Page 6 of Luke

“A first for me, too,” I admit. The sudden rush of desire I’m feeling for him is making me lightheaded, and I know I need to dial it back a little if I’m going to make it through dinner without jumping into his lap. “I’m glad you invited me over tonight,” I say, following it up with a quick bite as I try to regain my composure. “And glad to see that ridiculous drama with my ex didn’t scare you off.”

“Far from it.” He gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “I don’t get scared too easily, especially not when I know I want something.”

Okay, so much for getting myself back together. Now my heart is beating faster than it was just a few seconds ago. “You do seem like a guy who knows what he wants.”

“I am. I do.” God, his dark eyes are mesmerizing. There’s a depth to them that makes me want to know every thought, every feeling, everything going on inside his head. “I want you, Sophia, and I can’t pretend I don’t. But you know what else I want?”

“What?” I’m so breathless right now that the word comes out as barely more than a whisper.

“Margarita night at the skating rink.”

I blink. It takes a moment for his words to penetrate the fog of desire in my brain. When they do, I can’t stop myself from laughing. “That was… not what I expected you to say. And I love it. I’ll totally go with you to margarita night. If you’re really serious about going, that is.”

“I’m serious about everything I do,” he grins. “I’m serious about wanting to spend more time with you.”

“Margaritas, skating, and you? Sounds like the second-best date I’ll ever have.”

He quirks a brow, still grinning. “Second best? Sounds like a challenge. I’ll have to work extra hard to at least tie for first.”

“That’s going to be hard to do,” I shrug, tossing him a wink. “Because the first-best date is still in progress, and it’s already been pretty amazing.”

“Challenge accepted.” That mischievous look reappears on his face. “No matter what else happens tonight, I promise margarita skating night will be even better.”

I believe him. I’m not sure how he’s going to pull it off, because tonight really has been a little slice of heaven. But I believe him.

And I can’t wait for margarita skating night.

5

LUKE

Margarita skating night.

I’m almost certain I’ve never used those three words together in a sentence before I met Sophia, let alone thought it could be a thing I might enjoy, but here I am—skating side by side, hand in hand and grinning like an idiot as we both belt out songs I haven’t heard since I was a kid.

“You’re a natural.” She tosses me a wink as we exit the floor to make our way to the concession stand. “I thought you said you haven’t skated since you were a teenager.”

“I haven’t,” I shrug, holding up two fingers. “Scout’s honor. I guess it’s like riding a bike? One of those things that just sort of stays with you for a lifetime? Who knew?”

She laughs. “I had a feeling you’d be pretty good at it. You seem like the kind of person who doesn’t really do anything halfway.”

Now it’s my turn to laugh, but I have to wait until I’ve ordered us a couple of margaritas before picking up the conversation again.

“You’re right about that,” I nod. “About me. I think if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right. I try to carry that over to every part of my life, anyway. I’d never remodeled a house until I bought my place here. I’ve never grown my own food in a garden before, but you’ve made me excited to give it a shot. And—”

I barely stop myself before I say too much, but it’s already too late. I can tell from the quizzical look she’s giving me that she’s too perceptive and way too curious to let my slip-up slide.

“What else?” she asks, just like I knew she would. “What were you going to say?”

“Something I probably shouldn’t be saying on a second date.”

Her eyes go wide. “Okay, now you really have to tell me.” We both take a sip of our drinks, then she tugs at my sleeve. “Come on, Luke. You can’t just tease me like that and think I won’t ask questions.”

She’s right, of course. I have to finish what I started. And even though she’s still smiling and her tone is half-joking, it’s obvious that she really does want to know what I was going to say.

I just hope it’s not too much or too soon.

I take her hand and bring it to my lips, brushing them against her knuckles for a moment before I continue. “And even though I’ve never met a woman like you before—a woman who makes me feel things I never thought I’d feel—I’m not stressed or worried or anxious about what tomorrow might bring because I know this is how it’s supposed to be. This is what finding someone special is supposed to feel like. I realize that now and I’m not going to do this halfway, either. I want you and I’m not in a rush—I’m fully ready to prove with actions as well as with words that you’reitfor me. You’re the only woman I want to be with. Tonight, tomorrow… forever, if you’ll let me.”

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