AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He gives a noncommittal shrug and sits next to me on the bench. “So, what is all this?” He’s referring to the contents of the plastic container that are spread out on the table.
“I found my old metal-stamping supplies and decided to see if I remember how to use them.”
He picks up the pendant I’d just made and inspects it. “I remember you making these. You gave my mom a bracelet one Christmas. She still wears it.”
This makes me smile. “I thought I could start doing it again and include the products in some of my subscription boxes. I have the time now. But—but I’m not sure if this is good enough.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. This looks great.” He hands the pendant to me. “Mom still gets tons of compliments on the bracelet you made. I think you should definitely include your products. You’re super talented.”
I don’t need a man to give me confidence, but Lucas’s support means everything to me.
My smile this time is even brighter. “Thank you. I’ll do that, then.” I put the pendant on the piece of wood that I hammer on.
“Aren’t you gonna kiss your fiancé?” Lucas’s face is free of even a hint of a teasing smile. And his eyes…his eyes are all heat.
My breath hitches, and it takes a nanosecond for me to pull myself together. “I guess we could use some practice before the big day next month.” My lips tug into a grin. “And I saw John McTyre pottering in his garden earlier.” I teasingly trace my thumb along Lucas’s lower lip. “Maybe we should give him a show.”
The heat in Lucas’s eyes dials up another notch. “Trouble, if there’s one thing I’m pretty sure you and I have down pat, it’s how to kiss. But if you want to practice, I’m not standing in your way.” He leans in and captures my mouth with his.
We haven’t kissed since the day he proposed in front of my grandmother. We’ve seen each other over the past few days, but we haven’t kissed. Not like this. Just the thought of kissing him has my heart rate beating in triple time. My lips part, and I welcome him in.
I thought the kisses we shared in college were the best ever. I was wrong. Like with wine, his kisses have become infinitely better with time.
Our mouths move together, our tongues tangle and tease. His warm palm cups my face, and my body goes tingly. Why? Why the hell did we wait so long to kiss again? I’d forgotten just how much I loved making out with Lucas. All sense of time used to vanish whenever his lips were on mine.
Before the kiss can get too heated, I pull away and start packing up my supplies. “Grams should be getting up from her nap soon.”
“Good. I’m actually here to see her. I’m volunteering to work with her between sessions with her physical therapist.”
“To make sure she does it?”
He nods. “Her condition will improve quicker if she follows the schedule her therapist laid out. And I can make sure she’s doing the exercises properly.”
“That’s great. Thanks.” I smile at him, the gentle curve of my lips softening the blow of my next words. “I know we’re getting married next month, but I was wondering if maybe we should wait a bit for our honeymoon. I mean, not that I’m expecting to go on an actual honeymoon. Our wedding isn’t your typical wedding with the bride and groom rushing off to some romantic destination for a week of alone time and lots of sex.” Heat rushes my face. God, I sound like a babbling idiot.
He sits next to me on the bench. “Won’t people think it’s a little odd if we don’t go on a honeymoon?”
“People will believe what they want to believe. And as long as you’re facing prison time, you’ll be in the spotlight. It’s one of the joys of living in a small town.” Unfortunately.
I’ve heard enough gossip during the past few days to remind me how bad it gets. The heads of those same gossips would explode if they ever learned about the events from ten years ago.
“Besides it’s not as if the terms of your bail allow you to fly off to Hawaii or somewhere like that.” I place the small Ziploc bag with the metal discs into the plastic container and click the lid shut.
“Is that where you want to go? To Hawaii?”
“To be honest, it’s not something I’ve given much thought to.” Truth. The lack of a wedding-themed Pinterest board wasn’t the only consequence of my ex-boyfriend’s callous comments.
That’s not to say I don’t have a travel bucket list.
I just don’t have a honeymoon-themed bucket list or Pinterest board.
“We can still go on a honeymoon, Trouble. If you want. But you’re right about the terms of my bail. It does limit where I can go for now. Or we can wait until after I’m found innocent of the charges.”
A slight smile plays on my lips, and I pray Lucas is right. That his lawyer will prove Lucas wasn’t responsible for the drugs being in his house. “I think that’s a good idea. And who cares what other people think about us delaying our honeymoon? It doesn’t mean our marriage isn’t real. Plenty of newlyweds delay their honeymoons.”
“You’re right. No matter what we do, people will be quick to judge us and our actions. Have been quick to judge. We just have to show them they’re wrong. Like we’ve been doing.”
I grin because that’s the part I’ve been enjoying the most. “Exactly.”
