Way to Her Heart - By Melanie Schuster Page 0,30

while he was holding her close was too romantic and sexy to recall in such clarity—not while she was in the office. Sherri made her libido go into deep freeze while she hurriedly finished her lunch and took the cookies to the break room for everyone to share. She washed her hands and checked her face to make sure she looked like her usual calm, composed self. Then she put her white coat back on and prepared to meet the rest of her patients for the day. She and Lucas, after a little more conversation and a whole lot more kissing, had agreed to take things slow. They had a plan in place and all they had to do was follow it. Nothing could be easier than that.

Chapter 10

“Lucas, this is so good.” Sherri sighed as she licked chocolate from her spoon. Lucas smiled to acknowledge her appreciation. They were eating dessert in her dining room, a delectable finish to the gourmet meal he’d made for her. The meal had been wonderful from beginning to end, but the pots au chocolat he’d made were sublime.

“It’s always a pleasure to cook for you,” Lucas said.

“And I always appreciate it,” she told him. “I will clean up to show you how thankful I am that you take the time and make the effort to give me such a lovely meal.”

Lucas leaned forward a little and raised one brow. “How many times are we going to have this discussion? You don’t clean up around me, babe. I’m here to serve you, so get that through your beautiful head. It will take me ten minutes tops to finish off the kitchen, so why don’t you get comfortable and wait for me in the living room?”

It was true; Lucas cleaned as he cooked so that only the dishes they ate from were left when a meal was finished. He really could set everything to rights in mere minutes. Alexis had already warned her that the VanBuren men were the last of a dying breed of men who took their role as protectors very seriously. In Alexis’s words, “They would walk through a wall of fire to protect their women, so she may as well get used to it.” It was way too easy to get used to the way Lucas treated her; he was so considerate and caring. Sherri was trying to keep her head about it, but Lucas was winning her heart more and more every day. And now they had a whole week alone.

The school year had ended, leaving Sydney free for the summer. She had summer classes in dance, Vacation Bible School and other programs to participate in while her mother was at work, and Sherri had a vacation planned for them later in the summer. But right now, Sydney was on Hilton Head Island with Lucas’s parents. His brother Damon had brought his children down to spend the summer with their grandparents, and the elder VanBurens had invited Sydney to spend a week with them. Sydney was delighted to be included because she loved Lucas’s parents and she’d been in Alexis and Jared’s wedding with his niece and nephew. They had become instant friends as a result.

Lucas and Sherri had driven her to Hilton Head and stayed for a few hours while she got settled in. It was nice to see Lucas’s brother again; he was outgoing and charming like his twin, and he surprised her with a big hug.

“Welcome to the family, Sherri. I guess I’ll have to make more of an effort to get out and meet someone like you since I’m gonna be the last single man standing in the family.” He laughed and she laughed with him, but she felt a little shock at his words. He had acted as though her relationship with Lucas was a done deal, something she pointed out to Lucas when they drove back to Columbia.

He just smiled and squeezed the hand that he was holding as he drove. “I’m sorry if he made you uncomfortable, sweetheart. You know that twins share a special bond. He knows what’s on my mind and what’s in my heart, that’s all.”

She’d been touched to her own heart by his words, but she didn’t say so. Instead she asked him an impulsive question. “Was Damon married? I shouldn’t be asking about his personal business, but he has those beautiful children,” she said shyly.

Lucas squeezed her hand again. “His best friend was the married one. Damon was