Page 43 of Lilly
“It’s not bad, it’s the way you live. I have to say, I find it a little weird. But then, I don’t live in ahotel.”
“Did you just call meweird?”
“Yep.” That remark earns me a slap on the arse. “Lucas, we’re inpublic.”
“So?” To prove his point, he backs me up to the bread shelves and kisses medeeply.
* * *
Lucas’house is exactly what I was expecting when we pull down the down driveway. It’s totally on its own and sat in what looks like a huge piece of land. The house itself is stunning. It’s Georgian, with three floors. It has classic sash windows and a pillared entrance that I would expect from a building of its era. It is stunning and in immaculate condition—probably because it’s not livedin.
I jump out the car and take a better look around at the perfectly pruned bushes and flowers in the front garden while Lucas grabs the bags from thecar.
“Come on, stopgawking.”
I follow him up the handful of stairs to the front door. When he opens it, he reveals the most stunning entrancehall.
“Oh my God,” I gasp as I look around. Everything is in keeping with the time it was built although it’s clear it’s been renovated fairly recently. I follow Lucas through the entryway and down the stairs to the lower floor into a humongous kitchen. I am inlove.
“Lucas, this place is amazing. How don’t you want to be here all thetime?”
He shrugs before saying, “I getlonely.”
My heart bleeds for him when he says things like that. It’s so far removed from the image of the ruthless businessman he likes toportray.
I open the fridge to put everything away and see that he was right—it’s fully loaded with everything you would expect. But no one lives here. I can’t put off asking any longer; it’s toostrange.
“Why is it like this if you’re neverhere?”
Lucas looks over his shoulder where’s he’s stood getting glasses out of a cupboard. “Sylvie keeps it stocked in case I want to come here,” he says with a warm smile. Whoever Sylvie is, it looks like Lucas has a soft spot forher.
“So you do come here sometimesthen?”
“No, not really. This is the first time inmonths.”
“So why bother with allthat?”
He shrugs. “I’ve told her not to, but she continuesanyway.”
After Lucas has given me the grand tour, we grab some drinks and head out to the decking area, which is bathed in the last of thesunlight.
“This place really is incredible, Luc. I don’t think you’d be able to drag me away if it wasmine.”
“Maybe I’ll be spending a bit more time here from now onthen.”
His response makes me smile. It also forces a question that I’ve been trying to keep down up to the surface. “What are we doing here, Luc? I mean, you’re my boss. I’m just about to finish uni and start looking for jobs. What are yourintentions?”
“Honestly,” he says, looking up at me after swallowing a huge mouthful of his drink. “I’ve no clue. For the first time in years, I have no plan. You have no idea how huge that is, seeing as I’ve lived a very regimented, organised and planned life since I started at the hotels. For the first time in forever, I have no idea of what I want and where I’m going. I just know that I really like you and I really enjoy spending time with you. Both inside and outside of the bedroom,” he tags on at theend.
“Well, I’m glad you can put up with me outside the bedroom as well,” I say with alaugh.
“I don’t know where this is going to go but I’m willing to give it a go and see if you are,” he says veryseriously.
I take a moment and look into his blue eyes. They will me to agree with him and not ask for any more. At this point in my life, I don’t think I could offer any more. As much as I do want to think about settling down and focusing on the rest of my life as a couple, I’m on the brink of starting my career, so that needs to be my mainfocus.
“Sounds good to me,” I say before knocking my glass against his when he raisesit.
“To us, wherever it may takeus.”
