Trade It All(39)

“How was work?” Lance asked after they’d both dug into their food and exhausted all safe topics like the temperate weather that evening and the quality of the waitstaff.

“Better than my first day,” Willa answered honestly. She still couldn’t believe she and Lance were out on a date. “I never pictured myself working in an office, but it’ll pay the bills, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

“Did Clay take the office in Dax’s building?” Lance asked before taking another bite of his sandwich.

For a moment, Willa debated exactly how much to say. This was a fresh start, and she wanted it to be an honest one. “No. It didn’t work out with Clay. He didn’t really have a need for a personal assistant. I’m working with Kate instead. Filing. Typing. Things like that.”

“I’m sorry it—” Lance smiled sheepishly. “I’m not actually sorry. That wasn’t the job for you, Willa. The one for Dax isn’t either, though. You’ve always loved art. You should ask Emily if she knows of something. Her museum is doing well.”

Willa nodded. “And she has that whole school she and Asher are building in New Hampshire.”

“You wouldn’t want to live in New Hampshire,” Lance said confidently.

Willa sat back in her chair. “Really? And why is that?”

He winked. “I’m in Boston.”

With more amusement than sarcasm, Willa asked, “Are Barrington boys born with enormous egos or do they develop over time?”

Neither Lance nor Willa could stop smiling. He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “I could say what we’re born with that is impressively large, but I’m on first-date best behavior.”

Willa burst out laughing then bent forward, embarrassed she’d laughed so loudly. “What would your mother think of a comment like that?”

Covering his heart with his hand, Lance laughed right along with her. “She’d be mortified. Dad would give me that disappointed look of his. You know the one.”

“Where his eyebrows try to meet in the middle and you can actually count the lines on his forehead?”

“Two lines and you’re safe. Four and there is no escaping the lecture.”

“I never thought of it that way, but you’re right. Oh my God, now I won’t be able to keep a straight face if he does it. I’m in trouble.”

Lance reached over and took her hand in his. “We can be in trouble together.” His action and comment surprised both of them. They both froze.

Willa’s heart started beating wildly. It was good, but it was also too good, too soon. She felt panic closing in.

Lance seemed to sense her reaction and said, “Like the time Andrew took Asher’s Lamborghini for a joy ride.”

Willa remembered the story. “So Asher took your father’s and hunted him down.”

“Both cars came back with dents. Dad was so angry, but he wouldn’t say it because he didn’t want to upset Mom.”

Willa saw a flash of something in Lance’s eyes, and she understood why. As funny as the memory was, it also highlighted Sophie’s fragile mental state. Willa gave Lance’s hand a gentle squeeze.

Lance turned Willa’s hand over in his, tracing her wrist with his thumb. That simple act was enough to send flutters of need through Willa. Her eyes flew to his lips then up to meet his heated gaze. She could almost feel his mouth trailing kisses down her neck, his tongue circling her nipples. She didn’t want to hold his hand, she wanted to feel it gripping her ass, sliding around to caress her sex. Her mouth parted as she imagined his strong fingers wet from her juices, thrusting up into her. Oh, yes. All that, from just his thumb caressing her wrist.

His eyes burned with a passion that flamed hers. “God, I want to fuck you.”

Yes.

He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose with the hand that had held hers. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

Right. Bad idea. Remember that, Willa.

Willa fought to bring her breathing back to normal and didn’t agree or disagree. This part of their relationship had never wavered. It might have been denied, but it was as strong now as it had been when they were younger. I want him, too. If I’m honest about that, will it balance the score card? I never told him what happened. Is saying nothing lying?

Can we do this? Can we choose our own reality as long as it’s one we both agree on?

Why is being with Lance as terrifying as it is good?

Because this time, Lexi isn’t messing it up. Lance’s level of interest in me isn’t in question.

It’s all on me.

And if I can hold my shit together enough to let myself have this.