Page 38 of Mr. Flirt

“And yet here I am.” I pointed behind me. “Should I grab the groceries from my car?”

She frowned, and I prayed I wasn’t too presumptuous. “Groceries?”

“I thought I’d cook dinner here for us.”

A few seconds of silence lingered as a smile slowly spread across her expression.

“That is so thoughtful.”

I smiled and nodded. “We could always put something in the prenup about me having to make dinner. I’m a great cook.”

She burst into laughter as I turned around to go out to my car to grab everything I’d picked up on the way over.

“Do you need any help?” she called after me.

“Nah. You stay here and try to figure out what else to tell me to convince me.”

“About what? Prenups?”

“No. That your sister’s words weren’t true.”

She groaned as I jogged to the trunk of my car and reached in for the groceries.

A neighbor lady out walking her dog slowed as I started toward Lucy’s door.

“Oh, are you Lucy’s boyfriend?”

I looked behind me to see the lady bending over and picking up something her dog had left in the shared grass. I waited until she straightened, holding the doggie bag.

“Just a friend,” I corrected.

“Well, that’s a shame. She’s a lovely girl, but we are all worried she’s going to work herself into an early grave. I’ve never once seen a man over before, friend or not.”

I smiled. “Is that so?”

The woman laughed. “You look like someone who isn’t just a friend with that smile.”

My smile widened. “Have you tried convincing Lucy to date? I’m just taking every day as it comes, but I’d be in heaven if she were my girlfriend.”

“Well, just keep showing up with food, and you’ve probably got a better shot than most.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” I spun around to see Lucy leaning against the frame of her front door. Her smile told me she’d heard everything.

I walked up the steps with the food as she waved me inside.

“That rolled off your tongue easily,” she chided as she grabbed a bag from me.

“And so did what you allegedly told your sister. The truth usually does.” I winked at her.

“Oh, I see. Now, you’re using the wordallegedly?” She reached for a bag of groceries, and I followed her into the kitchen.

“I’m finding out quickly that I’d better adapt my verbiage to include legal jargon to avoid possible delays or disruptions in communication.”

She chuckled as she placed the bag on the counter, and I slid mine next to hers.

“Fine.” Lucy crossed her arms over her chest. “I might have hinted to my sister that I can’t fathom this thing going anywhere between us because I don’t date. I suck at dating.”

“No, you don’t.” I shook my head and noticed her shoulders relax slightly. “You’re amazing at it, actually. Every time I leave you, I want to come right back. To me, that’s a sign of some good dates.”

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