Page 67 of Snapping the Ice
“You know what I mean. Do I just Google it and find a meeting that’s close?”
“Yes.” A thin wall around my heart cracked. Could I dare hope she’d go?
“Okay, consider it done. I didn’t know there were things like that. Why didn’t you tell me about it sooner?”
“I didn’t think of it.” As the door opened to the bathroom, my gaze swept to Lucas, his pecs and abs on full display, his hair wet and a towel wrapped around his hips.
“Hey, who are you talking to?” A warm smile ghosted across his lips.
“My sister, Maddy.” I stared at his carved body. Damn, he was nice to look at.
“Oh, can I say hi?” He bounded to the bed and flopped down next to me.
“Ah, sure.” I put the phone on speaker. “Maddy, Lucas is here, and he wants to say hello.” I held the phone between us. My pulse picked up speed. She’d never actually spoken to Tate.
“Maddy? This is your brother’s new boyfriend. Just wanted you to know that I’m taking good care of him. He means a lot to me.”
She squealed. “Oh my God, Lucas, I’m so happy to talk to you. Ezra says the sweetest things about you,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind, but I looked you up on Instagram. My brother is one lucky guy.”
“Thank you.” He glanced at me with a sly grin. “He told me some about you, too. I can’t wait to meet you someday andyour lovely family.” He dipped his forehead to my shoulder and came up.
“I think we can make it happen. You know, Ezra has never met his niece and nephew.”
Lucas’s grin waned. “He hasn’t? We need to change things, Maddy. Family is everything. Hell, if it weren’t for mine, I don’t know where I’d be.”
My eyes stung. Holy hell, he was so right. What had I been running from?
He planted a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “Anyway, I need to take your brother to his place so he can get fresh clothes. Did he tell you he’s staying with me this week?”
“He did. Thank you, Lucas. I was so worried about him.”
“Don’t be. I’ve got this.” His grin returned. “I’ll let you both talk now while I get dressed.” Hopping off the bed, he sauntered to his dresser and dropped the towel, the round globes of his ass taunting me.
Oh, holy hell. I might fuck that ass. Heat built in my balls and I squirmed. “Okay, keep me updated and I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Same.”
“Bye now.” I ended the call and dropped my phone onto the bed. My gaze trapped on Lucas’s ass as he bent to slide his briefs up his legs. “That’s quite a show.”
“It’s all for you, babe.” Twisting around, he held the back of his hand to his mouth. “Shit, do gay guys say that or is it a straight thing? I think my brother calls Jett that, but they’re married.” He wrinkled his brows.
As a grin played on my mouth, I crawled off the bed. “Gay men say that. We’re all just people.” I stepped to him and wrapped his muscled body in a tight hug, resting my cheek on his chest. I’d never felt so safe before. This was how love shouldbe.Fuck, love?Yep, love. I was falling hard and fast for him. There was no need for walls.
After exchanging clothes at my apartment without seeing Tate, we headed into downtown Scottsdale for a pleasant lunch. Things were so easy with Lucas. No arguments, no eggshells, just absent touches and laughter.
I strolled along the sidewalk hand in hand with Lucas, taking in the old historic Mission in white stucco with a restaurant tucked in next to it. “I’ve never been to this place.”
“Yeah? Well, you’re in for a treat. My brother told me about it.” We stepped under an overhang in the style of old Mexico, with a red-tiled roof and a rounded façade. It reminded me a little of Taco Bell, but I wouldn’t tell Lucas that.
Upon meeting a hostess, she directed us to a covered patio at the restaurant’s back featuring a Saltillo tile floor. Plants and flowers in colorful Mexican planters rested along the walls and wooden tables and chairs scattered the area, none of which matched. The place had a fun, creative vibe to it.
I took a chair next to Lucas and picked up my menu. “This place is nice.” I scanned the extensive margarita menu. “Are we drinking today?” It was Sunday, after all.
“I am.” He pointed at his menu. “A prickly pear margarita sounds great.”
With a nod, I said, “I’ll try pomegranate, then we can sample each.” The menu had a mix of upscale Central and South American food. “The tacos look good.” Tate would call me boring, having tacos in a fancy place like this. Tenseness lodged behind my breastbone. Fuck, I needed to get Tate out of my head.
“They look good.” He tapped his lips. “I’m going to try the Cubano Torta and we can share?” His gaze lifted to mine.
