Page 38 of With Us

“Wait, what?”

“I’ve been getting nonstop texts from Mar reminding me that I owe them pool time. I thought you could come and hang out, and I’ll cookout or order pizza. Then when the girls leave, we’ll watch a movie.” His voice lowered as he murmured, “Ornotwatch one.”

The previous two weeks had been hectic. Between my work schedule and his, we’d only been able to get together for three dinners, one of which had been cut short because he had a work emergency. He’d stopped in a couple times for coffee, but they were quick visits.

I missed him.

“Okay.”

“And here I thought I’d need my negotiation skills—”

“I do have a stipulation.”

“Hit me with it.”

I looked up at him, my train of thought going south as a wicked smile spread across his face. His eyes were alert, and although we were being playful, there was a spark that came alive in him.

His voice was thick, and almost strangely pained sounding, as he whispered, “Dahlia.”

Tucking my hair behind my ear, I tried to regain control of myself. “I’ll take the car tonight, but then you’re driving me home. I’m not keeping it until whoever picks it up.”

My building was surprisingly safe, especially considering the reasonable rent prices. The rest of the neighborhood, however, wasn’t. I’d been a nervous wreck with the SUV, checking on it multiple times throughout the night. Whatever kind of car the new one was, it might as well have been a flashing neon sign.

A beacon for thieves and chop shops.

“That sounds fair.” When he opened the door, I saw there were even more buttons than the Rover had. “Press the button on the steering wheel that looks like someone talking. When the car asks for the voice command, say ‘Destination Home’, and it’ll give you the directions.”

Even I couldn’t mess that up.

I hope.

Headlights lit the parking lot as an SUV pulled in.

“Luc?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Ben.”

Waving in the direction of the car, I accepted the keys from Theo. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

His lips quirked up seconds before landing on mine. His tongue teased across my lips, coaxing them open, only for him to end the kiss. “I can’t wait,” he whispered, his lips brushing against mine as he spoke. Releasing his hold on me, he headed into the darkness to the waiting SUV. “Good night, Dahlia.”

Unable to see beyond the headlights, I blindly called my goodbye into the night.

Chapter Six

For Your Pleasure

Dahlia

My fingers drummed on the steering wheel as I drove in silence. Curiosity gnawed at me, feeding into the doubt I felt growing with each passing house.

“In a half a mile,” the GPS voice interrupted my running thoughts, “your destination will be on the left.”

Excitement overtook my trepidation as I started looking for his house number. When I found it, I turned into the long driveway surrounded by a fence of well-trimmed, tall shrubs and trees. The driveway forked off, one end going toward a huge detached garage, the other leading into a loop in front of the house. I started to slow, unsure which way to go, when Theo stepped onto the porch and gestured for me to park in the loop.

Cutting the engine, I grabbed my bag and got out, meeting Theo on the brick pathway leading from the porch.

“How’d the drive go?” he asked, kissing my cheek.

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