Page 18 of The Summer Arrangement
I pull out my phone to call but think better of it.
They’re obviously enjoying their first day together, and I’m not expected home.
Sure, I want to see Milli as often as possible, but it’s also important she builds a bond with Lizzy, too. After all, they’re the ones spending the summer together. Besides, I’d hate for Lizzy to think I don’t trust her.
Flopping onto the couch, I stare at the wall. The unusual silence of my home is deafening, and nervous energy flows through me. There are a million thingsI shouldbe doing, but my concentration is shit now that Lizzy’s back in my life.
Images of our time together flash through my mind. It was one of the hottest nights of my existence. Before Emilia, I had myshare of playing the field. But I swear, I’ve never had more of a visceral connection to anyone than Elizabeth Lancaster.
Hell, from the very first time I laid eyes on her, she’s captivated me.
Obliviously, I’d been standing in line at the coffee counter, minding my own business when the barista called her name. I didn’t think anything of it. But when Lizzy turned and accidentally bumped into me, my world tilted.
When our eyes locked, all the air from the room disappeared. I still remember the feel of her hand on my chest and the way her cheeks darkened as she looked at me in shock.
She was mesmerizing.
Of course, I immediately apologized. But I couldn’t move to get out of her way for the life of me. Hell, I don’t even know how long I stared. I must’ve looked like a complete idiot.
Just standing there, blocking her way.
Eventually, she broke eye contact and went back to her table.
Having already made a fool of myself, I grabbed my coffee then walked out the door, kicking myself the entire way back to my office for being such a tool.
I kept berating myself because I’m freaking twenty-eight, not twelve.
I know how to talk to girls.
Hell, I wasn’t even interested in dating, but for some reason, I couldn’t get my mind off her the entire night.
The next day, I was running late thanks to Milli’s unwillingness to get dressed. I stopped in mid-afternoon for a pick-me-up to get through the day. Imagine my surprise seeing that same gorgeous girl suddenly behind me as I ordered.
The moment I turned around and our eyes met, a playful grin swept across her face. She wasn’t wearing any makeup that I could tell, but her long, dark lashes lined the most stunning hazel eyes I’d ever seen. “We’ve gotta stop meeting like this.”
“I sure hope not,” I admitted. “It’s been the highlight of my day.”
Yes, I was cheesy as hell, but it was sincere.
My morning had been a shitshow and seeing her in that moment, made it all worth it.
We chatted until her peppermint latte was ready. She was a spitfire, and I pushed right back. Even in that brief conversation, our chemistry sizzled. I don’t remember the specifics of what we talked about, but I distinctly remember the way she made me laugh. Thankfully, I brought my A-game, but I was late for a meeting, so I had to cut the conversation short.
I left her with a promise I’ll never forget.
“Unfortunately, I’m due at a meeting, but I’ll tell you what…ifwe happen to meet again, would you let me sit with you and buy you something more than coffee?”
“Hmmm…Ifwe were to randomly meet again, maybe the third time will be the charm?”
It soon became our thing. We didn’t meet every day, but we did bump into each other often over the next few weeks—which led to our one and only official date.
Suddenly, my stomach growls in hunger, drawing me out of my trip down memory lane.
Fuck, I came home for lunch, not to reminisce about Lizzy.
Dude, you’re sitting here like a fucking creeper.
If she comes in, what are you gonna say?Don’t mind me, I’m just stalking in my living room, waiting to see you again.
