Unbeautifully Loved (Breathe Again) (16 page)

“Erik, you seem like a really nice guy but I’m sorry, I can’t go out with you. I’m just not looking to date right now,” I said hoping he wasn’t upset. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, I understand. I actually just got out of a serious relationship myself not too long ago so I understand where you’re coming from.” He gave me a small reassuring smile. “Friends?” he asked, raising his eyebrows and sticking his hand across the table for me to shake.

“Friends,” I confirmed with a small smile, placing my hand in his.

I felt his presence before I saw him. I could feel the intense energy that rolled through the bar, hitting me directly in the back. Shit, it was strong, like I was punched in the stomach and all the air left my body.

Holy shit.

I dropped Erik’s hand and looked over my shoulder to see what I already knew to be true. A pair of dark, stormy eyes– aimed directly at me.

Lukas.

Oh boy, he didn’t look happy.

At all.

I was sure the heat I felt was radiating off him. His arms were crossed over his taut body that matched the entirety of his face, and his jaw was clenched, the muscle on the side, twitching.

I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding, relieved as he stalked towards the bar. I turned my head, biting my lip, looking at Erik who was looking between Lukas and me, having no idea what was going on.

“You seeing someone?” he asked almost accusingly.

“No, he’s just... a cop,” I said, more so to myself then him.

Though, he seems to think so, along with everyone else in this damn place.

Erik nodded his head a few times before finishing his drink then standing up. “I think I’m gonna head and check into the hotel, get some sleep. Been a long few days of driving.”

I followed by standing and felt everyone’s eyes swing to me. I don’t know what the big deal was; I was just having a friendly chat with Erik to kill time. It wasn’t like I was table dancing for him or throwing myself at him, or asking him to fuck me on the table for everyone to watch.

He tossed a few bills down on the table. “That should cover it. Thanks for the company Lexie, it was nice. See you around?”

“Yeah, I’d like that. You know where to find me.” I smiled and I could feel how weak it was.

He nodded, a smile playing on his lips. “Yeah I sure do. See ya around,” he said as he walked past me, leaving the bar.

Clearing some empties from the tables, I could feel Lukas’ hot stare penetrating into the back of me, causing a shiver to run through me.

“Lexie, we’re closing early tonight baby,” Teri called from the other side of the bar.

“Okay,” I called back making my way to clear Bobby’s now empty table. As I loaded up my tray with empty bottles, I felt a presence behind me and my body froze, not in the mood to deal with whatever Lukas was going to say. “Not now, Lukas. I have shit to do,” I snapped.

“Whoa, darlin’, just coming to say goodnight and that I’d see you tomorrow,” Bobby said.

I turned around, “I’m sorry Bobby, I didn’t know it was you, I thought you were–”

“Lukas, I know. I told him to leave you be,” He said. “Anyways, I’m headed home, have a good night darlin’, see you tomorrow.” He walked past me grabbing my hand and giving it a gentle squeeze then he was gone.

After getting everything cleaned up and cashed out, Lukas and I finally left the bar. From the moment we left ‘til we pulled into my driveway not a word was spoken from either of us. He was clearly angry and I wasn’t exactly sure what he was so angry about, but I had a feeling it had something to do with Erik.

Lukas turned off his truck but didn’t move from his
seat, the feeling in the truck was wired and I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Lukas, what the hell is going on?” I asked turning to him. “You haven’t said a word to me since you got back to the bar.”

He turned his head in my direction, his expression hard to read and I didn’t know what to make of it. “That guy, who is he?”

“Erik? Just a guy who’s new in town,” I told him.

His eyes cut in to mine and I felt it through my entire body. “He ask you out?” He questioned, and I felt like I was suddenly sitting in a chair in one of his interrogation rooms.

I looked at him taken aback. “Yeah, he did.”

“What’d you tell him?” His voice was rough like a jagged knife.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I told him no.” I sighed and looked out my window.

“Good.” He said then hopped out of the truck.

He opened my door, helping me out. I stepped around him and made my way towards the front door with him close on my heels. “Thanks for the ride,” I told him stopping in front of the door, my back to him.

He moved closer, his chest just barely grazing my back. “Monday night I’m taking you to dinner.”

I blinked. “Um... I’m sorry?” I turned, looking at him with knitted brows.

“Me, you in a sexy little dress, dinner Monday night at my place; I’m cooking.” He grinned, his fingers skimming the top of my shoulders then slowly drifted their way down, over my exposed arms leaving small goose bumps in the wake of his touch.

Like a date?

“Like a date?”

He answered with a smirk. “Yes.”

His eyes were light, making it hard to look elsewhere. “I can’t.” I said trying to sound firm.

“Why not?” he asked in a hushed, raspy tone I felt it directly between my legs.

Oh good, sweet lord.

I swallowed, trying to keep my composure. “Same reason I told Erik no, I’m not looking to date or get involved with anyone,” I told him, this time sounding firm.

His head dipped down beside my ear, his hot breath crashing over my cool skin like a tidal wave. “That’ll change,” he whispered then turned around and walked back to his truck.

“Uh no, I mean it Lukas, I’m serious,” I called out, hoping I was hiding the fact I was completely aroused by him.

Oh, who am I kidding, he knew.

He stopped and turned around as he pulled his door open, smirking. “I’ll be by to get you for work tomorrow, same time Peaches.” Then he was in his truck and backing out before I could utter a word.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

“Fucking great.”

I turned to go inside but stopped, not liking the feeling I had rolling through me. I looked over my shoulder and down both ends of the street but saw nothing, like the times before.

Someone was watching me, I could feel it.

It wasn’t the feeling I got when I could feel Lukas’ eyes on me, this was something utterly different and it sent an icy shiver through me, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight up. I took another look before I went inside, closing and locking the door behind me.

I paced back and forth in my room.

That bitch!

That fucking bitch!

She had to make shit so God damned difficult.

I could have made my move the other day when she and Mollie walked with Finn down to the park, no one would have known otherwise. But I didn’t, I just sat in my fucking car parked on the street across from theirs and watched them walk, Alexia stopping and looking over her shoulder.

She knew I was close by, she could feel me watching her. Her tits bouncing as she walked out of the house, all smiles and that ass shaking behind her; she was teasing me.

The thought made my dick harden in my pants.

So I decided to wait.

Chance after chance came but I kept putting it off.

Every time she left the house I was there, parked on the street across from them, in the same spot, watching her when she left and when she came back. Every time she stopped and looked around, her eyes scanning the area, looking for me. And every time my dick harden and twitched in my pants, finally bringing me to the point of having to take care of myself.

All week I watched her and all week I passed up the chance to get her.

My plans were changing and I was seriously fucked.

Then watching her place today he showed up, walking in after Mollie opened the door to him with a smile on her face. My body had stiffened from the moment he got out of his fancy ass black truck ‘til I saw the door open and she came walking out, him right behind her.

I watched them walk to his truck and she hopped in the front seat, the whole time fighting the urge to jump out of my car and put a bullet in his fucking head.

I watched ‘til they pulled away in the direction towards Fisher’s before I left my spot that had the perfect view of Alexia’s but also stayed nice and hidden behind the falling branches of the tree.

I was back in my room pacing, just getting back from seeing Alexia after that fuck head dropped her off at home, wondering, what the fuck was I to do. She was now the only thing I wanted, her and Finn. We could be a family; I knew she wanted that, I could see it. I could sense it when her eyes slide past mine every time she looked out, seeking me; and that’s exactly what I was going to give her.

The sound of my cell brought me out of my thoughts.

I grabbed it off the bed already knowing who it was before I looked at the screen. I hit ignore then tossed my cell back on the bed.

What the fuck is going on with her and that guy, the asshole was all over her tonight. Was she seeing that fucker? He better watch it or I’ll take care of him myself.

Running my hands over my face, I had to get her fucking attention, and I knew just how to do it.

“Hey Lexie, you have a... gift?” Mollie called from the front door.

I stuck my head out from the kitchen and looked down the hall. “A gift?” I asked surprised.

“Yeah, it was just left on the porch,” she said closing the door then turned and walked towards me carrying a vase full of flowers.

I looked at the bouquet, surprised. “Who sent them?” I questioned as she walked into the kitchen, placing the vase down on the counter.

“I’m not sure. The card just has an L on it; they were left on the step. Fuck, they’re beautiful, I want flowers,” she whined, pouting.

I ran my finger over the red petals of the roses. They weren’t my favorite flower; I always thought they were basic, boring, a go to flower that was over used. But they were still gorgeous and smelled nice. “I have no idea who would send me flowers. Are you sure there wasn’t another card?”

“Yeah I’m sure I looked but nothing. I bet they’re from Lukas,” she said cheerfully. “Now
that’s
romantic.”

Wouldn’t surprise me.

Probably his way of softening me up, so I’d go to dinner with him. Though he didn’t seem like the type who would go through that sort of process, he’s more of the just show up and carry me out over his shoulder cave man style, kicking and screaming then toss me in the front seat of his truck. “I doubt it was Lukas, he’s not that type.”

“You don’t know that, call and ask him,” Mollie insisted.

“Oh, yeah sure. ‘Hey Lukas, just wondering if you dropped off roses at my house? Oh you didn’t? Okay bye,’ yeah because that’s not weird at all,” I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes at her.

“It’s not. If he did then you know. If not then they probably got delivered to the wrong place, I mean L could be anyone.” Mollie shrugged her shoulders. “Just do it, what will it hurt.”