Page 6 of My Accidental Holidate

Unease trickles over me like I just walked through a spiderweb, but I brush it off quickly because I hate spiders. Lucy isn’t wrong though. Mom hadn’t known her for more than a few seconds, but still swooped Lucy into a hug and welcomed her into the family. The joy on both their faces had made my heart trip over itself and all thoughts of explaining died on my lips.

“It didn’t help that Peter backed Grandma,” I say opening the car door for her.

“Speaking of that,” she picked up the conversation once I was behind the wheel. “Who’s this Lulu you’re madly in love with?” Her head tips waiting for something to burst her bubble.

I bark out a laugh and shoot her a wide grin before launching into how I met Lulu. How she was the runt in her litter and was pushed aside. How I spent my days at the vet clinic and nights at the hospital keeping a close eye on Lulu as she and I fought for her to survive.

“I wondered how the hospital played into things when your brother asked me if I was recovering now that I’m out,” Lucy comments and I wince. “Kinda thought he meant prison for a moment.”

I cringe at all the tangled webs. “Yeah, I’m really sorry about that.”

I clear my throat, anxious to switch topics and forget how Peter told the twins not to mention my mother that Lucy’s welts were because she’d been in the hospital. Seriously, the kid can’t whisper to save his life. “What about you though? Tell me all about you. If you want to.”

Lucy looks to me…maybe into me… and my grip on the wheel tightened under her gaze.

“Everything okay?” I ask after a few heartbeats, glancing at her briefly. My cock twitches to life again at her intense stare. It’s like being caught in a melodic tractor beam of a siren.

I take a deep breath. If I can’t deflate the situation happening in my pants soon, it’s going to become an even more embarrassing evening.

She sighs. “Yes, sorry. It’s just been a while since anyone’s cared enough to ask.”

This brings a frown to my face and I chance another look at her. She’s back to staring out the window.

“Their loss. I think you’re amazing, kind, and funny.”

Lucy’s laugh fills the car and it’s everything I can do not to put it in park and pull her into my lap.

“You got all of that from the three hours we’ve spent together?” she asks with a tip of her head.

“Yes,” I say undeterred by her skepticism. “In those three hours you rescued me by becoming my fiancée, cracked jokes with my siblings, and reassured my parents and Grandma that you were after my money andnotmy body.”

The GPS announces our location is up ahead on the left, and I pull to the curb. Turning off the engine and turning to look at Lucy. The surprise on her face is adorable and I reach across the counsel, tucking a strand of auburn hair behind her ear.

The corners of her lips twitch into a smile, mischief lighting her eyes. “I believe that last one was theotherway around.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right,” I sigh dramatically. “You told them that you’re after my body andnotmy money.”

Her chuckle turns into a yawn and I glance at my phone, cursing the late hour.

“How about a raincheck on getting to know each other?” I ask hopefully. “We can meet up for coffee or something and you can tell me all about yourself.”

“Coffee sounds great,” Lucy says, breaking into a soft grin. “I run a small business and it’s hard to step away. But what about early Saturday morning? Or does that not work for you?” she asks, the hesitation in her voice hanging in the air like a thick fog.

“Saturday’s perfect,” I assure her, mentally running through a list of bribes I can use to get Dr. Chase to cover my appointments. I snag my phone and punch in the number she gives me, hitting send on a text to her. “There, now you have my number too.”

I watch to make sure she gets into the building safely and smile when she turns to wave at me. I feel like a teenager again, but wave back enthusiastically, then ease the car back onto the street. I slow the car at the next intersection, turning the car around and heading toward the clinic.

Chase hates the overnight shifts and it’s never too early to start buttering him up about handling all the appointments on Saturday. I’ll be there after the date.

Coffee. Not a date.

But if things go well, and I plan on things going more than well, I might not make it in at all.

Across town, I pull into the clinic’s parking lot and cut the engine. Grabbing my phone before heading to the door. I’m barely inside when the alarm switches from a beep to a screech. I curse under my breath and punch the code in as Chase rounds the corner.

“Shit, Kurt. I thought you were a robber.”

Code off, I head to my office, lifting an eyebrow questioningly at him as I pass. “And you were going to do what? Watch me? You strolled in pretty casually. If I were a robber, I’d have asked you to help or at least show me where the good stuff was.”

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