Chasing Forever (The Forever Series #1)(9)
“Your lips. I’ve been wondering how they would feel from the first second I saw you.” He ran his finger across her bottom lip, toying with it, and for one insane moment she was tempted to bite it or lick it. She didn’t know which.
“Oh,” she responded because her mind lacked the ability to form a coherent response. She let out a forced laugh as she shook her head trying to clear the seductive haze he had managed to wrap around her senses. Her friends weren’t kidding. He really was the King of the Pantry Droppers. Charm…check. Deadly smile…check. Dreamy eyes…check. And she could go on and on. “Are you always such a smooth talker, Lucas Evanston?”
Smiling, he turned to the side and that dimple made an appearance again. “Is it working?”
She couldn’t help but laugh at his candor. “Maybe a little,” she admitted.
“Well,” he said as he tapped her on the tip of her nose. “I’m glad we got that out of the way. Now you won’t be nervous next time.”
“Next time? What are you talking about?” She tilted her head to the side.
“Next time I kiss you, you won’t be nervous now that we have the first time thing out of the way.” He shrugged. “Just part of the night of firsts theme.”
“If you say so.”
“See you tomorrow morning at ten, Regan. Don’t be late.” He leaned in, kissing her on the forehead before turning to walk back in the direction they came.
Momentarily stunned, she said absolutely nothing until he was halfway down the block. “Wait. What do you mean you’ll see me tomorrow morning?”
“We’re going out to brunch.”
“What? Why?”
“I’m taking you out to brunch tomorrow.” She started shaking her head and he held up his hand. “Don’t tell me you haven’t had brunch before?”
Well damn, she didn’t think she had. Brunch wasn’t something her family ever did. She could almost hear her dad’s autocratic proclamation that brunch was a frivolous waste of time. To him, everything but his career constituted a waste of time. “Nope. I don’t think I have.”
“There you have it. More firsts for tomorrow.” He waved and started walking away again.
Once inside her dorm room, she noticed Erica still hadn’t made her way home from the party. Although she worried about Erica and her lack of judgment, she was grateful she didn’t have to explain her actions either. She didn’t want to share any of the details of her night with Lucas. For tonight, they belonged solely to her.
She plopped down on her bed, closed her eyes, and finally released the smile that had been threatening to erupt since the kiss.
Chapter Four
Present Day...
The evening California drizzle misted his face, but Lucas hardly noticed. He was late for drinks with Drew, one of the few people he regularly kept in touch with from his fraternity days.
He despised habitual lateness and made it a point to show up when he promised, but after coming face to face with Regan that morning, he had a difficult time concentrating, which made getting his work done a painstakingly slow process. The look on Regan’s face when she walked into his office that morning turned his stomach with remorse.
Last week, when he saw her name in a memo on his desk as his summer associate, he tried to convince himself that there could be more than one Regan Pierce in the world, approximately the same age as her. After he read her resume, he knew it was his Regan, the one that haunted his dreams and stalked his memories, and he immediately regretted giving human resources absolute hiring authority for the position.
At the time, it seemed like a good idea. He was buried knee deep in a corporate embezzlement case, and he didn’t want to spare the time to meet with a bunch of second year law students. Just pick the most qualified person was the only guidance he offered. Regrettably, that meant Regan Pierce.
Did he hate Regan Pierce? Absolutely not. Far from it. Regan Pierce f*cking haunted him with her jade green eyes and long auburn hair, and now he had to spend the summer mentoring her, close to her. Was it possible she’d become even more beautiful than before?
Their history was better left buried in a deep dark place never to be revisited, but like the first time he saw her, he forgot all of their unsavory baggage the moment she walked into his office. He remembered everything about her all too well—her taste, the feel of her skin under his fingertips and a million other likes and dislikes permanently burned into his memory.
It took all of his willpower not to reach for her as if she were his next breath of air. His fingers itched to touch her long auburn hair and her sensual lips that even when she scowled at him, curled up ever so slightly as if she were meant for love and laughter. And she still smelled the same, like peaches. He hated that he remembered her smell. Life could be a sadistic bitch, tempting him, teasing him when he could never act on any feelings he may or may not have for Regan.
Pulling open the heavy wooden door, he stepped into the neighborhood bar where he met Drew every Wednesday. He loved that no one bothered them, but most of all he liked that he didn’t have to put on a show to impress his family, friends, or potential clients. A bunch of regulars minding their own business filled the bar, and that was exactly how he liked it.
“Hey,” Lucas said, patting Drew on the shoulder as he reached their regular table.