Page 11 of Lucas & Melissa Falling in Love
“Maybe I invited Lucas purposely so I wouldn’t need to deal with Burton.” He was my last ex in a string of more exes than I had time to count, let alone worry about.
“Good plan. Especially if Lucas is—”
“Don’t say it.” I put up a hand. “It’s too soon to start thinking he’sthe one.” I didn’t have the heart to tell her that there was no way in hell Lucas would ever even be in contention asthe one.
Why not, Lissy?
Because we’re too different, not cut from the same cloth. We clearly had one of those insta-attraction things going on and I was excited about that. What girl wouldn’t be? But I knew that was all there was to it. All there couldpossiblybe to it.
“Yes, yes. I know that. Sorry. You’re right.”
The doorbell rang and she popped up again from the chair arm.
“Time to make merry. You can be my co-hostess. Come with me.” She put her arm through mine and it was like we were best friends again the way we were before George. My heart lightened at the thought, the hope that maybe we would be close again, best girlfriends again, now that the honeymoon was over. It was a strange thing because I hadn’t realized how much things had changed until just now.
Maybe I could tell Margo about my changed circumstances . . . but not tonight. This wasn’t the time for that conversation. This was a party. I put on my party smile and, leaving the comfortable den behind, we paraded to the entryway where we met George. He insinuated himself between us and put an arm through each one of ours. That was how we met the first round of arriving guests, most of them members of the Regal family, arriving early either because they were old or because they were family, I wasn’t sure which.
I started getting antsy after forty-five minutes of guest-greeting while I held my half-empty candy cane martini glass. Margo had insisted I try one.
“He should be getting here soon, don’t you think?” Margo put an arm around me as she took a sip of her second martini and we watched her sister-in-law walk through the room straight to the piano.
“Stop it. I’m nervous enough as it is.”
She trilled a laugh. “You talk like you’re a teenager.”
“Maybe I feel like it. We’re at that new and exciting stage, you know? I’m anxious.”
“You look perfectly stunning. Don’t worry about a thing.”
“I’m not exactly dressed in my best.” I thought about the Anne Klein gowns and Ralph Lauren cocktail dresses I’d sold. The red silk strappy sheath I wore was dressed up with pearls that I knew only a jeweler could call a fake. I belatedly hoped there would be no jewelers at this party. Everyone else would assume they were the same real pearls I’d always owned.
“What are you talking about? You always look amazing. I love your understated yet elegant style. You’re known for it and tonight you look no different.”
It was as if Margo had read my mind and knew what to say. I had a frisson of fear that maybe she knew my secret. But she didn’t—she would have said.
We weren’t standing too far from the entry, sipping our candy cane martinis and laughing at one of George’s Christmas jokes when the doorbell rang once more.
I turned and disengaged from Margo’s side.
“I’ll see who it is.”
Margo nodded and went to George’s side and they were led away by another of his relatives across the room. Relief shouldn’t have buoyed me, but it did. When Lucas arrived, it would be best to have a private word with him before introducing him around. I wanted to make sure he, I mean we, didn’t share all the personal details of our meeting—like the fact that he was my Uber driver.
I shivered thinking about the possible reactions to that tid-bit.
A few steps away, I watched Walt taking a young man’s coat, a large young man who had his back to me. But I recognized him anyway, instantly. His presence so electrified me that it had to be Lucas. My heart started rat-a-tatting before he even turned around, before I had a chance to look into those stunning eyes of his in the full light of the party.
When he did turn, I rushed to his side, though I’m not sure if it was because I felt protective, or if it was because I was stunned anew by his broad-shouldered brawny-yet-artistic good looks. He smiled and the pounding in my chest that must be my heart, stuttered.Was that an actual palpitation?
“Well don’t you look all stylish under that winter coat?” I said as I wrapped my arm through his and a giddy foolish smile presented itself on my face without permission.
He wore a flawless black silk tee with long sleeves and black muscle-hugging dress pants. I noticed the glint of an impossibly slim gold watch, but didn’t catch the brand. Not that I cared since it definitely couldn’t be designer.
“I know how to dress for a party on Fifth Ave. Were you worried I’d show up in torn jeans and an old NYU sweatshirt?” His voice held that same unidentifiable lilt, smooth and caressing. And amused.
I laughed to hide my guilt, but of course it didn’t work. He shook his head, but a teasing spark shone through the knowing kindness of his eyes that made me weak with anticipation. I felt like some ingénue being seduced by her Svengali. Except he was young and vital and I was supposed to be seducinghim, wasn’t I?
“That’s what I thought,” he said.
