Page 81

Calm the fuck down, Luciana. You have everything set. Your hands are softer than Mongolian cashmere, and your skin couldn’t glow more if you used Windex as a toner. Your maxi dress molds to your body, clinging to the right places. No heels because you’re at home, and it would look like you’re trying too hard. You look like the absolute doll the Autumn Lush staff said you were when you left. You got the correct date food you can feed to each other with your fingers. There’s chilled wine and chocolate mousse, decadent and creamy, in case he wants to lick it off your skin. The mood lighting is set to a soft warm orange and you’re wearing easy-to-slide-off, lace panties.

But my stomach is still in knots.

I go downstairs to let him in, pausing in front of the door. I need to be Bougie Girl, the fearless one, not Lux, for a minute—at least until he comes in.

I fling the door open to find him there, looking not like a snack but a delicious brunch with a little of everything—sweet, salt, spice, and richness. The white V-neck Henley under his jacket exposes just the right amount of chest skin. In his hands, he holds a bouquet of blush-pink daisies. They’re beautiful, vibrant, and sweet. I’ve never gotten daisies before.

“Hi. These are for you,” he says in a low timbre. His voice and that smile make my panties slip down a little of their own accord.

“Hi,” I say, fighting the butterflies in my belly.

He leans forward and presses a kiss on my cheek. The softness of his lips pressing and lingering on my cheek makes my skin tingle all the way to my nipples.

“Come in, please.” I’m breathless.

We make our way to the second floor. He looks around and turns back to me with a smile. “It looks great in here.”

I shake my head. “I only added the furniture. You made it great with all the renovations.” I look down at the flowers. “By the way, these are beautiful.”

His smile widens, and there’s the familiar tugging in my belly. “I told Ayla I was going on a date, and she helped me pick them out. I wanted to bring you roses. She said it was cliché. That probably every guy has gotten you roses. She said I should go with these daisies.”

I nod. “She’s right and so smart. She wanted to make sure you made the best impression.”

He leans forward a little. “Did it work?”

Well, my panties are tugged and wet against my freshly waxed skin.

I nod. “It definitely worked.”

“Good.”

We stand there, looking at each other, and if I don’t get a move on this dinner, it will get cold because I think my clothes may come off.

“Sit down, or you can come with me to the kitchen so I can find a vase.”

“I’ll come with you. You can tell me how your day went.”

My day?

“It was good. I had to go check out a place and make notes for my next review. I also had to hand in a couple of assignments to the magazine, and then I shot a video.”

“Sounds like a busy day.”

“Eh. My job is charmed. How did your day go?”

“It was good. I had to go do some work for Winter and Grayson today. If you think this was hard to do, the renovation on their penthouse keeps getting larger and larger.”

I pour some wine and hand it to him. “It’s still a great gig, right? Two penthouses in that building.”

He nods. “Yeah. It’s going to be bigger than any house. Winter wants her own painting space so she doesn’t disturb the baby or vice versa. Grayson doesn’t want anyone else on their floor. I don’t blame him. He needs to keep their family secure. And she needs her space, kind of like you, to make sure her creativity stays flowing.”

“I imagine it can be hard to concentrate with a baby yelling for your attention.”

“Yes, it is. When Ayla was about two, I was getting my construction management degree and working. It was just her and me. She was a chatterbox who didn’t want to sleep. And we lived in a one-bedroom apartment.” His eyes glow so strong when he talks about her.

“How did you manage that?

He laughs. “I started teaching her how to read and write. I would buy her books and put on teaching videos. I made it as if it was study time for both of us.”