“You’re right,” I agree. “But you really don’t know what it’s like. It’s just hard, being a parent. I’m trying to do the right thing is all.”
“I’m sure it is hard. Now, what night are you going to let me take you out?” he asks as we walk across the back yard together toward the house.
“You don’t give up, do you?”
“No. Until you outright tell me you will never, ever go out with me, I’m gonna keep asking. You should go out with me just to shut me up.”
I shake my head at him and feel my cheeks heating. “Why? I don’t get it. I’m boring. And difficult, as you can see.”
He puts his arm around me and leads me to the side of the garage where we are invisible from all the windows of my house. “I like challenges,” he teases. I wonder if he’s going to kiss me back here on the side of the garage, and if he does, I don’t think I’ll have the power to resist. He looks incredibly hot all sweaty, his hair messy, dark sunglasses covering what I know are sensual hooded eyes looking right through me. “Seriously, I like you, Ivy. I’m tired of dating all these bat-shit crazy chicks in the party scene. I’m not into it. I want to be with someone normal and settled down that I can trust.” He touches the tip of my nose. “Plus, you’re adorable. You even look great in the morning.”
Oh, shit. I completely forgot that I came out here to talk to him right from crawling out of bed, with sweats on.
I put my hands over my face. “Oh my God. I totally forgot I didn’t have any make up on and I look like a slob.”
He grabs my hands and pulls them away to uncover my face. “You’re beautiful. Don’t hide.”
I gently take his sunglasses off his face so I can see his eyes, and just as I expected, they are dancing with sincerity and sensuality. “Lukas, you’re incredibly sweet.”
He grins, and my insides melt like butter in a hot pan. “I know that, doll.”
Resistance is so damn hard around him. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea,” I tell him again, trying to convince both of us. Even I’m getting tired of hearing myself say it.
He takes a few steps away in frustration and then comes back to stand in front of me. “I think it’s a great idea, Ivy, but I’m not gonna beg. That’s just fuckin’ pitiful. But will you do just one little thing for me?”
“That depends . . .”
“Think it over and give me an answer when I see you at our next appointment. All right? I’m just asking you to have dinner with me. Nothing else. I’d love to kiss you again, but I’ll take dinner for now.”
He must think I’m a freak. Who acts like this when a guy asks them out for dinner? Me, of course. That’s who. Because I’m completely socially inept. “Okay,” I agree. “I’ll think about it.”
“Finally, some progress.” He smiles from ear to ear then backs up and does his little wave thing. “Later, gator.”
I know I’ve got a silly grin on my face as I watch him walk away.
LUKAS