we could continue as friends. When you sent me the check, I couldn’t handle it. I went on a mini bender and …Oh my god!” My hand went to my head automatically.
“What is it?” he commanded, taking my face in his hands and forcing me to meet his gaze.
“I remember what happened … the check … my fall …”
“I am so sorry, Issy. Please forgive me.” The tension in his voice was unmistakable and his eyes stayed on mine, silently pleading.
My heart swelled. “There is nothing to forgive. It was my own fault. I needn’t have brought the check back and it was my decision to run from you like a coward. I should have known that stilettos, speed and staircases are not a good combination,” I grinned at him meekly.
“Oh Issy!” He pulled me into his arms and held me tightly, muttering my name over and over into my hair.
I immediately relaxed into his embrace. I marveled at how good his comforting arms felt. And, amazingly, I realized that I felt good for having made him feel better. It’s just like when Angel is upset and I make her feel better. And, when I am upset and Angel soothes me by holding me and stroking my hair. Oh my god, Lucas is actually stroking my hair! Could I have more than a one night stand with this man?
Chapter 5
We stayed like that for a few minutes until I became aware of the distant, yet unmistakable ring tone of my cell. It was the ring tone that I’d chosen to alert me to Angel’s calls. I instinctively turned my head and Lucas immediately pulled away.
“My cell … I should get that. Angel will be worried,” I muttered, feeling self conscious suddenly.
Lucas stood and then strode to the door. “I’ll get your purse.”
“Thanks.” I stayed sitting on the edge of the bed, wondering what I should say to Angel.
He returned moments later and handed me my purse. My cell had stopped ringing but I fished it out of my purse and checked my notifications. I had two missed calls and four text messages from Angel.
“I should return Angel’s calls, otherwise she will send out a search party,” I said apologetically.
He nodded his head once. “Of course. You still haven’t eaten. I’ll arrange for some food to be brought up. Is there anything else you need?
“No. No, thank you,” I replied, giving him a grateful smile.
“Okay. I’ll give you some privacy. Shout if you need anything - I won’t be far away.” He looked thoughtful for a moment but then, without another word, he turned and left the room, pulling the door to, but not closing it, behind him.
I quickly called Angel, who answered immediately. “Issy, where on earth are you? I tried calling you earlier to see if you were okay and to ask you to meet me for lunch but-”
“I’m with Lucas,” I interrupted.
“You’re what?” she cried, making me flinch and hold my cell away from my ear.
“I tripped on the stairs and hit my head. Apparently, I knocked myself out. Lucas brought me to his apartment to make sure I was okay.”
“Oh my god, Issy! Are you okay? Where’s his apartment? I’m coming to fetch you.”
“Yes, I’m fine. I just have a headache, that’s all. Lucas spoke with a doctor who said that I should be kept under observation for 24 hours. He has a list of symptoms to watch out for so he is babysitting me.”
“Well, he can give me the list and I can watch out for you. You shouldn’t be with that creep after the stunt he pulled on Saturday. Where are you?” Angel’s voice had risen about an octave.
“I’m fine, honestly. We have some issues to sort out and we are getting there. I don’t want to lose the contract for mini Dakota. I’m okay here. Anyway, I thought you and Chad were having dinner with his folks tonight.”
“Oh yeah, we are. But you know that I would skip that if
“What is it?” he commanded, taking my face in his hands and forcing me to meet his gaze.
“I remember what happened … the check … my fall …”
“I am so sorry, Issy. Please forgive me.” The tension in his voice was unmistakable and his eyes stayed on mine, silently pleading.
My heart swelled. “There is nothing to forgive. It was my own fault. I needn’t have brought the check back and it was my decision to run from you like a coward. I should have known that stilettos, speed and staircases are not a good combination,” I grinned at him meekly.
“Oh Issy!” He pulled me into his arms and held me tightly, muttering my name over and over into my hair.
I immediately relaxed into his embrace. I marveled at how good his comforting arms felt. And, amazingly, I realized that I felt good for having made him feel better. It’s just like when Angel is upset and I make her feel better. And, when I am upset and Angel soothes me by holding me and stroking my hair. Oh my god, Lucas is actually stroking my hair! Could I have more than a one night stand with this man?
Chapter 5
We stayed like that for a few minutes until I became aware of the distant, yet unmistakable ring tone of my cell. It was the ring tone that I’d chosen to alert me to Angel’s calls. I instinctively turned my head and Lucas immediately pulled away.
“My cell … I should get that. Angel will be worried,” I muttered, feeling self conscious suddenly.
Lucas stood and then strode to the door. “I’ll get your purse.”
“Thanks.” I stayed sitting on the edge of the bed, wondering what I should say to Angel.
He returned moments later and handed me my purse. My cell had stopped ringing but I fished it out of my purse and checked my notifications. I had two missed calls and four text messages from Angel.
“I should return Angel’s calls, otherwise she will send out a search party,” I said apologetically.
He nodded his head once. “Of course. You still haven’t eaten. I’ll arrange for some food to be brought up. Is there anything else you need?
“No. No, thank you,” I replied, giving him a grateful smile.
“Okay. I’ll give you some privacy. Shout if you need anything - I won’t be far away.” He looked thoughtful for a moment but then, without another word, he turned and left the room, pulling the door to, but not closing it, behind him.
I quickly called Angel, who answered immediately. “Issy, where on earth are you? I tried calling you earlier to see if you were okay and to ask you to meet me for lunch but-”
“I’m with Lucas,” I interrupted.
“You’re what?” she cried, making me flinch and hold my cell away from my ear.
“I tripped on the stairs and hit my head. Apparently, I knocked myself out. Lucas brought me to his apartment to make sure I was okay.”
“Oh my god, Issy! Are you okay? Where’s his apartment? I’m coming to fetch you.”
“Yes, I’m fine. I just have a headache, that’s all. Lucas spoke with a doctor who said that I should be kept under observation for 24 hours. He has a list of symptoms to watch out for so he is babysitting me.”
“Well, he can give me the list and I can watch out for you. You shouldn’t be with that creep after the stunt he pulled on Saturday. Where are you?” Angel’s voice had risen about an octave.
“I’m fine, honestly. We have some issues to sort out and we are getting there. I don’t want to lose the contract for mini Dakota. I’m okay here. Anyway, I thought you and Chad were having dinner with his folks tonight.”
“Oh yeah, we are. But you know that I would skip that if
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