Page 90 of Anything To Be With You

"I am beautiful. I am wanted. I love myself." She repeats.

"I am beautiful…"

Erin kisses my cheek. "Keep going."

I take a deep breath. "I am beautiful. I am wanted. I love myself." I wipe my cheeks.

She used to get me to repeat that in the mirror everyday for years after my breakup with Josh. He crushed my self-confidence. I still have a challenging time looking at myself in the mirror, but it does help a little.

"You’re finished. Go get dressed." Erin says.

I make my way into the bathroom to finish up. Giving myself a once over, I’m okay with what I see in the mirror. My hair is in waves, flowing over my shoulders and down my back. My makeup is soft but subtle, making my eyes pop and my lips look poutier.

The doorbell rings.

"I got it!" Erin yells as she races from the room. "Hi Luuuuuuke."

I grab my phone and purse, making my way down the stairs. The minute I lay eyes on him, my heart stops then kicks up triple time and I begin to sweat. He’s wearing dark jeans, a white button down with the sleeves rolled to the elbows and a vest.

I am so not in his league.

I force myself the rest of the way down the stairs before I change my mind and lock myself in my room.

"Hey, Archer," I greet.

He looks around Erin and a slow, wicked smile grows on his lips. "Daniella," my names comes out on a growl. "You look fucking exquisite."

My cheek heat as I look down at my feet. "Th—thank you. You look very handsome."

Erin looks between us before stepping aside. "Well," Erin pushes us out the door, "don’t keep her out too late. She has work in the morning." Erin winks and slams the door in our faces.

"Sorry. She’s more excited about—" my words are cut off by Luke’s mouth.

He claims my mouth and I melt against him. I grab onto his vest and hold on as he tips my head back and deepens the kiss. I climb onto the tips of my toes to get closer to him. He breaks the kiss with a last lingering one before smiling down at me.

"You were saying?"

I blink at him, shaking my head. "Um, what?"

A wolf whistle comes from my living room window. Turning, I find Erin standing at the window, her face pressed against the glass giving herself a pig nose.

"For crying out loud. Go home woman!" I yell and she waves me away.

Luke helps me into his truck and rounds the front of it, getting in and starting it up.

"Where are we going?" I question as he pulls away from the curb.

"The Market."

"Fancy."

Luke chuckles. "You don’t get out much, do you, Daniella."

I snort. "I could say the same thing about you."

We circle the parking lot a couple of times before finding a spot and parking. Luke helps me out of his truck and ushers me towards the doors with his hand on my lower back. The restaurant is lovely, with its intimate seating and huge windows that cover the entire front of the building.

The host greets us. "Good evening."

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