Page 83 of Searching for Sadie
"But is it something?" Mae asked, hungry for details.
"Yes, it is."
She clapped and made a tiny squealing noise. "I'm so happy. I've been hoping Lucas would find someone and maybe now you'll stay here."
The door opened as a new set of customers came in just in time to save her from this conversation.
Later that night Sadie was on her porch strumming her guitar working through a couple of songs her and Liam had played the other day when Lucas's truck turned into his driveway. Her heart had never leapt at the mere sight of a man's work truck, but she was starting to believe Lucas was the right man for her.
"Hey there, Songbird," he said as he got out of his truck. His casual lean against it did something for her, but she was finding there wasn't much about Lucas that didn't do something to her. Sometimes he came home from work looking as clean as he was when he left, but this time he came home with his hair rumpled, his jeans dirty on his knees and some on in his hands.
"I made dinner," she said.
"Yeah?" he said with his crooked grin she was starting to look forward to. "I need a shower before I do anything."
"Well, you go shower and come over when you're done."
A slow, impossibly handsome grin spread across his face. "I'll leave the back door open. You can join me if you want?" he said with a wag of his eyebrows.
A small chuckle bubbled up inside of her as she shook her head. "Be over in twenty minutes."
Then he winked before heading into the house and her heart fucking sang.
Before she knew it, they were finishing up dinner in the plush carpeted dining room of her house where an entire curio cabinet of hummels. The little Dutch figurines watched them as they ate.
Lucas looked at them with a furrowed brow. "Those things creep me out."
"The hummels? Why?"
"I don't know. Why are they all making that expression?"
"They must be looking at something very surprising."
As they finished dinner, they did the dishes and loaded the dishwasher. Lucas was drying his hands on a towel when he turned to look at her with a more serious expression than he'd shown since he'd gotten home.
"How are you feeling about the show?"
Those words alone filled her with dread. Lucas could see it on her face and pulled her in for a hug.
"You don't have to watch them," he said as he held her close and kissed the top of her head.
She nodded even as her head was nestled in Lucas's big warm chest. "I do. I need to watch them."
"Are you sure? If it's going to hurt to watch them, just don't."
She pulled back and looked up into his big hazel eyes that held so much concern. "I need to see them. I need to see it all play out."
"Okay, do you want to watch them together?"
She bit her lip while she thought it over. Part of her wanted to hide and watch them by herself. The shame of what Ryan had said about her pulled her down so low she wasn't sure if she wanted Lucas to see her like that. But if he was there maybe that bottom wouldn't be quite so low.
"What are you thinking?" he asked as his hands cupped her neck holding a steady gaze.
"I mean, I'm nervous. I hate the way watching them makes me feel... but maybe if I watch them with you, I'll feel better."
"Okay, do you want to watch it tonight?"
She nodded and swallowed down the lump in her throat.
