Page 84 of Sunshine

I shook my head. “Julian talks enough for both of you. It’s not that you’re quiet, I just need to adjust to the idea that we’re dating.”

“Take your time.” Logan brought my hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of it.

The rest of the day was perfect enough that I started to think maybe Logan was right.

Chapter 24

Sunshine

My stomach fluttered with nerves, and I pushed them away. It was Friday, time for my date with Luca. I’d gone to my cottage after work at Cosmic Bonds so I could get dressed up.

Luca said he’d arrive at my cottage at six o’clock and I had ten whole minutes to pace.

I adjusted my dress. Julian said Luca usually went somewhere fancy when it was his turn to pick, so I’d put on a pink sparkly dress that hit my knee with a sweetheart neckline. I’d searched through my underwear drawer for over an hour, sure I had a matching set of bra and panties, but the closest I came was a blue strapless bra and darker blue pair of panties.

At five after six, my pacing reached frantic levels. Then my phone chimed.

Julian:

Idiot is on his way now, always running late.

I laughed at that and replied.

Sunshine:

It’s fine.

Before long, the silver sports car pulled into my driveway, and my nerves ratcheted up as I met him at the door.

Luca stepped out with a wide smile, and a bouquet of flowers in his hand. He strode over and handed me a dozen purple roses. “Sorry I’m late. Punctuality isn’t one of my many good qualities.”

I took the roses with a laugh, inhaling their perfume. “Thank you. They’re stunning. Come in while I put them in water.”

When we got to the kitchen, I grabbed a vase from the top shelf. “Why purple?”.

Luca grinned, his brown eyes twinkling, and it made my knees weak. “I wanted you to have something unique. Special. Like you.”

I blushed. “Oh. Well. I accept the compliment. And thank you, again.”

Luca leaned his forearms on the countertop, watching me intently as I arranged the roses in the vase my grandma had given me.

“What?” I cocked my head.

“I’m a gift giver,” he said, still watching me like he was a lion and I was a zebra. “Just planning out what to do next time, and what would be too much, too soon.”

I waved my hand at the flowers. “These are thoughtful, and beautiful. I don’t need you to give me things, though.”

“I know.” Luca tugged at the cuffs of his light gray dress shirt. “But when I see things that make me think about you…” He finished with a shrug. “Hopefully I won’t get on your nerves.”

“Hardly.” I grabbed my purse. “Though, if you keep looking at me like that I don’t know if we’re going to make it to dinner.”

“Mmmm.” He prowled around the countertop and closed the distance between us. “Would that be such a bad thing?”

This close, I could smell his spicy-sweet scent. I looked up at him, appreciating how his curly black hair was tamed for tonight.

Then I ran my hands up his chest, remembering how good it felt to have him inside me. “It wouldn’t be.”

Luca kissed me, sliding his mouth over mine. He moved his hands over my waist, skating them up to barely brush his thumbs over the exposed skin above my breasts. He lifted them to cradle my face with both hands then kissed me like we’d been parted for years, not hours.

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