Älskling. Again.
Determining the correct spelling of that Swedish word had taken some time earlier that day—umlauts were not her friend—but she’d finally managed to locate the translation.
Darling. Honey. Or…beloved.
He’d asked her a question, but she couldn’t seem to form coherent words. “Uh…”
A touch of that flirty grin returned as he backed up a bare inch and looked down at her. “The tee sayslet’s play tennis, but the neckline of that tee…” He shook his head. “It saysif I run toward a ball, I may experience another wardrobe malfunction.”
The teasing unlocked her tongue. “No fear. I wore my most sturdy sports bra tonight. It’s basically a straitjacket for my breasts, only more uncomfortable and with less opportunity for escape.”
He laughed. “Who said anything about fear? I’m half agony, half hope.” At her questioning look, he shrugged. “My coach was a Brit. She made us listen to Austen during long car trips. Sue me.”
She had to ask. “So what’s the hope?”
“Your breasts might be too powerful for containment.”
She couldn’t help a snicker. “So you’re praying they’ll break out of sports-bra jail at any moment and make their daring escape, and you’ll be around to witness the whole thing?”
“Can you elaborate a little? Add a few more details?” A faraway look had appeared in his eyes. “Maybe stage a dramatic reenactment of the event?”
“Perv.” She flicked his arm, ignoring his little yelp. “It can’t be a reenactment if it hasn’t happened yet. Anyway, what about the agony?”
“All those hooks, of course.” His smile faded a little. “And that undecided look on your face when you saw me just now. I figure you’re reconsidering our dinner tonight.”
Note to self: Don’t play poker with Lucas. Unless it’s strip poker and you want to flash the goods.
She wouldn’t lie to him. Even if she tried, it evidently wouldn’t work. So she told him the truth, flat out: “I have doubts. But I’m here, and I brought a change of clothing and a toothbrush in my bag.”
He stopped breathing. “Really?”
At her nod, that dimpled smile returned. Turned blinding with the sort of joy she hadn’t seen since a freak snowstorm caused an early dismissal from school the Friday before spring break. Rasheed Millman, a first-year teacher from the science department, had literally tackle-hugged her, and Frau Kauffman had almost mowed down several sophomores as she sprinted, cackling in Germanic glee, to the parking lot.
All students believed they loved snow days more than teachers. All students were wrong.
“I have big plans for tonight.” She nodded toward the chain-link fence. “Let’s hit the court and get this evening started.”
He didn’t move toward the concrete expanse in the near distance. Instead, his forefinger followed the edge of her hairline and traced the outer rim of her ear, a taunting, shivery tease of a touch. “Sounds perfect. Unless your knee is hurting too much for a tennis lesson?”
He didn’t sound impatient or disappointed by that possibility. Just matter-of-fact in a way that eased her instinctive defensiveness.
“I’ve been babying it the last couple of days. As long as I don’t run too much, descend a bunch of stairs, or twist in an odd way, I’m not in any pain,” she told him honestly.
“If that changes, let me know. We’ll stop right away.” His hand lowered to splay on her back, and he gently guided her toward the court. “As long as you’re not hurting, though, I’m glad we’re doing this. I’ve found…”
He trailed off as they walked, his mouth drawing tight. When they arrived on the court, he stepped away from her to lower his huge bag. Bending over, he dug inside, emerging with an armful of towels, a can of balls, two water bottles, and two rackets.
She accepted the racket he handed her. “You’ve found what?”
Another long silence.
Then he met her eyes and gave an apologetic wince. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be obstructive. I just haven’t talked about certain things for a while now.”
Part of her wanted to let him off the hook and tell him to forget it, if that would erase those deep brackets on either side of his mouth. But if this morning had been an exception, if he couldn’t make himself reveal more of his past and his thoughts to her, she needed to know that. Now, before they became any more entangled.
“Understood. That said…” Gesturing to the court around them, she smiled at him. “What better place for a little practice?”
One corner of his mouth rose. “An excellent point.”
