I don’t know what I was thinking, going over to Lucas’s place like that. It didn’t help anything. In fact, it just made me want him even more, and realize just how deeply I’m falling for him.

After I yelled at Caleb, I tried to call Jordan just to talk, but she didn’t answer. I had to see someone that gives a shit about me, and even though I should be trying to move away from Lucas, I couldn’t help myself. I got Chinese, convinced the nurse to stay later, and headed over to Lucas’s place.

I’m glad I did. It went really well, I felt incredibly comfortable, and his son is really adorable.

Maybe I don’t want to distance myself. The Carters are going to be pissed, and it’ll just make my life harder, but I don’t care anymore. I already burned that bridge with Caleb, or at least I think I did. I haven’t heard from him since that phone call, which isn’t too surprising, but I assume he still wants me. I assume the preserve is still going to be destroyed if I don’t follow through and become his girlfriend.

The day after I visited Lucas at his house, I go through my usual routine at work. Around eleven, though, I give Jordan a call, wanting to see if she can get lunch.

She answers on the second ring, which surprises me. “Hey!” I say to her.

“Oh, hey Mia,” she says, sounding a bit surprised. “What are you up to?”

“Just at work. You?”

“Got the day off,” she says.

“Hey, want to get some lunch up here?” We do that a lot when she doesn’t have to work. It’s pretty nice actually, we have a little picnic out in the sun, chat and eat whatever we have, though we haven’t done that in like a couple weeks.

“Uh, I don’t know,” she says, a little vaguely. “I’m a little busy.”

“Oh, cool. What are you up to?”

“You know, just some stuff.”

There’s an awkward pause and I have no clue why. “Oh cool,” I say finally. “Well, let me know if you want to do something later or whatever.”

“Yeah, sure. See you.”

She hangs up before I can say anything.

I stare at my phone, at a total loss. She seemed distant, almost hostile in a weird way. She’s never like that. Jordan is actually a really bubbly person, really outgoing and happy, and that’s part of what I like about her. But lately, it feels like she’s pulling back from me.

Maybe I’m just imagining it. I’m under a lot of stress right now, so it’s totally possible that I’m just reading way too much into this. Still, I can’t help but think that the Carters have gotten to her somehow. I know she’s closer with Dylan than I am, and part of me thinks she’s angling to get into their family. Maybe that’s a little unfair, but she has made some comments in the past about trying to marry a rich guy, and she is totally into both Caleb and Dylan at least to some extent.

I hate that I’m in a position where I think my closest friend might be turning against me because of some rich assholes, but here I am. I never expected to be in a position like this. I can’t really deny the reality of my situation, though, considering I’m being blackmailed by Caleb and apparently his father is totally into it.

I nearly jump when my phone starts ringing right in my hand. I have to take a deep breath. For a second I think that it’s Caleb calling me, ready to threaten me again, almost as if he can read my mind. But that’s totally nuts. I need to get myself together and quick.

I check out the screen and release my breath. “Hey,” I say, answering.

“Nice day out today,” Lucas says without greeting.

I smile to myself. “It’s not bad.”

“I want to see you.”

“Do you?” I feel a little flutter in my stomach.

“Right now. Are you hungry?”

“Maybe,” I say, biting my lip. I’m not sure that this is a good idea, but then again, I did just go to his house unannounced. I know I’m sending him mixed signals, and it’s really not fair of me. I do want him more than I can really understand, but there’s just so much stacked against us right now that it feels impossible.

Still, I feel like shit, and my friend might be ditching me, and I’m sick of being afraid of the Carters. I’m sick of all this drama. I just want something simple, and when I’m with Lucas, it’s simple.

“Okay,” I say finally. “Meet me at the office. When can you get here?”

“I’ll leave now. See you soon.” He hangs up and I feel my stomach doing flips with excitement.

I hurry back to the office and head right into the bathroom. I make myself as presentable as I possibly can before heading back out front to wait for him. I don’t have to stand there long before his truck comes trundling down the gravel road. He parks and climbs out, a picnic basket in his hand.

I smile and wave him over. He grins back and holds up the basket. “I come bearing gifts,” he says.

“Oh yeah?”

He nods, opening the top. “Sandwiches, drinks, cheese, the usual stuff.”

“You’re a true winner, you know that?”

“Of course I know it.” That grin again, and it just drives me totally insane. “Come on, where are we going this time?”

“I know a good spot. Can you keep up?”

He laughs a little. “Please.”

We head out, chatting lightly about the day. It’s beautiful outside, and I have to admit that it feels really good to be around Lucas. He’s so easy to talk to. He’s funny, handsome, charming, basically everything that the Carter brothers aren’t.

He tells me a little about the flower shop, about the weddings they have coming up, and about the business in general.

“I want to open my own shop,” he says.

“Really?” I ask. “You don’t strike me as a flower guy.”

“I’m not,” he admits. “But Alice’s store is doing surprisingly well. Weddings are seriously a good business. I think we could expand with a little work.”

“What does she think about that?”

He shrugs a little. “I haven’t mentioned it to her yet.”

“I think it’s a great idea, honestly.”

“Yeah?” He laughs. “I never pictured myself running a flower shop. From the Syrian Desert to a tiny little florist. I don’t know how that happens.”

“Life is weird that way.”

He gives me a strange look. “You’re right. Full of surprises.”

For a second, I think he’s going to say something else, but we come around a bend in the path and ahead is the spot I was looking for.

It’s a small clearing with bushes and such all around it. The grass is relatively fresh and green, and it’s not muddy at all, which is perfect. It’s right at the bank of the stream which runs through the preserve, so the sound of running water colors our conversation as Lucas spreads out the blanket and sets up our meal.

We sit down, the sun shining, and start to eat. I tell him more about working at the preserve and he asks questions, genuinely interested. I can’t help but think about how Caleb never really seemed to give a shit about my job at all, and barely even mentioned it except to blackmail me. As soon as I think about the blackmail, though, I suddenly turn away from Lucas.

“What are we doing here?” I ask him suddenly, not thinking.

He pauses. “Well, I thought we were having a decent lunch.”

“We are. I mean, I like being around you.”

“I know.” That cocky little smile again.

“But you’re so much older than I am. And you have a son. And my dad is getting worse every week.” I look down at the grass, feeling ashamed and stupid and weak, but not sure why I’m pouring this out on him all of a sudden.

I totally expect him to recoil and leave. I wouldn’t blame him. I’m throwing all this on him suddenly, out of nowhere, in the middle of what’s a really nice lunch. Of course, I’m not mentioning the Carters, but that has to be on his mind, too. He’s aware that I’m wrapped up in them, and they’re out to get him now, though he doesn’t know the extent to which I’m connected.

I want to tell him. I want to spill it all out, get it all out in the open and be done with it. I know that if I just tell him the truth, maybe he can help me.

Or maybe he’ll flip. Maybe he’ll go after the Carters. I want him to hurt them, destroy them, but that’s just so selfish. I couldn’t let him do that to himself, not when he has a son to worry about.

“Listen,” he says softly, moving closer. “I don’t care about any of that. Do you?”

“I don’t know,” I say, dodging the question.

“Look at me.” He takes my chin, tipping my mouth toward him. He’s so damn handsome and every time he touches me skin, it drives me absolutely crazy. “None of that matters. What matters is this.”

He leans toward me. My heart starts hammering in my chest. When he kisses me, it feels like remembering a really perfect dream, but getting to live right inside of it.

Intensity and pleasure rolls down my spine as I kiss him back. I don’t know why I resist this, why I pull back from it, especially when it just feels so perfect. I lose myself in his kiss, feeling his body, and desire strikes through me.

His hand wraps through my hair as he pulls me against him. I fall onto him, on my knees, hands on his chest. His lips move along my cheek and stop at my ear. “This is what you want,” he says. “We both know it. You’re good at pretending, but I can read you, Mia.”

“Can you?” I whisper, surprised at the emotions rolling through my body.

“Your heart is beating fast. You’re dripping wet. You want to know what it would be like to finally give yourself to me. To find out what I can do.”

“What can you do?” I ask him, breathing deep, heart hammering. I can barely think, but I don’t want to think.

He gives me that cocky grin again, but this time I can see more in it. He’s not just cocky for no reason. It’s more of a promise.

“I’ll show you,” he says softly and kisses me again, and I know I’m going to let him.