Chapter 11
Olivia
I need to pick up groceries after work. Lucas called earlier in the day to see if I can meet him for dinner. I don’t think seeing him again so soon is a good idea. Especially since I can't get him off my mind.
All day, no matter what I do, my mind races back to him. His cocky attitude. His smug, self-assured smile and steely grey eyes. How his body moves with confidence and perfect precision. I take a deep breath bringing myself back to the moment and out of the image of unbuttoning his shirt and running my hands over his bare chest. His mouth on my neck, moving down, his hand rubbing between my legs . . .
Taking stock of the aisle I meandered down, I forget what I’m looking for. I pull my phone out and check my shopping list, but not before I spot another text message from Ava. We've been texting about Lucas all day.
Once again I’m consumed by thoughts of him, until I feel someone tap my shoulder. I turn to find a clerk holding a single red rose out for me.
“Seems like you made an impression on someone,” he says, handing the flower to me.
There has to be some sort of mistake. No one would give me a flower. I have a good rapport with the head of the fish department, but he just sneaks me an extra piece of flounder every now and then. I look around, hoping to see whom the flower is really meant for. The clerk and I are the only people in the aisle.
“No mistake,” the clerk replies. “It’s for you.”
“Who's it from?” I ask, still skeptical.
He shrugs his shoulders, “I don't know. I don't pay attention to who comes in here.” The clerk pops his ear-buds in and goes back to restocking the shelves.
I continue walking down the aisles, and run into two other stock clerks each with a red rose from my secret admirer. Neither give any details about the mystery man the roses are from.
As I continue to gather the groceries, I smile so much I feel my face cramp. I search each face I pass, no one looks familiar. No one bothers to glance in my direction. And there is no sign of the guy I wish they are from.
As I approach the cashier, disappointment sinks in. What began as the most promising shopping trip I’ve ever embarked on is ending on a very flat note. Over all, it’s coming up short on sparks and intrigue.
He appears out of nowhere. A single red rose in his hand.
I stand dumbfounded. Speechless. Lucas approaches, the unruly dark waves of his hair highlighting his grey eyes. The moment our eyes meet I’m lost, mesmerized by the fact that he is here in front of me. I wanted him, and I got him. Every nerve ending in my body tingles.
“Flowers are the only things nature created that can compare with your beauty,” Lucas smiles, showing off his deep dimples.
“I hope you haven't been working on that since last night.”
“That hurts,” he says, bringing his hand up to his chest feigning hurt feelings, “But I’ll forgive you if . . .”
“Forgive me?” I ask, a smile creeping onto my lips, “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t have you arrested for stalking me?”
He turns to the cashier, an older woman in her sixties, who looks quite amused at the scene in front of her. “Would you believe I had three long stem roses delivered to this lovely lady as she shopped?”
“How sweet,” the cashier smiles.
“I thought so,” Lucas continues. “And all I want in return is dinner.”
“Dinner?” the cashier repeats acting as an arbitrator.
“Just dinner. Now, don’t you think she should at least agree to that?”
The older women, gives me her best motherly look and speaks sternly, “You should give him a chance. If it were me, I'd go to dinner with him.”
“I don’t know. I mean for him to just show up here out of the blue, it is a little strange. He could be crazy.” I whisper the last part, as if he can't hear me.
“Crazy for you,” Lucas chimes in, looking too irresistible to pass up.
"Another cheesy line?"
Lucas smiles. "No. Not a cheesy line. The truth is, something really good happened at work today, and I want to celebrate, and the only person I want to do that with is you."
This is the moment I realize two things. One, I’m lost to him. Two, Lucas spells trouble. He'll go after what he wants at full steam and won't take no for an answer. And right now, what he wants is me.
I begin to fall in love with him at this very moment. I’m terrified because not only am I falling, I’m falling fast and hard.