19
London
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope,” Luc says with a grin as he drives toward destination unknown.
“You’re not fun.”
“I disagree.I’m a lot of fun.And you are gorgeous.”
I blush and the butterflies in my stomach flutter yet again, a common occurrence since Luc turned up at my door thirty minutes ago with a huge bunch of red roses and a smile that would make a nun melt into a puddle on the floor.Then he waited while I locked my front door, laced his hand with mine, and led me down onto the street where his car was parked.After helping me in and closing the door behind me, he rounded the hood, slid behind the steering wheel, and took me toward our unknown destination.
As I look down at myself, I wonder for the tenth time today whether I’ve been transported into an alternate universe?Because I’ve got Luca “We’re Just Friends” Rossi calling me gorgeous when I’m dressed in—after a thorough text interrogation earlier—my favorite black wool-lined boots, jeans, which double as thermal leggings, a long-sleeved tee with “Just Feed Me and Call Me Pretty” on the front, and a black snow jacket and black beanie.It’s winter-date cute, and hearing Luc tell me I look gorgeous?Definitely worth it.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around the change in Luc.He’s attentive, observant, and kind of underhanded—but in a good way.
“You could try and guess though if you want,” he adds.
I turn to look at him.“So it’s going to be likethat,is it?”
“Yep.”His smile curls into a sexy smirk.“How about you use the powers of deduction and I’ll let you know if you’re getting close or not?I know you love a good puzzle.”
“You’re a damn puzzle,” I mutter.
He reaches down for my hand and lifts it to his mouth, brushing his lips over my knuckles and sending a shiver throughout my entire body before lowering my hand back down between us.Damn, he’s good.
“Okay.Well I already know you got Val to help.”
He nods.“I did.A man with a plan always needs a good wing-woman to help him.”
“I thoughtIwas your wing-woman?”
“You’ve been upgraded.”
I scrunch my nose up, earning a groan and a shake of his head.“Upgraded or replaced?”
“Definitely upgraded.”
He still hasn’t let go of my hand and he also hasn’t elaborated further.“So Val told you what I might like to do?”
“Mm-hmm ...”
“And she used her own powers of deduction to make suggestions?”
“Nope.She simply asked you.”
My body jerks as realization hits me.“Her questions last week in the car.”
“Bingo,” he says as he takes the next exit off the freeway, heading toward Downtown Chicago.
I remember what she asked me.
“Let’s say you get asked out on a date, and it’s going to be the most romantic date you could ever dream of.What would you want to do?”
I gasp as I recall what I told her.“You’re going to try and squeeze all of that into one date?”
“Not gonna try, beautiful.I’mgoingto do it all.”