“Penelope, stop talking crap,” he warns.
I dab my eyes again, ignoring him. “I have to tell my momma to cancel the wedding. She’ll be so disappointed. The swan ice sculptures have already been ordered.”
Lucas’ mouth opens and closes with exasperation.
Flo laughs/hacks. “Oh boy. You’ve got your hands full with this one, Lucas. I like her. It’s about time you find a woman who’s gonna tame you.”
A vein ticks at the side of his jaw. “She’s not…we’re not…” He shakes his head with defeat. “Just ring these up please so I can get the hell out of here.”
I silently snicker under my breath. It’s funny seeing Lucas so flustered. Although, I’m sure I’m going to hear about it when we get out of the store.
After Flo bags our groceries, we head back to the car. He opens the passenger side door and tosses his bags onto the backseat. He slams the door and spins around. “What was that about in there?”
Here it comes. The anger is vibrating from him.
Oh, he’s mad, yet I can’t bite back my smile. “I was just teasing you.”
He throws me a disgusted look. “Don’t. People around here talk and will get the wrong idea about us. That’s the last thing I want.”
With him looking so irritated, I’m not offended by his comment. It makes me giggle. “You should have seen your face. When Flo said it was about time you found a woman to tame you, your eyes bugged so far out of their sockets I thought they were going to drop to the floor.”
Taking a step closer to me, his face is inches away from mine. His expression darkens. My breath catches in my lungs from theintense look on his face. All hilarity is dropped. Not from fear; from something else I can’t explain. For a second, his gaze lands on my lips. I swallow hard, waiting for what may come.
When he looks back at me, coldness flashes in his eyes. “No one will ever tame me.”
Wow. “Touchy subject, is it?” I need a moment to figure out what just happened. Was Lucas about to kiss me then changed his mind? Surely not.
When he’d looked at my lips, my heart stopped with anticipation. Goodness, there is something seriously wrong with me if the thought of Lucas kissing me isn’t so bad.
It must have something to do with how messed up my life is at the moment. I have feelings and emotions getting jumbled around inside me. I don’t have time to stew on it, because instead of answering my question—not that I thought he would—he points to a small building across the street with motorcycles and a couple of cars parked out front.
“That’s the bar. Ask for Alison. She’ll let you know if she has a room available.” He moves around to the driver’s side of the car.
When he opens the door and starts to slide in, I realize he’s leaving me here. “Wait! Are you not coming in?” Suddenly, I’m feeling vulnerable, not knowing what I’ll be walking into. For the first time since learning about Darren’s affair, I’ll be alone with my thoughts of my failed relationship and where I go from here.
“Why would I?” He frowns.
“What if they have nothing available?”
“You’ll work it out.” Again, he starts to get into the car.
“Wait!” I stop him again.
He drops his head and blows out a frustrated breath. “What now?”
“I need my luggage.”
I know this is what I wanted, yet anxiety at being left alone in a small town is tightening my chest. What if something happens?I’m in the middle of nowhere with dodgy cell reception. Lucas isn’t exactly a friend—he made that perfectly clear—but he’s no stranger. I’m clinging to him for support.
Lucas pulls my luggage from the back of the jeep and places it at my feet. “Can I go now?”
I shift my shopping bag from one hand to the other, secure the strap of my purse over my shoulder, and hold onto the luggage’s handle. I have no reason to keep him here, yet I say, “Can you help me with my stuff please? I’m struggling to carry it all.” I make a show of adjusting the bags I’m holding like it’s all so heavy.
What is wrong with me? I’m acting like some damsel in distress. This is not me. I always take care of myself. I’ll blame it on a temporary brain malfunction due to my life-changing experience. When I get my act together, I’ll make sure I’m never this vulnerable again.
Lucas raises an eyebrow like he’s not sure whether to believe me, but he doesn’t comment on it. “Sure.” He closes the car door and takes the luggage handle out of my hand and rolls it across the street. I quickly follow behind him.
Lucas pushes through the solid timber doors. Immediately, I’m met with the smell of stale tobacco and old beer. The log-lined walls are covered in battered street signs, old license plates, and longhorn skulls. Scarred wooden tables and red stools are scattered haphazardly around the room. Shania Twain is blasting how she feels like a woman from the speakers. This bar looks like it belongs in Texas, not six hours from New York City.
