe she was a sucker, but she couldn’t help herself.
Besides, she loved shopping and it was as good an excuse as any to buy a few new things. At least that was what she told herself every time she pulled out her credit card.
The only awkward moment came when they passed by a popular lingerie shop and he tried to pull the “that would look better on you than it would me” while he pointed to the window with a devilish grin. She grinned back, ignored him, and kept walking. She actually had a moment of panic when she thought he was going to grab her hand and pull her in there as he had to other stores.
Secretly she had hoped he would do just that, but in the end realized it was for the best. She’d never let a man pick out lingerie before, and she wasn’t about to start now. And definitely not with someone she was barely dating, if they could even call it that.
“Are you okay?” he asked a few minutes later.
“Yes, why?”
“Well, it looks like you’re limping a bit. Maybe you should have worn more comfortable shoes or something. Even though you look great to me.”
She had been concentrating so much on blocking out the pain that she didn’t even realize she was limping. “I’m fine, just starving.” She tried to change the subject. “Why don’t we grab a bite to eat? The lunch crowd has thinned out.”
She could see him processing what she said. He debated for a second, then agreed. They mutually decided on one of the restaurants in the mall over the food court.
They were seated at their table, with drinks ordered and menus in their hands, when she stated, “I have to say I was a bit nervous about you tagging along with me today. I didn’t know what to expect. You hear all these stories of how men hate shopping unless it’s for electronics or sporting equipment.”
Lucas glanced up from his menu, the laugh lines crinkling around his eyes. “How many men have you shopped with in order to form that opinion?”
“None,” she replied honestly, feeling shy all of a sudden.
Brooke was thankful the small talk continued until their lunches arrived. He was so easy to talk to. There never seemed to be any lapse in conversation. They moved from one topic to another with ease, a flow she had never seemed to accomplish with anyone else. Then again, she had never known anyone quite like Lucas.
“I don’t think I’ve ever smiled this much in one day. And that sounded pathetic, didn’t it?” she added when she saw him lift an eyebrow at her. “Anyway, I meant I’m having fun. It’s been a good day.”
His eyebrow returned to normal, but his smile was bright. “Good. Hope I can keep it up. Making you smile, that is.”
Before she could respond, she felt the muscle in her thigh tighten and knot painfully. Wincing, without thought, she brought her hand to her thigh to apply a bit of pressure. She inhaled deeply, then exhaled, forcing her body to relax rather than tense, which was always her first instinct.
“Seriously, what’s going on, Brooke? Don’t try to blow it off either.”
She knew there was no way to avoid it at this point, and it was best if he knew beforehand. Because if things continued the way they were going, he would find out soon enough. It was hard to hide those kinds of scars when intimate.
“It’s nothing really. Just an injury that is still pretty fresh. I’m not used to being on my feet for as long as I was today. It’s just a cramp,” she added hastily, hoping that would satisfy him.
“What kind of injury?”
Guess not, she thought. She sighed, tried to play it down like always. “I was in a car accident last year, ended up with a few injuries that required surgery, but I’m good now. Only some nagging muscle aches and pains.”
Lucas didn’t look like he was buying her attempt to downplay it. He sat up straighter and looked at her face, which she knew was most likely white from the sharp pain. “Surgery, where? More than one, I’m guessing?”
Realizing there was no way out, she opted to give him just enough information for now, hoping it would appease him and they could drop it. She hated talking about it. “Four surgeries, two on my leg, two on my back. I shattered my femur, and I had a few vertebrae fused together in my lower back.” When she saw his look of sympathy, exactly what she was hoping to avoid, she added, “But it’s all good now.”
“Aw, baby, why didn’t you say something? We could have stopped a while ago.”
She was momentarily shocked by what he called her. Even though it caused her heart to race and her skin to tingle, a totally new experience for her. She wasn’t sure she had ever felt that way with another person. She drew herself together. “Because it’s not something you just say. Oh, by the way, I’m recovering from a car accident. I had surgery on my leg and back. So how are you doing? Stupid, right? I don’t hide it, but I don’t announce it, either. I wasn’t trying to hide it, and I would have told you. I would have before...”
“Before what?” he prompted, when she stopped mid sentence and looked across the restaurant.
The pink color started at her chest and moved quickly up her neck and face, making the white of her shirt seem even brighter.
“Oh,” he said with a grin. “Yeah, probably would have been smart to tell me before I saw you naked. I know I would have been focused on other things, but pretty sure that wouldn’t have slipped by me.”
“Yeah,” she replied, shifting in her seat, her eyes darting anywhere but his face. “It’s not very pretty looking. But not much I can do about it either. I’m lucky and I know it, so I’m thankful too.”
She wasn’t sure if she was happy it was out there, or annoyed that he was assuming he was going to be seeing her naked eventually. Then again, she knew it was going to happen anyway, so she might as well be relieved it was out in the open.
Thankfully, the waitress placed the check in the middle of the table, giving Brooke a chance to take the attention off of her injuries. She turned to pull her wallet from her purse when his voice stopped her. “I’ve got this.” He pulled out his credit card. “Call me old school, but I’ve never let a woman pay for a meal and I never will. It’s bad enough you bought all those clothes today, even though I felt like you wouldn’t have if I didn’t point half of them out.”
He slid his card into the billfold for the waitress and set it on the edge of the table. “I didn’t do it with the intention of you spending money. I was hoping to get you something today.”
Brooke was flustered. She hadn’t been trying to insult him, but he had looked annoyed when she reached in her purse. “I’m not comfortable with you buying things for me, or anyone for that matter. I can take care of myself. And besides, we haven’t known each other long enough for you to be buying me clothes. That seems too...intimate.”
He laughed at her, reached over and patted her hand. “Intimate would have been you letting me buy you that ivory bra and panty set I saw in the window, not a dress that I commented looked like something you would have worn to work. But I guess I’ll take what I can get, for now.” He winked at her.
She knew there was a double meaning there.
Unbalanced
They had a great time on Saturday at the mall. Sunday he had a prior commitment, which was just as well. She had chores that she’d let slide already and a few projects to think through for work the following week. And she needed some time to herself. She’d never been dependent on someone else for her happiness or entertainment and wouldn’t start now.
She kept
herself busy all day, which had been her goal. When she settled into bed that night she heard her phone chime. Learning over, she grabbed it from the bedside table.
Did you think of me today?
She felt a sappy grin spread across her face and replied with a few clicks. Maybe.
Playing hard to get, huh? Well, I’ll be direct. I thought of you. Even my brother wanted to know why I was grinning into space all day.
Brooke’s heart felt like it was going to leap out of her chest, pounding so hard and fast she could actually hear the rhythm of it. She typed back fast, sappy grin and all still plastered on her face. Really?
Really! Well, I wanted to say good night.
Brooke responded back with a quick good night, shut off her beside lamp and promptly fell asleep with the same grin on her face.
Before she knew it, it was Monday morning again and her phone was ringing as she finished dressing. Recognizing the ringtone, she resigned herself to running late today. She really wished her mom would stop calling her before work. Maybe she should stop answering, but guilt always won out in the end.
***
Lucas had waged an internal debate all day Sunday. He hadn’t wanted to pressure Brooke. He wanted her to make the next move. But by the time he was in bed last night, he realized that wasn’t going to happen. Not willing to risk all that he gained the day before at the mall, he finally caved and contacted her first—and was glad he did.
But all it served was to increase his need to see her again, making him rush out the door earlier than normal on a Monday morning.
Now, glancing at his watch, he knew she was most likely already at her desk working. Maybe he could think of an excuse to go visit her now. When she stepped in the elevator right as it was closing, he thought fate was on his side.
She made eye contact with him, her eyes softened, and a bright smile started to spread across her face before she caught herself and stopped.
As more people started to enter behind her, he decided to have a little fun with her. He reached down, tugged at the shoulder strap of her purse.
Looking over sharply, she sent him a warning glance. He continued to look at her innocently, raised an eyebrow, and whispered, “Sorry.”
She composed herself, looked toward the front of the elevator, and ignored him.
He lifted his hand, touched hers slightly. Before she could jerk her hand away, which would no doubt have some heads turning, most likely what she was trying to avoid, he hooked his pinky around hers, held on tight and grinned. He soothed the pulse beating at the base of her wrist as his thumb stroked her and saw her head move around the elevator to see if anyone noticed them, but no one could see them in the back.
Then she looked over at him once more with another warning glare. He added a wiggle of his eyebrows to his grin. “What?” he asked.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. He saw the corner of her mouth lift slightly, then settle back before she could grin.
The elevator reached their floor, and everyone started to move toward their destinations. As she went to a take step, he held on tighter, made her look over at him again.
“Bye,” he mouthed, then his finger released hers.
***
That little episode of flirting in the elevator was the start of him trying to unbalance her all week.
From meetings in each other’s office, to the cafeteria, elevator, and even the gym. They were never completely alone, and though he never did or said anything inappropriate, he was always teetering on the edge. If anyone consistently saw the two of them together, they would start to put the pieces together. Or at least suspect.
The worst was when he interrupted her and Cori in the gym one day. She had thought he had a late meeting, resulting in another missed opportunity for time together. At the end of her day she changed her clothes, met up with Cori, and they started their normal routine of lifting weights before cardio.
A few minutes after they started riding their bikes, Cori had interrupted her thoughts. “Hello, earth to Brooke.”
Startled, she looked over. “I’m sorry, were you saying something?”
“I was telling you about my date from hell last night. Which I have to say is a pretty amusing story, but you weren’t listening to a word of it.” Cori huffed and crossed her arms. “What’s wrong with you? You’ve been awfully distracted this week.”
“Nothing really, just work. I’m sorry, start again. I would really like to hear how your date went,” Brooke urged, trying to placate Cori.
“Oh, don’t give me that,” Cori said, waving her hand in the air. “I don’t buy it. You are the most organized and competent person I’ve ever known. No way work is on your mind. What gives?” Before Brooke could blow her off once more, the light seemed to dawn on Cori. “Or should I say who gives?” A smile lit up Cori’s cherub face.
Brooke was tempted to deny it, but she felt the telltale signs of a blush creeping up her neck and knew there was no use. She started to open her mouth, but Cori cut her off. “I knew it! When did that start? I called this a while ago and you tried to blow it off then. Details, start from the beginning and bring me right up to today,” she demanded while she bounced on the seat of the stationary bike.
Brooke looked around the gym, glad that it was relatively quiet and no one was within hearing distance. She lowered her voice and started to fill Cori in on the weekend prior, keeping out a lot of details. Only glossing over the time she and Lucas spent together.
Cori wasn’t about to be put off though. “OK, so you like each other. I get that. And he seems to be pursuing you pretty hard, but I want details. How does he rate as a kisser? I’m willing to bet it hasn’t gone much further than that, but spill.”
“This feels so juvenile. I really can’t. I’m not going to describe it to you,” she hissed, then looked around to make sure no one was watching.
“What, you’ve never compared one guy’s kiss to another? Seriously, come on. Give me something here. I’m dying to know,” Cori begged.
Brooke remained closed lipped.
Cori tried one more time. “Come on, Brooke, one little detail. OK, on the Kiss-o-meter how does he rank? One to ten. You can at least tell me that, can’t you?”
But Brooke never had a chance to answer, because a very familiar voice sounded from behind them. “Eleven, definitely eleven. If you wanted to know how it rated on my end that is.”
And with that Lucas strolled right past them into the locker room, leaving Brooke’s face redder than ever and Cori laughing.
***
It was the end of the week, and Brooke was trying to make a grocery list for dinner later that night. When Lucas brought up going out to dinner, she found herself saying, “Why don’t I cook for you instead?” After it was out of her mouth, she couldn’t take it back. Not that she wanted to.
There was no hesitation to Lucas’s agreement, but he did ask for good measure. “Are you sure?” She knew he wasn’t talking about dinner.
He had already warned her that it was best they weren’t alone again until she was ready. And she was ready. More than ready, if the truth was known.
But she was a nervous wreck. It had been so long since she had been with a man. Even when she had been having sex regularly, it was never anything to brag about, not that she would. Always knowing there was something more out there but never quite being able to find it had only left her frustrated. Feeling like a failure.
Now she had the fear of disappointing someone else. She really liked Lucas. A lot. But she didn’t have a lot of experience to begin with, and what she did have hadn’t left her with any good memories.
Since he was working late and was unsure exactly when he would be out, they agreed he would text her when he was on his way. That would give her plenty of time to buy what she needed and hopefully calm her nerves.
By the end of the day, she felt like she was going to crack, and she knew that Lucas could tell.
He found some ridiculous excu
se to stop in and see her midday, which resulted in a bit of insane babbling conversation on her part. She could tell all it did was amuse him, but he tried his best to put her at ease, as always.
Now, with her steaks sitting in a quick marinade, her cubed potatoes in the casserole dish with olive oil and herbs, she decided to pour herself a small glass of wine. A little bit of liquid courage never hurt.
The doorbell rang when she was starting to chop vegetables for the salad. Putting the knife down and wiping her hands on a dishtowel, she went to open the door.
Lucas leaned in for a quick kiss and then licked his lips. “Starting without me?”
She looked at him questioningly, and he responded, “Wine. I can taste it on your lips. Come here and give me some more.” Then he pulled her tight to his body while he wrapped his hand in her hair and continued to kiss the breath right out of her.
She leaned in closer. He asked, “There, you relaxed now?”
“Huh?” She blinked at him.
“You think I couldn’t tell you’ve been a ball of nerves all day? Relax, Brooke. OK?” He gently caressed her cheek.
She nodded and let him continue to hold her. “OK.”
“Sorry, I was later than I expected. We had more case files than I thought, and there were some disagreements we had to work out.”
She noticed that he had already taken off his suit jacket and removed his tie. Two buttons were undone on his shirt, exposing his collarbone. She couldn't seem to tear her eyes away from it.
Noticing his pulse leaping on his neck, she raised her eyes up to his. And there she saw they were a deeper shade of blue, passion-filled like hers, silently staring right back at her.
