Page 42 of The Christmas Lodge
Derek shook his head. “We hardly know each other. Do you know how crazy that would sound?”
“People can fall in love at first sight.”
Derek wrinkled his forehead. “That’s from movies and books. Not real life. Besides, I didn’t fall in love at first sight.” Although, even as he said it, his mind flew back to that first night he’d met her, when she’d been illuminated by the lamp on his sled, and she’d flown at him in such a rage for scaring her. He’d felt something inside him shift even at that moment. It may not have been love, but ithadbeen a spark.
Clark sighed, rolling his eyes. “That’s not what I mean—I was trying to say that people can fall in love quickly. Just because you haven’t known Lacy long doesn’t make your feelings for her any less real.” He paused. “I think you should tell her.”
“Why? What would be the point?”
“She deserves to know. How can you just let her walk away without telling her? Are you really going to let this chance slip through your fingers?”
Derek pulled in a breath, considering Clark’s words. Finally, he exhaled and, as he did so, he acknowledged the truth of what his friend had said. “You’re right,” he admitted, his voice soft.
“I know I’m right,” Clark replied, laughing a little. “What are you still standing around talking to me for? Go get your girl, Derek!”
Rolling his eyes and laughing as well, Derek clapped Clark on the shoulder and hurried out of the store, pulling his phone from his pocket as he did so. In his truck, he listened as Lacy’s line rang, his heart pounding. This would be their official first date, if she said yes. And he really, really hoped she would say yes.
After three rings, she picked up. “Hey, Derek. What’s up?”
“Hi.” His voice sounded a little too breathless, so he paused and told himself fiercely to pull it together. “I know you’re leaving tomorrow, but I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner tonight. With me.”
Lacy paused, and he thought his heart might beat out of his chest. “Okay,” she said, her voice warm, the way it sounded when she smiled. “When and where?”
Relief flooded through Derek. “Bella Notte, six o’clock? It’s a nice Italian place, best in town. I think you’ll love it.”
“Hey, I trust your judgment,” Lacy said with a chuckle. “You know this town backwards and forwards. Okay, I’ll meet you there?”
“Remember how I said my mother raised me right? I’ll pick you up at the inn.”
“Sounds good. See you then.”
Derek said goodbye, then they ended the call. He tipped his head back against the seat, his adrenaline still racing. She had said yes to the date, and that meant no more excuses—he vowed then and there that he would take Clark’s advice and tell Lacy about his feelings that night at Bella Notte.
* * *
“He’s taking youtonight?” Madeline’s voice was nearly a screech through the phone. “Girl, what has he been waiting for? Doesn’t he know you’re leaving in the morning?”
“He knows,” Lacy replied, folding a couple of outfits for her whirlwind trip back to St. Louis and packing them into her carry-on suitcase. “But, Mads, I’m pretty sure this is an actual date. He’s picking me up and he’s taking me to the nicest place in town.”
Madeline gave a low whistle over the phone. “So romantic! Actually, now that I think about it, maybe he picked tonight because he had to stake his claim before you leave town.”
Lacy rolled her eyes at that. “Come on, Madeline. What kind of men are you dating that you would think that?”
“Um… maybe because I went out with a stockbroker last weekend who took me to a club and spent the night flirting with other women but when I tried to talk to anyone else he got super jealous.”
“Gross.”
“Tell me about it.” Madeline pushed and, when she spoke again, her voice was softer. “Seriously, are you doing okay? I mean, with the box and the mansion and… and everything.”
Lacy blew out a sigh and stopped packing for a moment, turning to sink onto the mattress. “I don’t know, honestly. My thoughts and emotions have been a swirling mess for days. I have no clue what might be in that box and coming to terms with the fact that my mom may have lied to me my whole life about my father and grandfather? It’s… a lot to deal with.”
“And then there’s Derek.”
“And then there’s Derek,” Lacy agreed, rubbing her free hand across her eyes. “He came out of nowhere and… Mads, it’s ridiculous to have feelings for a guy I just met. I mean, it would never work! I’m going back to St. Louis and we both know long distance relationships never last.”
“Yeah, well, I’m living proof that in-person relationships don’t always last either. The dating scene here in St. Louis isrough, girl.”
Lacy pulled a face, laughing a little. “Okay, you might be right about that. It’s just… I had no idea I would meet Derek, but things with him have been so easy ever since we met. We became friends almost instantly, and my feelings for him have just grown from there.” Lacy sat up, clutching the phone to her ear. “Madeline,” she said softly, “I really,reallylike him.”
