Chapter 10
LANCE
Lance wasawake when the cell phone alarm went off beside Blythe as she got up to get ready for work. The moment she was in the bathroom and turned the water on, he closed his eyes, picturing things, and then got up to make the coffee. No, he couldn’t lie there dawdling. Not when he had a busy day ahead of him.
Today, he intended to surprise his girl – just like she had shocked him to the core. When he’d kissed Blythe at the store, he never expected her to kiss him back like that.
“My word that woman can kiss,” he whispered aloud, pressing ‘Start’ on the coffee pot and thinking about that moment once again. She had pressed her body against his fully, curled her arms around his neck, and poured every ounce of her soul into it, and he was a willing recipient. He’d never had a woman be the aggressor with him before, nor would he ever forget it! When she’d deepened the kiss and her tongue met his, he was a goner.
Heck, as far as he was convinced, there was no other woman on the planet that would ever satisfy him again. No, she was perfect in so many ways… ways he never imagined, nor could he get past them. He didn’t care if they had pink dishes, and she might think that they were ‘just dating’ but in his brain, his heart, and his soul – Blythe Monroe was ‘the one’ for him.
He was going to drive her to work, get a few things for her place… and start setting them up a home, whether she knew it or not. Texting Alec, he hoped the other man didn’t question him too much because he wasn’t sure how much he wanted to discuss his relationship with Blythe.
Hey buddy – you free today?
It’s seven in the morning – am I late for work?
Aliens are real, aren’t they?
A new pope?
There’s a new strain of vampire spiders that fly – isn’t there?
There better be a good reason you are texting before 9 a.m.
You’re grumpy – which means you want food. How about breakfast, and then I need some help moving a few things.
Since when are you moving?
Since now – are you free or not?
I want Cracker Barrel hashbrown casserole, and you’re buying.
Fine.
Seriously? You aren’t nagging or bartering? Who is this? Who stole Lance’s phone?
It’s me, dummy, and I need help. Cracker Barrel hashbrowns is a small price to pay.
I want bacon, too.
Fine.
A DOUBLE SERVING OF BACON
Fine.
Colton? Justin? Chad? Is that you?
Shut up and get dressed, you dork. I’m hungry and meet me at the restaurant in an hour.
Be ready to work.
Be ready to pay
And don’t you forget your wallet again. I fell for that once!
I’m paying – and you can eat to your heart’s content for this one.
Lance shoved his phone into his shorts pocket as Blythe came around the corner wearing slacks and a blouse, looking at him in surprise.
“Did I wake you?”
“I thought I would drive you to work and get a few things done around the house. What time should I pick you up and have dinner ready?”
“Oh, um, goodness…” she stammered, looking surprised. Had no one ever made dinner for her before? Oh boy - he was going to knock her socks off then! “I’m usually there until late or at least until the last sale is completed.”
“No problem. I’ll wait in the parking lot whenever you tell me to get there.”
“You don’t have to,” she began and then hesitated. “Unless you don’t want me driving your truck?”
“You have the key to my apartment – and I’ll give you the spare to my truck. I don’t care if you drive my truck. Anything I have, you are welcome to… I just thought it would be nice to get a few things handled while you are at work,” he paused and then smiled at her. “Because that is what amazing boyfriends in serious or committed relationships do, you know.”
Her dark eyes got huge and she blinked at him several times silently – and honestly, that was his favorite expression. She looked so shocked, so stunned, like she had no clue how to respond or that he’d blindsided her completely, and it made him smile.
“I’m the best one you are ever going to have,” he whispered, touching her hand. “And the last one.”
“You are?” she croaked – and blinked again, but this time, her face and neck were turning a soft pink that drove him nuts. He released her hand and drew a finger along the edge of her throat, caressing that soft skin that was flushing so prettily, and drew his finger downward toward where her necklace sat on her breastbone, fascinated.
“I am,” he promised and let his finger trail down the hem of her collar toward the top button – only to feel her hand slap his away. He chuckled softly and met her eyes. “I adore the way your throat turns pink when you are embarrassed.”
“You’re awful…”
“I’m the best and the only one you’ll ever need, Boop.”
“There’s not enough coffee in this world to handle the likes of you,” she sputtered, but her cheeks were still pink, and she wouldn’t meet his eyes. Oh yes, his pretty girl was shy, and he’d pushed a little too hard. “I need to go to work – can I borrow the truck, or are you driving me?”
“I’m ready when you are,” he began and saw her glance at him, nearly grinning. He was wearing a T-shirt, a pair of gray cotton pajama pants for her sake, and socks. That was it.
“You are barely dressed.”
“I’m dressed enough,” he chuckled. “Want to inspect me?”
“No.”
“Dang it…” he muttered - and to his surprise, she smiled at him.
“What is it with you? One date, one kiss, and you think that you can take over my world? It’s going to take more than that,” she said huskily, instantly making his heart stagger in his chest.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah,” she smirked, picking up her coffee mug and taking a sip. “Let’s go, and I’m taking my new mug with me.”
“Ugh, you really like that thing – don’t you?”
“Makes me think of you,” she quipped playfully – and he was here for it.
“I think those frightening little mice are growing on me,” he whispered, leaning toward her to steal a kiss, only to have her step away and shake her finger at him.
“Nuh-uh,” she taunted. “I need to get to work. Keys, please.”
“Let’s go, Boop. I’ve got some work to do around the house.”
And thankfully she didn’t question him.
Hours later,Lance and Alec were shoveling in pizza as they took a short break. It had been a hectic morning, but progress was happening, and the house was starting to take shape. He really hoped that Blythe liked the surprise and prayed fervently that she wasn’t going to be upset.
“I can’t believe you,” Alec said openly, chewing his pizza where he stood in the kitchen of Blythe’s house. They’d been putting together furniture all morning and moving a few items from his apartment. “You know she’s gonna flip her lid.”
“Nahhh. She’s cool.”
“Bro… seriously?”
“You think she’ll be mad?”
“I think she’s gonna have something to say about it.”
“Can we talk about something else?”
“Are you nervous?”
“Getting there…” Lance muttered, picking up another slice of pizza and taking a massive bite. “I was going to try to smooth things over with a nice dinner.”
“It might work,” Alec began and shrugged, texting someone and then looked at his phone screen, then looked at him, and back again.
“What?”
“My friend said – and I quote – ‘Nobody cooks that good’ followed by a ‘she’s not going to like this’…” Alec began and hesitated.
“Who’s your friend?”
“A girl.”
“You got a girlfriend?”
“A girl,” Alec retorted, using his hands to prove his point. “That’s a friend.”
“Look, your friend,” Lance began and hesitated. “Your friend doesn’t understand that there’s something there, and I was the one saying ‘no’ – but now I’m saying ‘yes’ and…”
“And what?”
“And it’s gonna happen.”
“Dude, it’s not gonna happen,” Alec chuckled, shaking his head. “Trust me. It’s not gonna happen. Girls are different – especially the good girls. Good girls want a ring, the whole marriage thing, and a family.”
“I’m thinking about it,” Lance muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “It freaks me out a little bit, but if I got married to anyone in the future… it might be Blythe. Maybe… if I ever got married. I mean, we’re just talking right now, you know?”
“But what we think versus what girls think are two different things.”
“But what if…” Lance began and hesitated. “I mean, are things so different with a piece of paper?”
“It’s security, a promise, a commitment… and she gets half your stuff.”
“I have nothing but a crummy apartment…”
“Truth!”
“…And some shoddy furniture.”
“Again – truth!”
“Enough, Alec.”
“We’re buddies because I give it to you straight,” Alec shrugged. “If you want my opinion, you better be ready to answer some hard questions – and sleep on the floor.”
“You really think she’ll be mad?”
“I don’t think she’s going to respond the way you think.”
“You don’t think she’s going to be happy?”
“I think she’s going to flip her lid.”
“But things are serious… or at least for me, they are,” Lance began nervously and hesitated. “I mean, I just financed eight thousand dollars’ worth of seriousness.”
“And it will look great when you have to haul it home. Maybe you can use it to mop up your tears,” Alec grinned, clapping him on the back and laughing. “Let’s finish up so you can unveil your surprise, Loverboy.”
“Mannnn, shut up and keep this between us.”
“I already texted Colton, Justin, and Chad.”
“What? I thought you were texting your girlfriend!”
“A girl…who’s a friend,” Alec reiterated firmly. “You are making it sound like there’s more, and we both know that things get weird if it’s more.”
“Does Willow know that?”
“You better worry about yourself before you worry about my friend… who’s a girl – and that’s all!”
“Alec, where’s Willow?”
“Out,” the other man sputtered, frowning.
“Out… where?” Lance questioned pointedly – and he already knew.
“She’s at lunch, and we both know that already.”
“At lunch with who?” he chuckled and saw Alec’s face turn grim as he glared at Lance. “Who is Willow at lunch with… and what do you think Willow is going to assume from this lunch? What do you think her lunch partner is going to assume? And who do you think they are discussing right now?”
“Shuddup, shuddup, shut the heck up, Cortes!” Alec snarled, looking at him in sheer frustration, to which Lance just stood there grinning.
“Well? Go ahead and talk your little brain through it. You’ll see.”
“My mother, okay? Willow went to lunch with… oh…” Alec snapped and then grew pale. “Oh no. Wait. No, right? Wrong. Hang on… no?! HANG ON A SECOND. Cortes, you think that they are discussing me?”
“Let’s see,” Lance chuckled. “Your friend, who’s a girl, went to lunch with your mother, who has been hinting at you settling down someday… and you are the common denominator between the two of them. See what I’m getting at?”
“You aren’t funny.”
“I’m hilarious… and right.”
“I wish I had a plastic rat right now.”
“I’m glad you don’t.”
The two men looked at each other, both distinctly uncomfortable. There was a truth to each thing that both of them pointed out. His first meeting with Blythe had been intense – and he could see her easily misinterpreting things in the way Alec was suggesting.
But would that be so bad?a tiny voice whispered in his mind.
“You know I’m not the only one who’s in deep water, right? I mean, you have less than six hours to figure out a story that will hold water, and you can’t lie to her, or you’ll get busted for sure.”
Lance put a hand on his stomach and burped, making a face.
“Check the cabinets and see if you notice a bottle of Tums anywhere…”
“Indigestion?” Alec smirked.
“Don’t make me call your mama, Beckett.”
“You wouldn’t… bros with the hose, remember?”
“Oh, I remember – and you better have my back, too.”