Page 143 of Just One Season
“Do it!” Ava jumps up and lets Waffles lick her hand. Lucy clicks the leash on Waffles’s collar and hands it to Bri.
Once they’re gone, Lucy settles on the couch in my family room while I grab a bottle of Merlot and two wine glasses from the kitchen. I can hear her sigh happily from the other room.
“That restaurant was amazing,” she says when I return and hand her a glass. “I didn’t even know I loved French food, but apparently, I do.”
“I’m guessing you meant our dinner, not our chicken nugget stop.” I settle next to her and rest my arm on the back of the couch to let her snuggle right next to me.
“I’m pretty sure that fast food place isn’t French.”
I laugh. I must be the luckiest man on earth.
“There are a lot of good restaurants in Fort Collins. I can’t believe your brother hasn’t recommended any of them to you.”
“Since when does Atticus eat at nice restaurants? He’s more of the pints and hitting on women at a sports bar kind of guy.”
“True. And he and Lachlan are always the most likely to take those women back to the hotel when we’re traveling. Found at sports bars, usually.”
“Ew. I didn’t need to know that.” Lucy makes a face.
“Sorry.”
We clink glasses and take a sip, then she puts her drink down. I want to see if she comments on the wine, and I don’t have to wait long.
“This is so good, what kind is it?”
“A Merlot. From your mom’s vineyard.”
“What??” Lucy’s mouth drops open.
“I really enjoyed the wine while we were there for Thanksgiving, so I ordered a case and shipped it here.”
“Oh my god, you didn’t.”
“I did.”
“I didn’t even know she shipped wine. Or sold cases.” Lucy smiles. “This is amazing.” Lucy leans in and presses her lips against mine. “Thank you.”
“For what? I get to drink it too.”
“For everything.” She settles back against my arm and shoves a loose curl out of her eye.
I swear, this woman doesn’t know how incredibly hot she is.
Lucy’s effortlessly gorgeous tonight. Her red curls cascade down her shoulders, and she’s done up her green eyes so they pop. She’s wearing a mid-length gray dress, and I haven’t been able to keep my hands off her all night.
“Thanks for letting me take you out.”
“I needed it after the calls I had to make today, so thankyou.”
Lucy had a conversation earlier today with Winchester FC to tell them she was turning down their job offer, and I know it’s been weighing on her.
“Are you sad?”
She looks at me and shakes her head. “Not sad. I know I made the right decision. The job with the Blizzard is just as good as theEngland one. I love working here. And I no longer feel the need to run so far away from my life.”
“This is far enough?”
“This is the perfect distance.” Lucy sips her wine and runs her hand down my thigh.
