Page 5 of Searching for Sadie (Mystic Falls #5)

LUCAS

I t had been a week since Sadie moved next door. Lucas had seen her around town a couple times, and they'd exchanged pleasantries, but there was something about her that seemed to just call to him. That's how he ended up here on a Friday, still in his work clothes, knocking on her door.

His heart thumped in his chest as he picked up the metal knocker and gave three, hard knocks. Why was he so nervous? He hadn't stood on a woman's front porch with these feelings in a long time.

The longer he waited the more he wanted to bolt. He was seconds away from walking away when he heard her inside coming to the door. She tentatively opened the door, but when she saw it was him the corner of her mouth turned up ever so slightly and it settled his nerves if only a bit.

"Hi..." he said before shoving his hands in his pocket.

"Hi," she said, breaking his gaze and sinking her teeth the slightest bit into her bottom lip.

And before anything else could be said an orange streak blew right past them.

"George!" she cried as they both turned to find him only to find him bolt up the big oak tree in the front yard.

"That cat," she said as she made her way out into the yard barefoot. "George! Get down here."

But the orange ball of trouble just climbed higher.

"Here kitty," she said as she made little kissy noises at the cat.

Then her eyes turned to Lucas, her gaze was laced with panic. "Is he stuck?"

Lucas walked over and joined her under the tree. Up in the green leaves he could see the orange tail of the cat twitching.

"George, come here kitty kitty," she called again.

But the tail in the tree did nothing but swish. Then something else pulled his gaze. What was she doing?

Sadie was circling the tree calling to the cat. Then he watched as she reached for a branch and started trying to pull herself up.

"Woah, woah ,woah. What are you doing?" he said, moving closer to her.

"I'm going to get the cat," she said, not even looking at him. She was too busy looking for a foot hold.

He had to bite his lip just to keep in the chuckle that wanted to creep out. She was this short soft little ball of fire trying to climb a tree for a cat who could easily get down when he decided.

"Could you give me a boost?" she asked, finally turning her beautiful brown eyes to him.

"Slow down there," he said before turning back to his driveway.

She turned to him and gave a little huff. "Where are you going?"

But before he could answer her, he was at his work truck. He stood on the back to get one of the ladders. He managed to grab it and made his way over to the tree.

She stepped back from the tree, eyes wide in surprise.

"I'll get him," said Lucas as he rested the ladder up against the tree. With a little wiggle he tested placement before got ready to climb.

“I can do it,” she said as she stepped in front of him and started to climb the ladder.

“Hold on a minute, let me hold the ladder steady,” he said as she was already climbing the ladder.

He chuckled and shook his head as she climbed the ladder, but that laughter died when she climbed higher.

Her amazing ass was getting closer to his face.

He would be gentleman and not look… well maybe one look.

Then he averted his eyes up to the tree where she was just about to reach for the cat.

Only for said cat to move from her reach and hop down to another branch before leaving the tree entirely.

They watched as he trotted up the stairs before sauntering into the house.

"He could get down the whole time?"she asked as she looked down at him, her eyes wide in shock.

Lucas just chuckled and shook his head. He had never doubted the cat could get down. He held the ladder steady as she made her way back down, taking her hand and helping her off the ladder completely.

"I'm sorry... I'm not sure why I panicked like that."

"No harm done," he said as he picked up the ladder and fastened it back on his truck.

She followed him as he carried the ladder back over to his truck. "Did you need something?" she asked.

"Oh, yeah," he said as the bashful feeling slowly started to creep back in.

She cocked her head to her side as strands of her long brown hair fell across her forehead. He fisted his hand and shoved it in his pocket. He would not reach out and gently sweep the lock of hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear. Nope he wouldn't do that because that would be weird.

Clearing his throat, he reminded himself he'd spoken to women before, even seduced a few. Though right now that seemed like a foreign thought with how tongue tied he was.

He rubbed the back of his neck, and it was all he could do to not literally kick at the ground like a cartoon character.

"There is a festival in the town square tomorrow. I wanted to invite you."

"What is the festival for?" she asked.

"I'm not sure. Maybe raising funds for the fire department?" He shrugged. "There’s a festival every other weekend it feels like."

"Okay... thanks. I'll check it out."

"If uhhh... you wanted to walk over together I could introduce you to some people."

"Oh." The surprise in her eyes made him feel like a jerk.

"As friends of course," he offered quickly.

"Oh, yeah, of course," she said, seemingly as nervous as he was.

"So, you want to go together?"

"Yeah, that sounds good."

"I'll stop by around five. We can get some grilled pork chop sandwiches from the firehouse and check it out."

"'Sounds good. I'll see ya then."

After a quick small smile, she turned and walked carefully on her bare feet to the porch.

His gaze was glued to her. What about her was so fascinating?

Was it the way her hand traced up the railing?

Was it the way her wide hips swayed as she climbed the stairs?

He wasn't sure yet, but he was willing to spend hours figuring it out.

Once she reached the door she looked back. Lucas would have sworn she was biting back a smile and gave him a little wave. He gave a nod of his head and turned and headed into his garage.

He took off his work boots before entering his kitchen. He looked at the time on the microwave and started doing math in his head. It was 6:00 right now, so if he was going to see her at five tomorrow, how many hours would they be apart?

"Pull it together man," he said to himself as he walked over to the fridge to get a beer.

A woman hadn't made him do math like that in a long time. Especially not one he hardly knew. But he still did need to find a way to kill twenty-three hours.

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

Sam - Smokey's?

Lucas - I'm in

Sam - Jacksons working late so it's just us and Kate.

Lucas - puck drop?

Sam -yep

Well, dinner and watching the Magic play hockey would fill a couple hours. Then all he had to do was fill his morning before knocking on the door of his new captivating neighbor.