AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Do you object to the idea?” he asked her, coming over to me and leaning against the counter beside me. “I hear she’s been working exceptionally hard.”
“I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t ever take a moment off if you didn’t keep insisting on it.”
“I’m standing right here, you know,” I snapped without intending to, sounding far less than the playful I had been aiming for.
Lukas shifted back a little, but his amused expression only dropped for a moment.
“You’re definitely stressed and in need of a break.” He reached to take my hand and turn me toward him at the same time as he picked up the kitchen towel to dry off my mug.
I let him take it from me as Sarai frowned at us.
“Sorry, Kit. I was just being playful.” She was studying me far too much for my liking, and I didn’t want her to pick up on what was really wrong.
“It’s fine. I think you’re both right. I’ve been working too hard. I’m exhausted. Sorry.”
Lukas put my mug away and pulled me into a hug. “Then I insist on buying you dinner and giving you a break. Come with me. I actually have a car that I don’t have to wait for today.”
I raised my eyebrow, not sure how normal a statement that was and already thinking Stacy might be right. Lukas was so used to the rich world and all its strange situations that he might appreciate normal. After all, he had taken me to a very simple diner to celebrate the last time we had spent the entire evening together. It was possible he’d enjoyed it for being simple even more than me.
“I would love to go to dinner.”
Lukas didn’t give me a chance to do more than wave goodbye as he pulled me out the door, smiling all the way. It was almost as if he didn’t want to give me the chance to change my mind.
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
Lukas was clearly concerned about me or trying to decide what to say. I wasn’t calm, even after everything else, and I couldn’t stop fidgeting with my hands. Every moment he could he glanced over at me, and I had to try and stop moving and look more relaxed, but I knew I was failing.
“You haven’t been okay since I suggested we get away for the weekend. Is it bothering you?” he asked, being direct. I didn’t know what to make of the question. Was he going to be angry at me? I knew he tried to be caring for me, especially as I’d agreed to be his sub for a while and see what it was like. Was this part of that? Whatever it was, I didn’t feel as if I could tell him exactly what was going through my mind.
“I...” I trailed off, almost confirming that it was true, even if I’d been about to say I was fine. “The meal at that posh Italian...”
“With those really catty snobs?” he asked.
It helped for him to take the thoughts out of my head and present them to me. How did he know that the opinions of the rich people in his world were bothering me? That all I could think about was how I hadn’t fitted in that night.
I fought back tears and embarrassment, trying to think of how to explain how I felt. “Yes. I don’t want a repeat of that. But I don’t really know how to…not be me. I didn’t grow up with this.”
“Would it be okay if I helped?” he asked, his words quiet, almost earnest about wanting to be useful.
I lifted an eyebrow, surprised by the question and the way it was phrased. What did he think he could do?
“I’d like to help. I don’t want you feeling as if this is a weekend you have to endure. That’s not fair on you. Not if I could do something about it.”
“Then, yes, if there’s something you think you can do.”
He nodded and smiled over at me. Instantly my heart melted, his piercing eyes and the happy look on his face making me feel a thousand times better. It was as if he had seen straight into the problem and opted to try and solve it for me. I exhaled, wishing I had decided to trust him in the first place.
Still, I didn’t know exactly how he intended to help me and what he thought the problem was. This was going to be interesting.
Lukas continued driving past the restaurants we usually stopped at and kept going, making me wonder what he was planning. I’d assumed that he wanted to take me somewhere to eat and unwind and then it would result in kinky fuckery in his bedroom later that evening.
It seemed he had other plans.
I kept a closer eye on the businesses we were passing and what area of Chicago we were in, hoping it would give me an idea, but the mystery didn’t remain one for long. He was soon pulling up outside one of the many clothing stores in the city. It wasn’t one I would have chosen to go to myself—far too expensive and not my usual tastes—but I had said I would let Lukas try to help me.
He walked me into the store, taking my arm and not letting go. Almost immediately a young woman came over to us, her sharp heels clipping on the wooden flooring.
“Good evening. How can I help you both?” She smiled at Lukas but the look faltered as she turned to me and took in my appearance.
