“Do we have a deal then?”
“We have a deal only if I can choose the place.” Another captivating smile spreads across her mouth. It’s the kind of smile that makes my heart race and my chest burn with attraction and excitement.
What is this woman doing to me?
I’ve never been more distracted in my entire life. My thoughts keep coming back to Lacee. I’m addicted to her spirit, her wit, her mind, and her coconut-smelling shampoo.
I want to lean down and kiss her and never stop—take this wrestling match to the next level—but I don’t. Lacee means more to me than a frivolous make-out session.
I stand, reaching my arm out to pull her up. Our hands stay together like neither one of us wants to break the physical touch. “Let’s go then.”
“I just need to grab my shoes and my purse.”
That’s what I thought she’d say.
She walks toward the hallway, hanging onto my fingers until she gets too far away, and we’re forced to break apart. Then she turns and disappears. “Now, don’t be getting any ideas about taking my mom’s present with you,” she calls.
Actually, that’s exactly what I was planning on doing.
I shove the gift into the back of my pants and pull my shirt over it.
I’ll return it once I get the computer chip off the tag.
TWENTY-THREE
LACEE
“What did we just order?”Park stares at the Bavarian delicacies in front of him.
I took him to a little-known German restaurant across town. The place is dimly lit, decorated in dark colors, and empty. We have the entire bar to ourselves.
“It’s just a Bavarian sample platter.” I laugh. “There’s schnitzel, pickled herring, and some goulash.”
“No one should ever eat something namedgoulash. Were all the appetizing names taken?”
“It’s good. I promise.”
“Alright.” He picks up his fork. “Let’s try this.” He dips it into the goulash first and brings a big scoop to his mouth. I lean forward, watching with anticipation. He nods as he swallows. “It’s actually pretty good.”
“Haven’t you learned by now to trust me?” I smile. “I’ll never lead you astray.”
The door opens, and two men step inside. Both of them are dressed in dark colors and have serious expressions on their faces. They stand at the entrance, staring at us, then slowly make their way to a table on the opposite side of the restaurant by the jukebox.
Park’s body goes rigid as he watches the two men enter the bar. Then a third man steps inside. Strangely, dressed the same way. But this guy heads to the counter, taking a seat on a barstool.
“Lacee?” Park grabs my hands, forcing me to look at him. There’s a serious undercurrent in his blue eyes that I haven’t seen before. His voice lowers so that only I can hear him. “Whatever happens in the next thirty seconds, just go with it. Okay?”
It’s the same thing I said to him on the escalator a few days ago, right before I kissed him.
“What’s going to happen in the next thirty seconds?”
“I’m going to fight these men.”
My expression stays the same as I think through his words.
Fightthese men?
A slow smile spreads across my lips, and I burst into laughter.
