“Oh, by the way, if you didn’t know that I love you, I definitely do right now. Room service really does it for me.” He picked up a strawberry and mashed it in my face.
“Hey!” He kissed me and licked the smashed strawberry from my jaw.
“I love you, too. In case that wasn’t clear.”
“No, I got it.” Lucah climbed into bed and we shared the breakfast, feeding each other. I checked the clock. Lucah had gotten us up early enough that we had more than enough time to get ready. Only there was one small problem I hadn’t thought of yesterday.
“What the hell am I supposed to wear today?” I said as we both sipped our cups of coffee.
“Oh, I took care of that as well. Sloane sent over clothes to the front desk. I had them delivered with the food. I have no idea what she picked out, but I’m sure it’s fine.” I was probably never going to look as fabulous at work again. I didn’t even need to see the outfit to know that.
“Clothes for you, too?”
“Yeah,” he said, filling his cup again from the silver pot. “I’m almost scared. She could have been really nice, or she could have left me a pair of boxers and nothing else.”
“Should we go see?” He nodded and we both got up. He tossed me one of the hotel robes and I put it on. It was like wrapping myself in a warm cloud. Staying in the penthouse was definitely worth it.
There was a bag sitting by the door and Lucah went to get it. He pulled out my clothes first, a red top, black pinstriped jumper that wasn’t mine, nude heels and a black lace bra and panties. For Lucah there was a light gray suit with a white shirt and a dark red tie.
“Red,” I said, pointing to his tie.
“I’m glad she didn’t send me just a set of boxers and a tie.” I was sure she thought about it. I went to get my phone and found a bunch of messages from her. I responded back thanking her for the clothes and agreeing that she was due for some major payback, including dinner, etc.
Lucah and I used the large shower, my shampoo and conditioner, which Sloane had also sent over, along with my razor, brush and a bunch of my makeup. Because she was a fabulous friend.
Lucah wrapped me in the robe again when we got out.
“Do you know how much I wish we could both call in sick without raising suspicion?” I said as I towel-dried my hair.
“If I figure a way to make that happen, you’ll be the first to know.”
We dressed each other and Lucah blew my hair out and put it up for me while I did my makeup. We were getting so good at getting me ready, I despaired of the day when he wouldn’t be around to help. I wouldn’t know what to do. Notwithstanding the twenty-three years that I’d functioned without him.
That was another thing about love. It made you completely change your life to include another person, almost to the level that you didn’t know how to live without them anymore. It was both scary, and comforting at the same time. Comforting, especially after last night. I didn’t think he was going anywhere anytime soon.
“I don’t know how I can walk right now after last night,” I said as we gathered the rest of our things. He’d rented the room for another night, but I wasn’t sure if we could top last night.
Nope, that would probably kill me. I was going to need at least a day or two to recover. My poor ladyparts were exhausted. They needed a vacation from f**king.
Lucah held my hand on the walk back to work, and I got one more kiss before we got to the doors.
“Never forget.”
“I won’t.”
“You look happy,” Lilia said as I walked past her desk. “Any reason?” Sex. Lots of sex.
“Nope. Just woke up on the right side of the bed this morning.” I gave her a bright smile and practically skipped to my desk. I was still on my sex high, and it felt like nothing could bring me down from it.
And then I got an email from Violet, asking me if I wanted to have lunch with her. Obviously, I had made myself open to her, but that didn’t mean I was thrilled about it. Still, I was probably making a big deal out of nothing. Once I got there, I’d be fine.
So I sent her back an enthusiastic acceptance and she agreed to make reservations at a place just around the corner. It was much fancier than any place I’d usually go for lunch, but maybe the formal atmosphere would keep the conversation formal.
The rest of the morning I buried myself in work, but every ten or so minutes let my mind wander to the night before and a little of shiver of delight raced down my spine.
Lilia brought me a few things to sign and look over and halfway down the stack, there was a sticky note with one word written on it.
MINE.
I took it and stuck it on my computer. No one but Lucah would know what it meant, which made it even better. Just one more little piece of Lucah in my life.
I also found another of the notes in my purse. I bet he saved them all somewhere and they were going to randomly pop up in my life whenever I needed a reminder, which would probably be frequently.
Time before the lunch date sort of flew by and then it was time to meet Violet. I was trying to think of her as her own entity, separate from Lucah—as the woman who had rocked the interview, and I thought might be my new friend. It wasn’t her fault that she had a past with Lucah. I was NOT going to let that come between what might be a burgeoning friendship. At the very least the two of us had to work together and be able to make small talk.
So I practiced as I strode to the elevator, my clicking heels giving me comfort.
Violet was down in the lobby looking fabulous in a charcoal-colored fitted dress, yellow heels, and her hair in a twist. I looked her up and down, searching for a flaw, but I couldn’t find one, and then she turned and nearly caught me staring. That would have been awful.
“Violet, hi.”
“Hi, you look nice today. Love the shoes.” The more I learned about her, the more I wanted to like her.
“Same to you. So, shall we?” She nodded and we walked the short distance to the restaurant. It was quiet, despite the fact that it was the lunch hour. It even had a guy playing the piano. Did we have to tip him? Could we make requests? The hostess led us across the room and seated us at a table for two.
We sat and ordered drinks. I got a white peach sangria and she had the same. I needed a drink to get through this.
“Is this place okay? I wasn’t sure where you normally went. I’m still trying to get used to the city.”
“No, it’s great. I normally just go to the place across the street, actually. So, where did you live before you moved here?” I knew, since I’d seen her employment history, but this was where you started with small talk.