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“That’s a lot for a date.”
“A first date is the most memorable one.It’s one of the most important milestones in any relationship.It’s where a man wants to make the best impression, enough to get him a second date.”
“Hold on.I only wononedate, Luc.And it was withyourmoney.”
He shrugs.“Semantics.”
“Ah, no.It’s fact.”
“Facts can be twisted for one’s own benefit.I remember what I said to you last night and that was—and I quote—that I totally want to date the hell out of you.I may not be any good at any of this romantic date-like stuff, but I can guarantee that I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”
“And what—pray, tell—is the benefit for you?”
“That’s an easy one, Lonnie.And if you don’t know already, my aim is for you to have absolutely no doubt that I’m one hundred percent on board with this by the end of the night.So you’re going to have to try harder to catch me out.”
“I’m not trying to catch you out.”
“But you’re trying to come up with an explanation as to why I’m driving you toward the city and not telling you what we’re doing or where we’re going.All the while rationalizing in your head why I’m doing this when you alreadyknowthe reason—you just don’t believe it yet.But don’t worry.You will.”
“Now you’re annoying me.”
“No, I’m not.You’re annoying yourself,” he says with a chuckle.Damn it, that’s sexy too.“I’ve got an idea.How about you take a deep breath and relax and just go with the flow?”
“Luc ...”I nearly growl, earning another knowing smile from my date.
“London.You’re adorable when you’re trying to be mad at me—do you know that?I’ve never realized just how irresistible it is.More fool me.”
This man is confusing and frustrating, and he’s impossible to get a read on.I decide to switch it up.“Okay.So you’re saying this isactuallya date.Not an auction prize that I won.Not a pity date—”
He comes to a stop at a red light, hitting the brake a little harder than expected before snapping his gaze to mine.“Don’t youeversay that about yourself, Lonnie.You’renevergoing to be a pityanythingas far as you and me are concerned.You know me better than that.”
Shit.He’s right.I do.“Sorry.”
His eyes soften and warm, and I have an urge to apologize to him a second time—with my lips on his.But alas, the light turns green, and we’re on the move again.
Luc gives my hand a gentle squeeze.“Babe, I know I haven’t been receptive to anything more than friendship between the two of us, but today, all I ask is that you let go of the past and just enjoy yourself.Don’t worry about what we’re doing or what I have planned for us.I just want you to relax and keep an open mind.Can you do that for me?”
I learned long ago that I’ll do anything Luc wants when he calls me babe.Thank God he hasn’t realized that.
I nod, earning another smile.When I gift him one right back, his eyes drift down to my mouth before his jaw clenches and he turns back and focuses on the road.
“So, are we there yet?”I tease, and that’s when I witness another one of my Luca Rossi kryptonites—his laughter.
Lord give me strength, because something tells me I’m gonna need all the help I can get to get through this date without saying fuck it and throwing caution—and my body—to the wind.
A few moments later, Luc is pulling his car into a parking garage in Wicker Park.
“Now are you going to tell me what’s on the agenda today?”I ask, hopping out of the door that Luc has opened for me.
“Well first, I do this,” he says, lacing his fingers with mine.
I glance down at our joined hands and then back to his face.“Good start.”
“Why thank you.”
“And next?”
“Next, we’ve got a train to catch.”Then without another word, we’re on the move, and I’m being led to Destination Unknown again.
