Page 31 of Lucas & Melissa Falling in Love
Chapter 10
George handed me a drink less than two minutes after I walked in the door, after Walt took my coat and bags. If I were from the south, I’d be sayingbless your heartleft and right at the welcome I got. As it was I sighed in relief and wondered how I could feel so much more at home here than in my parents’ home, my childhood home. My brain froze before I got any further, revolting at the prospect of any more agonizing about my identity crisis.
“I won’t say another word about it after this, Melissa, but I wanted to tell you how sorry I am about your business.” George gave me a one-armed hug, holding a drink in the other hand as if he were trying out for the part of Dashiell Hammett’s Nick Charles. He was a glamorous and wealthy character who solved murders in between wisecracks and martinis inThe Thin Manbooks and movies. George was exactly like the old-world sophisticated-yet-charmingly down to earth billionaire drunk who never really got drunk. Except for the part about solving murders.
I swiped at a tear. “Good, because I’m feeling pretty numb about it right now and I’d like to keep it that way, at least for the rest of the night.” I gave Margo a meaningful look.
“We won’t be talking about anyone’s financial status tonight at dinner. Don’t worry.”
I took a long sip of my drink without knowing what was in the glass, something I never did, and the experience proved that it was a good policy and I should have stuck with it. Almost spitting it out, Margo laughed and George smirked.
“I thought you could use something strong. Too much?”
“Way too much.” I croaked the words in a scraped-up version of my own voice. “What the hell is this stuff?”
“A new brand of Scotch I’m trying.”
Margo laughed. “A new possible investment. George is looking into buying a stillery of some kind.”
“Not a stillery. A distillery. This is a rare Benrinnes label scotch whiskey. There are a few places in Scotland that I’m looking into. If nothing else, I’m enjoying sampling the wares.”
I nodded and gratefully accepted the glass of water George handed me. I took a sip while he eyed me, clearly speculating about something.
“What is it, George?”
“Willie is a special cousin, more like a brother to me. I know he’s interested in you, but I wonder if you’re really interested in him.”
The question caught me off guard, not because it wasn’t like George to look out for his friends, but that he would doubt my interest.
“Of course I am. He’s smart and ambitious and truly nice. And he’s related to you, George. How could I go wrong?” I tried for flippancy to deflect my discomfort with the fact that I hadn’t been able to claim any real attraction to him. And I knew, like Margo, that George was a romantic deep down.
He nodded and smiled, but I could still see the wariness around his eyes. Further discussion was prevented by Willie’s arrival and I felt like our dinner had suddenly been turned into a test of my affection for Willie. One that I had to pass.
Naturally I threw myself into the challenge. Hanging on his every word, I let the alcohol-inspired warmth carry me into a touchier version of myself than normal. Every time he spoke, I leaned into Willie, touched his arm and even, at one point, his thigh.
At the end of my dinner test, I went to the door with Willie and when he drew me in for a kiss goodnight, I didn’t hesitate. He put his lips on mine and I waited for the spark, for the juice of desire, some kind of zing to ignite me. But although it was pleasant, when the kiss ended, there was no need, none of that ravishing heat swirling like I’d had with Lucas. I had so desperately wanted to experience that kind of passion again. But it wasn’t to be had with Willie.
Get over yourself. You can’t let passion rule you.
A brief insight hit me then, a flash of acknowledgment that it had been the kind of mistake my biological father had made long ago. Allowing the rule-of-passion was the mistake my father had made that had resulted inme. Shutting down the thought, smiling at Will, I determined to stop comparing him to Lucas then and there. To stop thinking about Lucas at all.
Willie gave me a knowing, lazy smile back, as if he’d experienced a different, more exciting version of our kiss. He stroked a large hand up and down my arm in a wrestler’s idea of a caress—which felt more bracing than tender.
“Lissy—you don’t mind if I call you that, do you?”
“Of course not. How long have we known each other?” I wanted to reassure myself that Willie had the advantage of several years of acquaintanceship if not friendship and was a well-known quantity as opposed to a passing stranger driving for Uber.
“How about if we go out to dinner? Are you free the day after tomorrow? Friday is New Year’s Eve, so I’ll see you at Margo and George’s party, but I’d like to go out before then.” He cleared his throat while I looked at him, trying to muster an enthusiastic yes, but only managing to nod my head.
“I’d like us to be a couple by the time New Year’s Eve comes, the kind of couple who promises to save their midnight kiss exclusively for each other.”
I knew what that was code for. He wanted to plan on spending the night together. He leaned in for another more passionate, open-mouthed kiss this time.
I squeezed my eyes shut and let out all my passion, twirled my tongue with his, pressed into his solid body and reminded myself he was good and sweet and not a stranger, not Lucas. He ended the kiss breathless and I resisted the urge to wipe my sleeve across my mouth.
“Well, I better go now before I can’t drag myself away.” He let himself out, Walt having long ago retired for the evening at Margo’s insistence.
I called good night to Margo and George, who were snuggling in their den by the fire—in the same spot where Lucas had been when I’d found him the other night. The night we’d made shocking, soul-rocking love. I couldn’t call it anything less than that now that I knew I wouldn’t be experiencing it again.
