“Yeah. Women can be catty sometimes. I’m really glad to be on my own.”
Another flirtatious grin crossed his handsome face as Lucas leaned against her office door. “I might even have to make an appointment with you. All this construction work is hard on the body sometimes.”
Lucy nodded, ignoring the handsome devil’s flirting. “I’d be happy to make an appointment for you. I have several male customers who work in physically demanding jobs who get a regular massage. I’d even give you a discount.” She heard the front door to the shop open.
“I wouldn’t expect you to do that just starting out in your business. I’ll be sure and make an appointment with you before we leave later today.” He looked in the direction of the front door and then turned back to her, a slight frown appearing on his face before he smiled again, and said, “I’m running out for an early lunch and I’ll check in with you when you’re done. Want me to lock up so no one will come in while you’re busy?”
She nodded as she approached the doorway and Lucas turned to leave. She watched as he sauntered to the front and nodded at Beck as he passed him. She could feel the tension between the two men. Beck looked grim as he dipped his chin curtly and then turned his gaze to her.
The smile that curved his lips when his eyes met hers transformed his face and reminded her of the “old” days. When he told a joke or said something to make her laugh—when he wasn’t pissing her off. Beck could do that to her like no one else. Sometimes she thought he said stuff to her just to get her riled up. Right then, he just seemed pleased to see her. She was glad she was holding the CD cases to help disguise the way her hands were shaking as he filled the small hallway that led from the waiting area to her office and the smaller of the two massage rooms.
She backed up against one wall and looked up at him as he leaned against the other wall, their bodies nearly brushing against each other but not quite. She wanted to reach out and stroke his chest through his blue plaid flannel shirt and a wave of heat swamped her and her nipples hardened as she looked into his green eyes. How could anybody not want to be with him, even as flawed as he was? He emanated a raw energy that made her tremble to her core. An errant thought implanted in her mind. Once he claimed a woman, she was his. And for the right woman he’d do anything, change anything, be everything for her, if she could claim him.
You’ve been reading too many romance novels. Put that shit on hold! Here’s your chance to work some things out. No lusting for him in a private setting. You know where that would lead.
“H–Hi.” She felt a blush spread over her cheeks when her voice squeaked a little.
“Thank you for fitting me in.”
The mild heat in her cheeks raged into an inferno as she imagined other ways she wanted to fit him in. “You’re welcome.” She brushed her hair back behind her ears and then realized her hand was still shaking and quickly put it back down at her side.
“Come with me.” Lord, girl, choose your words more judiciously if you don’t want your cheeks to catch on fire!
He followed her into the dim confines of the back room, which was set up to accommodate a couple, with romantic furnishings and light-blocking shades behind drapes that created a warm, intimate mood. He stopped and pointed back at the smaller, barren massage room which wasn’t decorated and prepared yet. That was her job once Josh and Lucas Abbott had the hardware for the curtains and shades installed. “You’re not using that room?”
“It’s not ready yet,” she murmured as she busied herself switching on the electric fireplace and lighting scented candles.
“Y–You don’t have to go through all this romantic mood-setting. I just feel like hell and everyone keeps telling me that you might be able to help work some of the kinks out.”
She recognized his hunted tone only too well. This was how he got anytime he felt like he was moving into an intimate situation around her. It was the reason why she and Patrick had taken things slow. Now that she knew a little about what had happened, she didn’t back off but she turned to him and looked him in the eye.
“I just want to provide you with an atmosphere that will help to take your mind off your aches and pains. I’m not trying to do anything else, Beck. Just relax. Sit down.”
Surprisingly, he did as she asked while she sorted the CDs and placed them in the CD changer. Soft guitar music with a Spanish flair began to play over speakers the Abbotts had installed on the walls around the room and she smiled at the overall effect.
“Who was that guy you were talking to?”