Page 84 of An Unlikely Deal (Lucas & Ava)
He shakes his head. “No. I’m just…” He turns his head toward me. “Nobody’s ever wanted to do that with me.”
“Maybe they weren’t very good at preserving memories.”
“Honestly, I never wanted to, either,” he says, kissing me softly on the mouth. “I never had a reason.”
Oh, Lucas. “But now?” I ask lightly.
“Now I do.” He grins and takes my phone and positions it above us himself. “Smile.”
I do.
The shutter clicks.
He isn’t finished. He takes many, many more, all of them featuring us smiling, kissing, laughing.
Happy.
The sun starts to dip lower, and the wind is definitely getting a slight bite to it. I move closer to him. “I don’t want to leave.” I would give anything to preserve this moment in time.
“Neither do I.”
Two beats. “But we probably should.” As much as I’d love to, we can’t stay here forever, especially with the temperature dropping.
“We’re not going anywhere. I kidnapped you, remember?”
“Yes, I do. But I forgot to warn you that I’m a pretty high-maintenanc
e hostage. I need a bed and a hot shower—at least—from my kidnapper.”
He shakes his head. “A total princess. Lucky for you, I’m a kidnapper with high standards.” Standing up, he extends a hand. “Ready to be wowed by your accommodations?”
I grasp it. “Yes.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ava
The place he finds turns out to be a rustic B&B not too far from the lake. It has five guest suites and is run by a ruddy-faced woman with a big apron around her that reads Sweet Lakes Bed ’n’ Breakfast.
She welcomes us when we walk in and introduces herself—Doris Penn. Do we have a reservation? No? But aren’t we lucky since she just happened to have a cancellation. But we have to check out by Monday if that’s all right. Other guests are coming in.
Lucas hands her his plastic, and she shows us to a room with a view of the woods. The place is nowhere near as fancy as the suite he stayed in in Osaka, but country charm more than makes up for the lack of glitzy opulence.
Clean, soft sheets cover the king-size bed, and an armchair and love seat occupy the living room along with a small table. The TV is large and new, and the bathroom is well-stocked with basic toiletries including toothbrushes and toothpaste. It also comes with a tub big enough for two adults.
“It’s lovely,” I say to Doris.
She beams. “This is the best one we have. Just renovated, too. Hope you enjoy your stay.”
“We sure will,” I say.
She hands us the key to the room and leaves. I look at the actual metal key and smile at Lucas. “This is very good, Mr. Kidnapper.”
“I agree. Sometimes I’m so awesome I impress even myself.”
“Is that so? I also should’ve told you that I demand clean underwear during captivity as well.”
“Surely you jest. The whole point of kidnapping is to keep you naked in my room.”
