Page 12 of Warming Up Coco (Santa Daddy)

Did I hit my head in the middle of the night and suffered a concussion? Or maybe I had entered some kind of parallel universe?

“What’s that look about?” His dark brow rose.

“What’s happening?”

“We’re getting out of the car, and going to head into the cabin—"

“No. I mean here. Between us?”

“Between us?” His mossy gaze dropped to my lips. “What would you want to happen between us, Coco?”

“What would I—" The words died on my tongue.

The question was too loaded for me. The answer would terrify him.

“Whatever.” I shook my head and reached for my bag and the bag from the diner. Both of which he took from my hand without saying a word, extending his hand for mine.

And because I was a glutton for punishment, and as my dad liked to say, I loved la mala vida, I took it and let him lead the way. We made it to the front of the cabin, where he let go of my hand to unlock the door. When he turned toward me, there was something in his gaze.

Something I couldn’t put my finger on.

“Coco?”

“Yeah?” My voice sounded raspy in my ears.

“I don’t hate you.”

“You mentioned that,” I sassed, and his lips twitched.

“I mean it.”

“Okay.”

“I need you to believe that.” There was a plea in his tone I had never heard.

“Lucas—"

“Before we step inside, I need you to know that. I don’t hate you, not even fucking close,” he rasped. My heart picked up speed.

I wasn’t sure why he’d changed his tune or what was happening. Lucas Star was not the kind of man who asked people anything, much less begged them. I would know. I knew firsthand how ruthless he was closing deal after deal. He was as successful as he was because he didn’t take shit from anyone. He didn’t beg or plead ever.

But there he was. Standing all tall and handsome, his green eyes searching mine with something I couldn’t read but I knew in my gut wasn’t hate or annoyance.

“Coco.” My skin was covered in gooseflesh at the way he said my name. I loved when he said it. “If I ever made you think that, please forgive me.” His steady, deep words made me shiver.

“Okay,” I answered, shrugging my shoulders. “I believe you don’t hate me,” I found myself saying.

I never would have expected to say those words, much less believe them, but there was something in the air between us that made the walls I’d built around my heart start to soften.

He might not have knocked them down completely—I wasn’t naïve enough to think it’d be that easy after a year of being treated in a certain kind of way by him—but being who I was, I was willing to give him a chance.

He moved in, closing the small space that separated us in front of the door.

Right or wrong, I had a feeling the moment we walked over the threshold, things would never be the same.

Chapter5

Lucas

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