Unbeautifully Loved (Breathe Again) (17 page)

I glared at her. “Fine.” I sighed as I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my cell phone. “Why do I have a not so great feeling about this?” I said under my breath.

I scrolled my phone till I found his number and pressed send, waiting for him to pick up.

“Hey,” he answered, his deep voice.

“Hi, it’s Lexie,” I said feeling completely like an idiot.

He chuckled over the line and it made my body tingle all over. “I know, what’s up Peaches?”

As much as I didn’t want to, I loved when he called me Peaches. Other than Lexie, no one had ever really given me a nickname before. “I was uh... just wondering if you...” I trailed off.

“Babe, I’m sorta in the middle of something, what did ya need?”

Babe? Well, that’s new.

I took a deep breath and pushed that aside, there wasn’t time for that. “Did you leave flowers on my front porch?” I blurted out, snapping my eyes closed as the words left my mouth and I could hear Mollie start laughing.

Eyes still shut, I flipped her the bird.

There was no answer from him, he was quiet and all I could hear was his breathing coming through the line. “Lukas?”

“If I’m going to give you anything I’ll give it to you, not just leave it for you to find,” he said irritated, the change of emotion evident in his tone.

“Ok,” I said, just above a whisper.

“Any card or note with ‘em?” he asked impatiently

“Yeah, there’s a card but it just has an L on it. Maybe they were delivered to the wrong house, could be for anyone around here,” I said aimlessly, looking at my feet trying to ignore the pang of disappointment that the flowers weren’t from Lukas

“Yeah maybe or maybe your new friend left ‘em for you,” he said in a low, rough voice.

“Erik?” I asked out loud

“Who’s Erik?” Mollie asked next to me.

I looked at her, shushing her, mouthing ‘later.’

“Yeah.
That
guy,” Lukas said annoyed and I could picture the taut expression on his face.

I sighed. “Lukas, don’t start. I just wanted to see if they were from you, a way of trying to get me to say yes to dinner,” I said, becoming frustrated with this conversation.

It was all I heard since Thursday. If it wasn’t Lukas with his comments or mentioning of dinner then it was Teri or Danny telling me to ‘be careful’ ‘cause Erik had a thing for me.

I was getting fed up with hearing it.

“Lukas asked you out for dinner?” Mollie exclaimed giddy, like a child who had just been told she could have ice cream for dinner. I looked at her, waving my hand in the air dismissing her, hoping she’d shut up.

“I won’t need to soften you up to agree to dinner Lex, but I will be softening you up in a whole lot of other ways,” he said seductively and I could hear the grin in his voice.

Oh. My. God.

My heart started racing with the words he was saying to me. Warmth spread over me, a throbbing sensation was making its way down between my legs, making my knees weak. I took a deep breath, trying to contain myself, “Lukas.” I warned, expecting my tone to be stern, but instead it was a soft murmur.

He changed the subject with a laugh. “I’ll be by the usual time to pick you up.”

“No need, I’m going to meet Teri for coffee before work,” I told him, glad Teri and I made plans last night so I didn’t have to be around him for a bit. My body has a mind of its own when around him and it was becoming a challenge to keep a lid on it.

“What time?”

“Umm… two thirty.”

“I’ll pick you up and get you there for then,” he said firmly

“Lukas, no, it’s fine. I can drive myself,” I said scrambling, but knowing it was no use– it was Lukas after all.

“Damn it Lexie, there was another attack last night.” He paused and I felt the blood drain from my face and nausea cinched my stomach painfully.

Oh no.

He continued when I didn’t say anything. “Until this guy is found, you ride with me. Teri works tonight, you can ride in with her, but I pick you up. I’ll be there after two and take you to Bean’s.”

“Okay,” I whispered, not wanting to fight about it, only thinking of the girl who was attacked.

“I’ll see you soon.”

Before he hung up, I called his name. “Lukas?”

“Yeah Peach?” his voice was comforting and warm, soft like a whisper that lightly grazed over my skin sending goose bumps up and down my body.

I swallowed the lump that was forming in my throat. “Is she...”

He sighed, “I don’t know, doesn’t look good.” His voice hoarse, “I’ll see you in a little while.” Then he was gone.

“Lexie, what happened?” Mollie’s worried voice startled me.

I ran my hand through my hair, pulling my lip between my teeth then let it go as I answered. “There was another attack last night. Lukas says it doesn’t look good so he’s picking me up in a bit and taking me to meet Teri for coffee before work, is that still okay?” I asked dazed.

“Yeah of course. Are you okay? ‘Cause you look a little pale.” She reached out and took my hand, giving it a small squeeze.

“Yeah I’m fine, just hope they catch this guy, that’s all.”

Mollie hugged me, wrapping her arms around me tightly. “I’m glad Lukas showed when he did,” she mumbled.

Yeah, me too.

“I need to go shower then get ready before Lukas gets here.”

“Okay.” She pulled away from me, letting me go and I started to walk away when she spoke. “Oh, hold on a second– who’s Erik?”

I turned to face her. “He’s just a new guy in town, he came into the bar Thursday night for a drink and we got talking.”

Her brows knitted together. “Okay, why would Lukas think he left those for you?” she said pointing to the vase sitting on the counter.

I sighed. “Because. Erik asked me out for dinner and I said no. We’re just friends,” I said leaning against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Why?”

“What?”

“Why’d you say no?”

“I’m not interested; I don’t want to see anyone–”

“But Lukas,” She interrupted with a smirk.

“No Mollie, no one. Erik’s not my type.” I looked at her with a smirk. “He’s actually more... your type I think.” I told her, an idea playing around in my mind.

Just because I didn’t want to be with anyone didn’t mean Mollie had to do the same.

“I don’t know if I like that look you have going on,” she said motioning to my face.

I grinned. “Just an idea.”

“If it involves you setting me up with this Erik, then I absolutely, one hundred percent, without a fucking doubt, want nothing more than to be set up with him. I need a man. I need balls Lexie, I need sex and balls and I needed it six months ago,” she blurted out.

Sex and balls, nice.

“Christ Mollie, chill out,” I burst out laughing. “I’ll see what I can do; he just got out of a serious relationship. But I’ll run the idea by him. You know, I’ve gone longer than you and I’m fine.”

That was a big, fat lie.

Mollie burst out laughing. “You –,” still laughing unable to finish what she was trying to say.

“Me what?” I asked irked by her outburst.

Mollie’s laughing finally subsided. “You, saying you’re fine without having sex since... Finn was four months old, nope wait he was six months old sorry. That’s how long it’s been since you got laid,” she said, reminding me.

You have got to be fucking kidding me.

My jaw fell then I snapped it shut, “How do
you
know that?”

“I’m your best friend, it’s my right to know how long you’ve gone without some action and it’s also my job to tell you not to wait just
because you’re scared or whatever. If the moment comes, take it; with both hands and your mouth,” she winked, then burst out laughing.

“Oh God, Mollie don’t be gross.” I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hey, I’ve seen the look you give Lukas, and honey, you totally eye fuck him whenever he’s around and believe me, he fucks back and he fucks back
hard
.” She grinned, wiggling her eye brows.

I tossed my hands in the air as I walked away from her. “Eye fucking? Really?”

“It’s true! I’d hate to be in the house when you guys finally have sex. It’ll be so fuckin’ hot, like a cosmic explosion.” Mollie chuckled following me from behind.

“Mollie!” I snapped my laugh betraying me.

I started walking up the stairs and she was still laughing. “You do remember what sex is and how to do it, right?” she joked.

I stopped on the fourth stair and looked over my shoulder. “It’s not something you forget, just like riding a bike.”

I continued up the stairs to shower and get ready before Lukas arrived.

It was almost two thirty when Lukas pulled up along the sidewalk in front of Grind My Beans. The name made me laugh when I first heard it. I saw Teri already inside at a table, waiting. I turned and opened my mouth to thank Lukas but I couldn’t get a word in when he spoke over me.

“You have your cell on you?”

Do I have my cell on me? Really, where else would it be?

“It’s in my purse.”

“Good. Make sure when you guys leave here, you head straight to Fisher’s, if you need anything just call me. I’ll swing by later.”

I nodded. “Okay, thanks for the ride,” I said. My hand gripped the door handle, ready to open it when he reached across the truck and grabbed my arm, stopping me.

“Lexie, hold on a second.” My hand left the handle as I turned to look at him. His features were soft, matching his grey eyes that I almost always found myself getting lost in, engulfed in their warmth.

His eyes were really breathtaking.

His hand loosened and slowly slid down my arm. Like always, his rough hand was warm, as it grazed my bare skin softly, leaving a trail of heat in its path. My eyes watched his every movement until his hand came to a stop around my wrist and lingered there. I looked at him from under my lashes, waiting for him to say something, because I didn’t trust my voice to.

“Dinner, tomorrow night, I’ll pick you up at eight.” He wasn’t asking, he was telling me and I wanted to kick myself for finding him completely sexy when he was being bossy.

Why can’t I still find it annoying?

Why must it give me warm tingles,
everywhere?

He sat looking at me, waiting for my answer and I wanted to say yes; everything in me was screaming for me to say yes. But the one part of me, a big part, wasn’t going to budge on this. I was sticking to my guns and keeping Lukas at arms lengths.

“Lukas, I’m sorry but I can’t.” I took my hand from his then quickly got out of the truck, shutting the door behind me before he could say a word.

Stop walking and go back.

Don’t look back and keep walking.

I was sure I was going crazy, having an inner battle with– myself and probably looked the part too. I approached the door and pulled it open as I heard his truck peel away from the curb. I looked over my shoulder and watched it take off down the street then round the corner, disappearing.

Walking in, Teri saw me and I motioned to the front for a coffee before joining her. Once I had my vanilla latte, I walked over and took a seat at the table across from Teri, hanging my bag on the back. “Was that Lukas who brought you?” she asked, taking a sip of her coffee trying to hide the smile on her face.

“Yeah, I’m definitely not allowed to drive myself anywhere now,” I muttered into my cup.

Teri’s brows pulled together, her smile fading. “What does that mean?”

Sighing, I said. “There was another attack last night and Lukas won’t let me go anywhere alone. He’s my personal driver until this creep is caught.” I pulled my lip between my teeth
and looked down at my latte.

“Gotta be kiddin’ me, how is she?”

I released my lip from between my teeth. “Lukas said it doesn’t look good, so...”

“Christ, no wonder Lukas won’t let you outta his sight, being the only one who got away unharmed, unlike the rest.” She shook her head. “Sick man on the loose baby.”

“I know and I get he wants to keep me from harm but...” I trailed off thinking. “It’s just weird, don’t you think? I mean we aren’t even together. We barely know each other.”

“He doesn’t see it like that. I’ve known Lukas for a while now and after what happened to Aimee, well, he changed,” Teri said holding her coffee and leaning back against the chair. “He’s more guarded and very protective.”

Aimee?

“Who’s Aimee?” I asked leaning forward, curious.

Teri’s eyes found mine and they were conflicted. She sat back in the chair with one leg pulled up to her chest and I could tell she wasn’t sure whether to tell me or leave it alone.

“She was a girl...” Teri started but trailed off looking down at her drink.

Was?

“Lukas and her, they weren’t together like that and never had been. He... didn’t see her that way, she was more like a sister. The three of them, Lukas, Aimee and his best friend, Archer, they all grew up together.” She paused, taking a drink of her coffee. “Archer and Aimee, now that was something special. She was the typical girl next door and Archer, your typical bad boy who got into a lot of shit or so I heard. I didn’t know either of them well, but I met Aimee once or twice and she was a beautiful girl.” Teri smiled softly at the memory.