22. Spencer

Chapter 22

Spencer

Friday Night Date

T here was something I hadn’t said to her yet. Tonight would be the night I told her I loved her. I didn’t care that my feelings and intentions wouldn’t make sense to a lot of people when you considered the timeline of our relationship. She was all I cared about.

Lucy had blown my world open and filled it with everything I didn’t know I needed, and now I couldn’t live without her. I didn’t want to try.

There was no such thing as too fast when you were in love. Love was the only thing that mattered. I knew that now.

Time didn’t matter.

Perception didn’t matter.

She was the only thing that mattered.

Lucy was rapidly becoming my best friend. She was funny, smart, clever, and completely weird. I adored every crazy thing that came out of her mouth.

We had spent every night together, at her or my place, and only separated when necessary for work. Our kids got along—my dog and her fish. They loved staring at each other through the glass of her aquarium.

We were in sync. Nothing was ever a discussion or a fight because we communicated our needs effortlessly. We naturally took turns cooking, cleaning up, and taking care of each other.

I knew it was because we were ready. We found what we had each been seeking and were beyond happy to have it. We’d fallen into a seamless rhythm as if we’d been together forever.

Tonight, I would tell her everything. How I felt about her, how much I needed her in my life, and that I was in love with her. She probably already knew, but words were almost as important as actions, and I hadn’t said them out loud yet.

She was at her house getting ready for the date I’d asked her out on before we left the cabin. And I was at the cabin doing the same. I was also here getting everything ready for our date.

I’d cleaned the place from top to bottom, decorating it with candles and flowers from the Misty Meadow Flower Shop in town. Then, I ordered Lucy’s favorites from The Honeybrook Inn’s restaurant—I had asked her grandmother what to get since we hadn’t eaten there together yet.

This night had to be perfect, and I’d done everything I could think of to make it so, including replacing the box of condoms in the bathroom.

I bent to stuff the paper bag into the cupboard, frowning when I saw that a bag with a note written on it was already in there.

Spencer,

Maybe I messed things up for you by not replacing these sooner.

But I will never ask, and you will never tell.

I’m sorry. Or not. I don’t know, and I don’t want to know.

We will never speak of this.

This never happened.

-Deacon

I dumped it on the counter.

Condoms.

I huffed a laugh, then put the boxes in the back, wadded up the bag, and tossed it in the trash.

After one last look in the mirror, I grabbed my keys and headed to my truck to pick Lucy up.

It was cold, but the skies were clear as I drove to her place.

I wouldn’t mind getting stuck up there with her again, though. My life made more sense when it was just the two of us.

As I pulled up, I saw her peeking through the curtains. When she spotted me, she closed them with a swish, and I smiled in anticipation.

Walking toward her felt like stepping into my future.

I knocked, waiting for her to open the door.

Her shoes clicked on the wooden floor, and I held my breath.

“Spencer.” She breathed.

She was dressed to the nines, in a dress with heels, a full face of makeup, and deep red lips. She was so stunning that I didn’t know where to look first, so I let my gaze wander over her as I took her in.

I closed my eyes, overcome. “You’re so beautiful.” I breathed.

Her laughter floated up from her throat. She knew exactly what she was doing to me, and it was sexy as fuck. “You’re not even looking, silly. Open your eyes.”

“I can’t. I’ll stare, then we’ll stand here all night. Me struck dumb, and you looking like a fucking goddess.”

“I’ll never get over the things you say.”

I opened my eyes. The dress was midnight black, with long sleeves and a deep V-neck. She was taller in her black spiked heels—the better to kiss her—and looked beyond gorgeous. A blush from my words decorated her high cheekbones, and her cherry lips smiled at me.

“You’re stunning tonight. This dress is amazing.”

She grabbed my tie, pulling my face to hers. “Thanks. I bought it so you could take it off me later. It zips all the way up the back. Isn’t that fun?”

“Yeah, sweetheart.” Fun. She was a fucking dream come true is what she was.

“You look gorgeous, Spencer. That suit suits you. You’re dapper and handsome, and I don’t know what I like better, your fixing cars, blue-collar hot guy clothes, or this.”

“You don’t have to choose.” The air between us was electrified. We’d be lucky if we didn’t jump each other before we got to the cabin. “You can have all of me.”

“It’s like I won the lottery or something.” She reached inside the doorway then handed me her coat. I held it open while she turned and slipped into it. “Where are you taking me?”

“It’s a surprise.” I held her arm as we walked to the truck. The driveway was slippery from the rain.

Her hands on my arm tightened. “I bet I can guess!”

“I bet you can’t,” I shot back. Getting her riled up always led to good things.

“I’ll start guessing once you start driving.”

“That’s too easy.” I opened the passenger door to help her in. “This is a small town. We don’t exactly have a lot of options up here.”

“Fine.” Satisfaction pursed her mouth as she tilted her head, and her eyes flashed with humor. “The cabin.”

“Ah.” I waited a beat, trying not to give it away. “Do you want me to tell you if you won?”

“No.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed a kiss to my throat. “Wherever you take me, I’ll win. As long as I’m with you, I can’t lose.”

“You’re the best thing to ever happen to me, Lucy.”

I looked into her eyes, and the whole world faded away.

But once I got on the road, I didn’t look at her at all. I wanted her too much. Luckily, the drive to the cabin was quick.