Page 101 of Third Time Lucky

‘Let me see that card,’ I suggest, motioning her my way.

She hands it to me. I take the card and inspect it, just like she did, and then set it on the counter, leaning into her slightly and speaking just a hair above a whisper.

‘I wanted you to see how beautiful you are,’ I tell her – motioning to the flowers she thought were so gorgeous mere seconds ago. ‘And a card can’t say that like I can.’

She stares into my eyes, her frown slowly turning as her eyes sparkle in the sunlight streaming through the windows. Without a word, she stands on her tiptoes and kisses my lips. There is no tongue; it’s quick, soft, yet somehow melts my mind.

‘Thank you,’ she says as she pulls away.

‘You know Mitzi is—’ I glance at where she was, but she’s gone, as are her flowers.

Lucy looks around, glancing back at me.

‘When did she sneak out?’

‘She has a way of reading a room. Maybe she thought we needed to be alone for this?’

‘This?’

The sweet scent of her perfume mingles with the warmth of her hands on either side of my neck pulling me closer. Her lips are like sugary honey, the taste lingering on my tongue sweetly. My hand instinctively slips to her lower back, pressing her tightly against my body. I am so freaking glad Mitzi has left the room because this is R-rated at best. Especially with the soft moan that just escaped her lips. I want to devour her right here in this kitchen. Who cares if I burn the bread?

When she pulls away, I’m left stunned. Did I just have my best kiss ever? Nah. I’m thirty years old. Surely, someone else has—Shit – focus, Ash, she’s talking.

‘…was the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done. I don’t even care if Mitzi sees,’ Luce says. She waves a hand in front of my face, my feet still glued to the floor. ‘I’m all in, remember? Uh, hello? Earth to Asher?’

I snap to, unable to hide the likely lovesick grin on my face. ‘Wow.’

‘Yeah?’ she says, slightly proud of herself.

I nod like a fool. ‘I heard nothing that you said except that you’re all in because that kiss sort of floored me. I mean, if that’s what flowers on weekdays get me, I can’t wait to try something this weekend.’

She laughs, poking my chest and reminding me I’m here to cook, not just stare at her pretty face all day. ‘Ha-ha,’ she says with a grin, squeezing my hand before grabbing the mysterious gift. ‘What’s in the box?’

‘Open it,’ I suggest.

She peels off the wrapping paper and gasps. ‘Creo chocolates?!’ she exclaims, opening the box and then glancing at me with a smile. ‘The heart ones! So cute. Thank you. This was really nice.’

‘You’re welcome. I was hoping maybe they’d entice you to go on a second date with me?’

‘A text message with only a question mark could have done that,’ she says, popping one of the chocolates into her mouth and savoring it. ‘Oh my gosh, you have to have one.’

She picks one for me, and because my hands are now covered in flour, I open my mouth, and she pops it in, allowing my lips to close on the tip of her finger. She bites her bottom lip through a smile before giggling.

‘So, it’s a yes to another date?’ I ask, impatiently needing to know so I can properly work myself up over what this is growing into.

‘It’s a hell yes,’ she says firmly. ‘Want me to plan this one?’

‘Uh, sure,’ I say, wondering what an outing planned by Lucy Gray might entail.

I guess I’m about to find out – until then, I will let this woman take over every corner of my mind.

32

LUCY

I went entirely masculine for this date because Ash went totally romantic for our first one. We’re at a place called Corner 14. They’ve got an indoor bar, a covered outdoor eating area surrounded by some of the best food trucks in the city, and the thing I thought he’d enjoy the most, axe throwing.

‘This is cool,’ he says as we walk through the dining area to choose our cuisine.

---