Frenched (20 page)

“Like if I decide to move to Paris?”

“Don’t even kid about that,” she said seriously. “We have a business here to run and I’m lost without you. Get your derrière back here on Tuesday.”

We hung up, and I sat on the bed for a moment. My heart was beating way too fast. I put one hand over it and breathed in and out. A million thoughts raced through my head—I needed a plan, a list. Yes, that was it. I could still hear Coco admonishing me to stop it with the fucking lists, but they comforted me, and I needed something that felt familiar right now.

To Do List For Turning Life Upside Down

1) Accept Tucker’s apology. Say goodbye.

2) Find Lucas. Declare love.

3) Find a place to stay. (If all goes well with #1, perhaps this will take care of itself.)

4) Have sex with Lucas.

5) Do it again. Many times. For three days straight.

Locking myself in the bathroom in case Tucker decided to show up again, I showered and changed, throwing the pink sweater Lucas remembered from the cemetery over my shoulders. As my hair dried, I finished packing and went over my list again and again. Item one made me a little queasy, but items two through five put a grin on my face every time.

God, I loved lists. I’d never fucking stop.

With one last look around the suite to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything, I pulled the door open and charged out with no regrets.

Well, maybe one.

That Chanel bag was adorable.

“You’re making a mistake.” Tucker set down his coffee cup and looked me dead in the eye.

“That may be,” I said, exhaling, “but it’s my mistake to make.”

He stared at his hand on the cup handle. “Tell me what you want to hear. I’ll say it.”

“That you respect my decision and you’ll leave me alone. That you’ll find someone else and treat her better from the start.” I put my hand on his wrist. “That you’ll love someone more than you loved me. And you’ll show her that.”

Tucker looked up at me, and I took my hand away. “I still love you. And I’m sorry.”

“I accept your apology. And I’m not angry.”

Nodding slowly, he looked so miserable I almost felt bad. Almost.

“A word of advice, Tucker. Don’t post shit about your bad behavior on social media. It’s tacky.”

His fair complexion flushed. “God. My friends are such assholes.”

“I’d say they share the blame. Goodbye, Tucker.”

He said nothing, just kept staring at his coffee, likely in shock that he’d been rejected. Poor guy had probably never had that happen before.

First time for everything.

#

I contemplated leaving my luggage in storage at the Plaza, but in the end decided to drag it with me to The Beaver. If things went badly with Lucas, I could go straight to the airport, and if they went well…stomach clench…maybe I could go straight to his apartment.

It was raining again, so instead of traipsing through the rain to the Metro with all my stuff, I took a cab to The Beaver. It was only five o’clock, and I had no idea what time his shift started, but if he wasn’t there, I’d build a fucking campfire and wait. I’d wait all night long for him.

Despite my confidence in the decision, my anxiety returned as soon as I saw the familiar awning and sign out front. I remembered standing in front of it the first night I was here and how much I dreaded walking in to find a whole lot of couples in love inside. And now here I was about to go in and declare my love and throw myself in Lucas’s arms.
Maybe years from now we’ll be telling this story to our children.

Gah! Stop it! No children!

I paid the driver and he helped unload my bags onto the curb, then left me standing there in the rain with dripping hair and live wire nerves. Was Lucas inside? I couldn’t see through the glass.

Come on, Mia. Be brave.

But I needed a minute. Filling my lungs with damp air, I inhaled and exhaled, composing myself. And for the first time, I saw there was another bar right next to The Beaver called Bar Petite. It looked more upscale, prettier, more French than Lucas’s bar. In fact, if I were choosing between the two of them based on looks alone, I would have chosen the other. But I hadn’t even noticed it Monday night. I hadn’t even looked around, really. I’d stopped in front of The Beaver, read the sign, and barged in.

Maybe Coco is right about fate.
I reached for the door.

Now, in a movie, this is a great scene. The heroine pulls open the door, rushes in looking windswept and breathless and hopelessly beautiful, and the hero strides forward and takes her in his arms. Kissing ensues.

My entrance into The Beaver? Not so much.

For one thing, the fucking door to The Beaver is heavy and I was trying to prop it open and drag two suitcases through, but my one leg wasn’t strong enough to hold it. I struggled awkwardly for several minutes, feeling like every eye in the place was on me. Shit, why had I thought bringing my luggage was a good idea? My hair was dripping in my eyes and I had no free hand to wipe my face, so by the time I managed to squeeze myself and my stupid baggage through the door, I looked like a soggy mess, I couldn’t even see, and one of my heavy-ass suitcases tipped over, blocking the entrance.

I reached for it, stumbling over the other bag, but managed to pull it upright and drag myself and my luggage further into the bar.
Oh my God, please don’t let him be watching this.

But he was. Of course he was, everyone was.

Once I’d wiped the rain off my face, I looked across the bar, and my heart blew up in my chest at the sight of him. His eyes were wide with surprise but I also saw a hint of amusement.

“Hi,” I said.

“Hi.” He stayed where he was, filling a glass at the tap.

“I’m looking for someone.” I walked toward him, leaving my bags where they were.

He set the beer down in front of a customer who was watching the scene with interest. “You are?”

“Yes. And I found him. It’s you.”

“You sure about that?” Lucas grabbed a clean towel from under the bar and tossed it to me.

I wiped my face and nodded. “I’m positive, Lucas.”

His eyes softened. “Give me one minute.” He disappeared through a door at the end of the bar, and I tried to pull my bags more out of the way. In a moment, he appeared at my side. “Mia.”

I had planned to apologize, explain what Tucker was doing in my room, tell Lucas I loved him and I wanted to try to make it work, but when he stood there in front of me and said my name that way, like he was afraid I wasn’t real, all words failed me.

“Nothing to say? That’s not like you.” He smiled at me before reaching for my luggage, and shoving it out of the way underneath the bar.

“Sorry.” I flapped my hands. “I’m all…flustered.”
Jeez, Mia, pull yourself together.
“And wet.”

He grinned. “You love the rain now, remember?”

At the memory of kissing him in the rain, my lips stretched wide. “I love it when I’m with you. And I want to be with you all the time.”

“Yeah?”

I nodded, my heart swelling inside my chest. “Yeah. I’m sorry I sent you away before. Tucker showed up, and I was right in the middle of turning him down when you—”

“He wants you back?” Lucas’s eyes went hard.

“He does. But I’m not interested.” I took a deep breath. “I want you, Lucas. I want to try to make it work. Because I’m in love with you.”

Instead of saying anything, Lucas grabbed my head in his hands and crushed his mouth to mine. He held me there for a moment, during which some random Beaver patrons applauded and whooped.

“Yeah, Lucas!” hollered a loud male voice.

I couldn’t help laughing, and Lucas broke the kiss. “We have a bit of an audience,” I said.

He rolled his eyes. “It’s a few friends of mine.”

“Introduce me?”

“Of course. Come sit down. Are you—where are you staying now?” He looked at me with concern.

I shrugged. “Not sure. Maybe you can recommend a hotel a little less expensive than the Plaza? I have three more nights here.” Behind my back I crossed my fingers.

“As if I’d let you stay anywhere else but with me. You’ve only got three days, and I want to spend every moment possible with you. If you want me to.”

I beamed, my entire body tingling. “I want you to.”

He pulled me into a hug, burying his face in my wet hair. “God, I love the way you smell,” he said softly. “I can’t wait to get you alone.”

My thoughts exactly.

#

After a burger and fries and several glasses of wine, I got in a cab with Lucas’s keys in my pocket. He’d meet me at his apartment after his shift.

Letting myself into Lucas’s apartment without him felt strange but thrilling. If I hadn’t been so exhausted, I might have been tempted to snoop around a bit, try to get to know him better, but the moment I was inside, I went straight for the bed and collapsed, face planted into a pillow.

I woke up two hours later, and Lucas’s bedroom clock told me it was nearly eleven. His shift ended at midnight, so I jumped out of bed and got into the shower. I wanted to be ready and waiting for him when he got home.

The moment I stepped naked under the spray, I was struck with memories so vivid my body’s reaction was visceral. I had to close my eyes and lean against the wall while my head swam with sensory perceptions. Steam rising. Wet bodies sliding against one another. Hot back on cool tile. Lucas buried deep inside me.

Oh, fuck.

I was so turned on I nearly lost myself to it. Only the thought of Lucas coming home soon propelled me to grab the shampoo, wash my hair, soap up and rinse off as quickly as I could.

When I was dry, I rubbed my entire body with lotion and blow dried my hair. Praying he wouldn’t get home early, I set it in some large Velcro rollers for a little lift and went into the bedroom to dress.

Not that I’d be wearing much to answer his knock.

From my suitcase, which I’d set on the bench under the window, I pulled my Aubade lingerie. I slid the panties up my legs and checked my reflection in the mirror. Black and lacy, they sat like tight boy shorts on my hips but were actually a thong in the back. I turned around to check out my ass and grinned when I thought about Lucas’s reaction to it. Then I slipped my arms into the bra and reached behind me to clasp it. Cups trimmed with white lace tied together between my breasts, and I imagined Lucas unraveling the little black satin bow.

With his teeth.

In the bathroom, I put on the barest of makeup—a little concealer, some eyeliner, and mascara. Skipping the lip liner altogether, I filled in my lips with coconut lip balm and rubbed them together. After pulling the rollers from my hair, I tipped my head forward and messed it up. I wanted to look a little like I’d just come from bed, even though that’s exactly where I hoped I was headed. I lit the candles on the coffee table and found a few extra ones in a kitchen cupboard, which I placed on the nightstands in the bedroom.

There. Mood set.

I was just pulling on my black heels when I heard the knock. With one last look in the mirror, I turned off all the lights and headed for the door.

“Yes?” I called before opening it. Best to make sure it was really him before opening the door in lingerie and heels.

“It’s me.”

It’s you.

I turned the lock and opened the door. “Hi, you.”

His jaw dropped. “Oh my God.”

After a moment of stunned silence, he came at me, kicking the door shut behind him. I laughed as he swept me off my feet and carried me like a baby straight for the couch, where he lay me down on my back and stood up. “Jesus Christ. Let me look at you.”

I propped myself on my elbows and bent my knees, widening them a little, enjoying the way his chest heaved inside his shirt as his eyes traveled slowly down my body and back up again.

“Fuck,” he breathed. “I have never seen anything like you in all my life. I could look at you all night.”

I grinned. “No, you couldn’t.”

He groaned. “You’re right. I couldn’t.”

I reached out and stroked him through his pants. He was already hard. “And I wouldn’t want you to.”

“Ah.” He grabbed my wrist. “That feels so fucking good, but I want to talk for a minute.”

I sat up, swinging my feet to the floor and bringing my other hand to his zipper. “Let’s talk later.”

He groaned again. “You’re killing me. Just wait one minute.” He took both my hands in his and pulled me to my feet. “I want to tell you something.”

“Lucas, it’s OK.” I slipped my hands around his waist. “I’m not asking you to say anything, to make any promises. I just want to be with you.” I tipped my chin up and kissed his lips.

“Mia. I want to make you a promise right now. Listen.” He put one hand to my face. “I realized a lot of things this afternoon when I thought I might never see you again.”

“Like what?” I asked, resting my cheek in the palm of his hand.

“Like I’m in love with you. And I can’t let you get away. And I’m a fool to tell you I’ll never do something when I have no idea what the future holds. I changed my mind. Anything is possible for us.”

My entire body vibrated with happy energy at his words. I nodded. “Anything is possible.”

Our lips came together and I welcomed his tongue into my mouth, slipping my hands beneath his shirt. His skin was hot, and I couldn’t wait feel it everywhere on me.

“Mmmm, wait,” he said when I tried to lift his shirt off. “I’m not done looking at you.”

He walked me backward until my legs hit the couch and I sat down, looking up at him through my lashes. “What is it you’d like to see?”

“All kinds of things.” His eyes raked over me again. “Fuck, you’re hot. Do you really have to leave in three days? How am I going to get enough of you before then?”

I sat up and bracketed his legs with my knees, moving to the edge of the couch. This time he let me undo his pants. “I don’t know. But I’m looking forward to watching you try. Want to watch me?”

“You know I do.” He sucked in his breath as I took his cock into my mouth, an inch at a time. I used my hands and lips and tongue just the way he liked, and gasped when he put his hands in my hair.

“Yes, pull it,” I whispered, licking him from base to tip, then spiraling my tongue over his smooth pink head. He grasped two fistfuls of my hair and pulled tight, and I dug my fingers into his hips and yanked him into me, deep, right to the back of my throat.

He groaned and held my head where he wanted it, thrusting into my mouth, and I loved the way he took control. I could feel myself getting hotter and wetter and more turned on with every push between my lips.