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He stilled for a moment, then cleared his throat again. “Like music.”
Ella didn’t turn to face him, but his words didn’t seem quite like they were coming from him. “Yeah? How so?”
Lucas shifted again. He stretched out his hand and then clenched it a few times. “Architecture is like frozen music. It’s notes that are left on a page for people to see instead of hear.”
Ella bit back a laugh. “Frozen music, huh? Where did you hear that?”
He didn’t respond right away, and then he shifted in his seat. “I didn’t hear it anywhere. I thought of it all on my own.”
She pulled back from him then and did laugh. “No, you didn’t. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was quoted saying ‘I call architecture frozen music.’” She laughed as the blood drained from his face. “I don’t know where you heard it before, but it’s one of my favorite quotes.”
The poor guy looked like he was going to be sick.
“Lucas! You don’t have to try to impress me with what you know about architecture. I’m not interested in you because you have interests similar to mine. I’m interested in you because you’re the kind of guy who would go to trouble to make sure I’m enjoying myself. This was the most unique date I’ve ever been on.” She placed a hand to his cheek. “I’m having so much fun.”
“You are?” His brows furrowed, and he glanced out the window as if he couldn’t stand to look her in the eye.
“Of course I am. But seeing as the place isn’t open right now, maybe we could go somewhere and get something to eat?”
Lucas straightened. “I know exactly where we can go. It was my second choice.”
She lifted a brow. “Are you—”
“Yes, I’m sure. It’s the historic district. There are all kinds of shops and food. We can go wander around.” The excitement returned to Lucas’s face, and he put the truck into drive. “What do you say? The party’s not over yet.”
“Just as long as you get me some good food, I’ll be happy.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The rest of the evening, they wandered hand in hand down the main street of the historic district. They stopped in an antique store, a bookstore, and a small Thai restaurant. By the end of the night, she could barely stand on her own two feet. The best part of the whole evening was getting first-hand experience of being the girl Lucas wanted to please.
By the time he took her home, she was already looking forward to spending more time with him, only she didn’t know how to tell him without sounding clingy. She’d heard all the stories. Lucas rarely took a girl out more than twice, and they’d already hit their halfway mark if he continued his streak.
They hovered outside her front door and all she could do was smile at him. There was so much she wanted to say, to ask him, but in the end she settled on something cliché. “I had a good time tonight.” More than cliché, that was the most obvious thing to say.
“I had a good time too.”
She tilted her head, studying him, wishing she could read what was going on in his mind. “So…”
“So…”
Ella bit back a laugh. “Based on how hard you pressed for us to go out, I figured we’d be discussing when we’d see each other again.”
“I’ll be seeing you on Monday.”
She rolled her eyes. “You know that’s not what I meant.” The insecurities she’d worked so hard to suppress started to reappear.
“Ella—” Lucas interrupted her thoughts. “I have every intention of taking you out on another date and another.”
Mouth dry, blood running cold and hot all at once, Ella stared at him.
He reached forward and grazed her jawline with his thumb. “And another,” Lucas whispered. “I think you’re the most amazing woman I have ever met, and nothing would make me happier than to hear that you would agree to see me again. Aside from seeing you at work of course.”
She released a slow breath. “I’d like that.”
“Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
17
