Page 10 of Lilly
Chapter Three
Lucas
She’s beeninside my head all fucking day. By the time six o’clock rolls around, I decide that enough is enough. So what if she said no again when I asked her out earlier? I need to see her. I need to find out why, with only a few minutes of interaction, she has wiggled her way inside myhead.
I’m hopeful that if I spend some time with her I’ll realise I’ve built her up to be something she’s not in my mind, and I’ll be able to put her to one side and get on with mylife.
I’m Lucas Dalton, successful businessman. I run eight hotels, five restaurants and employ hundreds of people. I need to be focused. I shouldn’t allow someone to take up my thoughts—especially a certain golden-haired goddess calledLilly.
I convince myself I’m doing the right thing as I go through my employee records to find her information. I only wanted her address, but curiosity gets the better of me and I ended up looking at everything. I make a mental note of her birthday after writing down her address and shutting the computer backdown.
I go about my usual routine as I get ready. It almost comes naturally now to look this way, like my colleagues and employees expect me to look. It doesn’t mean I like it, though. I stick my fingertips into my tub of wax and smooth my naturally shaggy hair back off my face. I repeat the action a couple of times until it’s perfect and looks the part. I pull on my grey suit and finish it off with a sky-blue tie, the colour of Lilly’s eyes. I give myself a mental slap around the face for thatthought.
Before I know it, I’m stood at the entrance to her building and ringing the buzzer. She lives in one of the traditional Regency style buildings that make up the town. The front door is huge, along with each of the windows facing out over the park on the other side of the road. It isn’t the kind of building I was expecting a Cheltenham University student to be living in. It doesn’t exactly say studentaccommodation.
The second I hear a male voice answer the intercom, I’m on edge. Fuck, of course she’s got a boyfriend. I didn’t even give it a thought. My selfish brain decided it wanted her, and that wasthat.
“Hello?”
“I’m looking forLilly.”
“Well, you’re looking in the right place. I’ll buzz you up.” Halfway through the sentence, I know I haven’t got anything to worry about. I’m pretty sure the guy on the other end is gay. What I don’t expect to see though, when the door to Lilly’s flat opens, is a giant of a guy. Whoever her roommate is, he’s seriouslystacked.
“Hey, I’m Lucas. I’m looking for Lilly. I’m taking her out for dinner tonight.” I expect him to say something back, but he just stares. “Uh…hello,” Iprompt.
“Shit, yeah, come in. She’s in theshower.”
I expect him to go and get her or something, but he just calls out and then stands and stares. I’m not really sure what the hell’s going on or what I’m meant to do in this situation. Thankfully, only seconds later I hear footsteps heading our way, and then Lilly appears. Wearing only a towel, thank youGod.
I run my eyes down from her wet hair, over her slender neck and shoulders. I watch as the pulls the towel tighter around her before dropping my gaze to her long legs. Fuck, they’reincredible.
The roommate is still staring at me while Lilly stands there looking very uncomfortable. I decide it’s time to break thesilence.
“Lilly, we’re going todinner.”
* * *
Isitmyself down and ping out a few emails while I wait—no point wasting time. If I have my way, I’ll be way too distracted to do any work for the foreseeable future. I’d much prefer Lilly to keep my mind—and body—busy.
The feel of her pressed up against me earlier pops back into my mind. How her body felt up against mine, how light she was. I could throw her around and get her exactly where I want her without much effort at all. The thought alone has me reaching down to rearrangemyself.
Eventually, I hear a commotion down the hall and when I look up she’s stood at the entrance to the room, looking very unsure of herself. The sight of her takes my breath away. She isperfect.
“Wow, you look stunning, Lilly.” I see a small smile twitch her lips at my compliment, although I can still see she’s questioning this wholething.
“Have fun you two,” the roommate says, walking up behindher.
“Oh, I’ll make sure of that,” I say with awink.
The roommate’s face lights up, before responding with, “Good, she needs someone to show her a goodtime.”
“Taylor,” Lilly gasps before smacking his shoulder. “Come on, let’s go,” she adds and begins walking towards the front door. And who am I to argue? I follow her out, staring at her arse the wholeway.
The second the lift door closes, the atmosphere changes. Well, I think it does, but that probably has something to do with wanting to back her up against the wall. I glance over at her and her face doesn’t tell me she feels thesame.
“Why are you doing this?” she asks, looking totally confused—like the idea of me wanting to take her out is thatunbelievable.
“I just want to spend an evening with you, Lilly. Is that so much toask?”
