Eight
Claire
The moment the word was out of my mouth, I wondered what the hell I was thinking. Did I really just agree to a date with Luke? Or was it even a date? He asked me to some family barbeque thing which sounded way more serious than a simple date, but also somehow more casual?
And the fact that he said I could bring Ella along… I mean, what kind of guy was that thoughtful? Unless he really just didn’t want me to say no.
Which only made me feel more flattered that this incredibly sexy, skilled man wanted to spend time with me. The whole way down the stairs, I was filled with this warm glow that just wouldn’t go away. I couldn’t stop smiling and I’m sure I looked like an idiot. I was sure he’d take one look at my face and decide that he had changed his mind and actually didn’t want me to go.
Though, to be honest, that might be for the best. It’s not like I had a great track record with guys. My last relationship was with Chuck and well… it was pretty obvious how terribly that whole thing went. Not to mention that I didn’t really have the time for dating. I had Ella to watch and the store to manage, and as helpful as Aaron was with running things part-time for me, he just operated the store. He didn’t do the books or make purchases, or pay the bills. He was just a counter guy. So all the free time I had, I needed, and I just didn’t see where dating fit into that equation.
But he’d asked me out and I said yes. There was no going back now. I could cancel, I guessed, but that seemed rude. Especially since it was my first prospect in four years. Who knew if I’d ever have another. I needed to take advantage of it now while I could.
“So, how much for the changing table?”
I shook my head. “You really don’t have to. I’m happy to make the trade.”
“Claire,” he said, his voice hard and soft all at the same time. It sent shivers straight to my toes and I had to clamp my legs together against the delicious thrill of arousal slipping through my veins like silk. Jesus, just my name on his lips was enough to turn me on. Yeah, I really needed to take advantage of this while I could. “How much?”
I sighed. “Two-fifty.”
“There, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” he asked, handing his credit card over to me.
“Do you want to take it with you or have it delivered?”
He looked surprised by the question, then considered it. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think that he wasn’t really planning on buying anything when he came in today. He’d seemed confused by every question I asked that concerned his purchase and I had the sneaking feeling that he didn’t really care about it at all. But that only left one possibility and I couldn’t get ahead of myself thinking that he was here for me. Yeah, he’d asked me out, but that didn’t mean anything. It could have been a spur of the moment thing. Who knew.
“Uh… I don’t really have anywhere to put it where they wouldn’t see it. Is there any way you could set it aside and we could have it delivered at the appropriate time?”
Normally, I’d say no. That was a lot of work. But I liked Luke and I wanted to do whatever I could to make him happy. I wanted to see more of him. Of his easy smiles. I wanted to hear that firm, growly voice say my name again with that heated edge that made me melt. So before I could even think about it, I was saying, “Sure!” brightly and nodding.
I scribbled up a receipt for him and handed it over. “You just let me know when and where and I’ll have my employee bring it out.”
“Are you leaving?” Ella said from somewhere around Luke’s knees. I bent over the counter to see her pouting up at him, hugging Bubbles the bear close to her chest.
Luke gave her a little smile and nodded. “’Fraid so. I’ve gotta go be a doctor for other people too sometimes.”
She frowned.
“But don’t worry, I’ll see you again this weekend.”
Her eyes widened and she looked over to me with a question sparkling in their depths, not wanting to get too excited until I confirmed it. I nodded.
“Dr. Luke’s invited us to a barbeque this weekend, what do you think about that?”
“There will be hot dogs and hamburgers and I bet,” he said, crouching down to whisper, still loud enough that I could hear, “I bet there will be popsicles,” he added, eyes going wide.
“Are we going now?” Ella asked excitedly, and Luke and I both laughed. I didn’t know what it was about this guy, but he managed to make me feel light and unburdened. He was amazing with my little girl, nice, sexy as hell, and he made us both laugh. Why didn’t I have time for dating again?
“No sweetheart. It’s only Tuesday. We have three more days until the weekend.”
Ella looked crestfallen, her shoulders slumping as she pouted, but then, like a sudden clever idea struck her, she ran off to her table.
“Here,” she said, thrusting a piece of paper at him.
“Is this for me?” he asked, looking awed.
Ella nodded. “You said you never seen one, so you should have it.”
I peeked and saw that she’d colored one of the pages I printed for her — a bear under a tree. The bear was clearly supposed to be Bubbles.
“Well thank you very much. Do you think you could write your name on it for me? I want to have it signed by the artist when you’re rich and famous.”
Ella giggled and took the paper back to her table, concentrating very hard on writing her name with a crayon, her tongue sticking out of her mouth as she did.
“Much better,” Luke said when she brought it back to him. Then, he turned to me, those dark eyes sparkling with genuine care and amusement. Every time he looked at me like that my heart stuttered and my breath caught in my chest.
“I’ll see you Saturday?”
I nodded.
“You too,” he said, patting Ella on the head. “Thanks for this amazing drawing. I’m going to put it right up on my fridge so everyone can see it when they come over.”
Ella positively beamed at him.
I walked with him to the front door, feeling the need to say something, to express how grateful I was for his patience and generosity. But all that I managed when I got there was a “Thanks.”
He shrugged. “Don’t mention it. I really am going to treasure it.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. Then, right as he was getting into his truck, I realized something.
“Hey, I don’t know when or where this thing is on Saturday.”
He looked surprised, like he just realized the same thing. “I’ll let you know. Can I just call the store for you?”
“Most days. If Aaron’s here, he’ll relay the message.”
Then Luke nodded and got into his truck, those warm eyes still looking at me like they could see right through me. But I didn’t hate it. In fact, I liked it a lot. And now, Saturday couldn’t get here fast enough.