Page 327 of Not Over You

He recoiled from the smack and laughed. “I’m not!”

Nadia’s snort made Caroline’s eyes widen in shock.

“You totally are, Dad!” Nadia turned away from her father and reached out an arm toward Caroline.

The simple gesture of entreaty was endearing and she found herself wanting to stay there with the two.

“What food truck does your friend own, Miss Franzen? My dad really does sound like a total doofus, but I know that I’ll be able to convince him to take me there. So, go ahead and tell me.”

Caroline knew she wasn’t going to tell Nadia no. She was just too sweet. Too gorgeous for words. And her personality…

“Croque & Crumpets.”

“Oh my goodness!” Nadia clapped her hands together. “I’ve seen that truck!” She gave her father another nudge with the back of her hand.”

“Ow.” He grimaced, but he smiled at his daughter. And the lightness in his face… he’d never looked so handsome.

The dynamic between the two was incredible.

Nadia continued on. “Seriously, Dad. You’ve been living in America now for almost half your life. What is your issue with food trucks?”

Lucas reared back at his daughter’s accusation and Caroline found herself enjoying the back and forth, but more than that, she liked Nadia’s spunk. It kind of reminded Caroline of herself years ago.

The snap in Lucas’ blue-grey eyes was a treat. And then he held up his hands in surrender and Caroline found herself ready to wrap her arms around him and laugh.

Thank goodness she managed to hold herself back.

Caroline knew that she needed to get away, not because she wanted to, but she had to keep herself from making a mistake like throwing herself at him.

She was a strong, independent woman, but Lucas brought out something in her that she didn’t quite understand. When he was near, all she wanted to do was get her hands on him.

Her mouth on him.

And the last thing she wanted to do was spend enough time with him that she might find out that he didn’t feel the same.

She didn’t think of him as the kind of man who would keep a flame going for that long.

No, Lucas Brierly wasn’t the kind of man she expected to let moss grow. He was a man who had spent most of his adult life traveling the world opening restaurants and starring on TV.

The only constant in the last ten years was Nadia, but there had to have been women in his life.

He was the very definition of a red-blooded alpha male. He owned any room he was in and the women… and quite a few men understood the attraction.

As much as she wanted to be near him, she knew she needed to get away from him sooner rather than later. Her heart and other, more tingly parts, couldn’t handle much more of this nearness.

And that’s when she saw her out.

Cecily turned around, looking for her, and Caroline almost jumped out of her skin with a ridiculous amount of relief. “Cecily! Here! Come here!”

Cecily did just as Caroline asked, but when she saw Lucas standing there, Cecily paled and almost walked away.

“Oh no you don’t.”

Caroline managed to grab her friend’s arm before she could disappear into the crowd. “Cecily here is one of my best friends in St. Raphael and I was just telling, Lucas and his daughter Nadia about your food truck.”

Cecily’s jaw dropped. “Shut up! You did not!”

Caroline beamed at her friend. “Of course I did! Lucas loves innovative food concepts and Croque & Crumpets is just that. And as much as Lucas has been known to criticize Americans making British staples, he has yet to try your huevos con crumpets.”

---