Incumbent(24)

“I think it’s sweet.” Lucy finally smiled. “I’m an only child, so I never had any of this.” She waved her hand to indicate me and my siblings.

Deciding it was time to rescue Lucy from the inquisition, I stood up. “Can you excuse us, please? I’m going to show Lucy around.” I offered her my hand, and she looked up at me with gratitude in her eyes.

As we made our way through my parents’ home, I brought Lucy into the library, my mom’s pride and joy. Dark cherrywood shelves covered three walls from floor to ceiling, but the fourth wall was all glass and overlooked the yard and pond out back.

“Wow, this is stunning.” She ran her hand along one of the two wingback chairs that faced outside. “I don’t think I’d ever leave this room.”

When her eyes met mine, something inside me ached with yearning. It was as if there was a vacancy in me that I wanted her to fill.

“It seems as if you’ve intrigued my brother Jack.”

“Did I?” A cute crease formed between her eyes.

“Let’s just say I’m glad I met you first.”

She grinned and walked toward the window. I stepped up behind her and placed my hands on her shoulders, touching my chin to her hair as we took in the view.

“So, tell me what you like in a man.”

Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink as she glanced at me from the corner of her eye. Tilting her head a bit, she considered my question.

“Someone who is well read,” she said slowly, frowning in thought, “understands the world revolves around more than just the bottom line, and that people can’t be bought.”

Turning to face me, she added earnestly, “There are a lot of people in the world who don’t see the good in others. That’s the problem with our society. When people let social status dictate who someone should have in their life and who should be shunned, that causes division. History has taught us that not everything is cut and dry.”

“You should be in politics.” I chuckled and kissed her temple, taking a moment to inhale her scent, something light and vaguely floral.

“No,” she whispered, her breath tickling my throat. “Thank you. I’ll leave that to you.”

I pulled back and grasped her elbows, gazing into her eyes.

“I want to date you, Lucy. I mean, actually date you.” I slid my fingers down until they were linked with hers. “What do you think?”

When she didn’t reply right away, my stomach clenched with worry I’d pushed her too far. But then her eyes lit up and she gave me a wide, genuine smile.

“I think I’d like that.”

That was all I needed to hear. I pulled her close and wrapped my arms around her, enjoying the feel of her palms pressed against the center of my back.

“Let’s say our good-byes and finish this date elsewhere,” I suggested.

When Lucy pushed back, her brows furrowed and her eyes narrowed, I quickly said, “I didn’t mean that like it sounded. I thought we’d go for ice cream.”

She squinted at me. “Ice cream?”

“Yes, you know the frozen confection that’s typically served in a cone?” I smirked, and she shook her head. “Come on, let’s go. I may even splurge for sprinkles.”





Chapter 7


Lucy



Rather than going to an ice cream stand, we ended up buying a couple of gallons and some toppings at the grocery store, and headed to my place. Drake made what he called his famous “you’re going to love it” sundae that consisted of a scoop of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream smothered in hot fudge, caramel sauce, sliced banana, a swirl of whipped cream, and a cherry to top it off.

Overwhelmed, all I could do was stare at it. “If I eat all of this, I’m not going to be able to move.”

He handed me a spoon, and held up another in his hand. “That’s why we’re going to share, if that’s okay.”

“It’s more than okay.” Frowning at him, I asked, “You look like you just walked off the cover of a fitness magazine. Do you always eat like this?”

He chuckled, but not before taking a heaping spoonful of ice cream. Immediately, his face scrunched up, and he squeezed his eyes closed.

“Brain freeze?” I giggled and placed a small taste in my mouth. “Mmm, this is delicious.”

Drake nodded and squeezed his eyes closed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Man, that smarts. I should learn to take smaller bites.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at him.

After we finished our dessert, Drake grabbed the remote. “Do you mind if I check some scores?”

When I shook my head, he flicked on the TV and tuned it to ESPN. He sat on the couch and pulled me to his side as he listened, and I was mesmerized by the scrolling ticker at the bottom of the screen. Even though I wasn’t sure what each acronym stood for, it caught my eye.

As I tried to decipher the code, my lids began to close.

? ? ?

The thud of the newspaper hitting the front door woke me. I went to stretch, but my hand hit a hard surface covered in what felt like soft cotton. When I slowly opened my eyes, still completely disoriented, I did my best to focus on where my hand had landed.

Drake’s handsome face was so peaceful in sleep. Early morning sunlight barely illuminated the room, just enough that I could see his chiseled jaw, which was now covered in morning scruff a little longer than I’d seen on him before.