Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Her whole body trembles, and it thrills me to get that reaction out of her.
I sway back and forth with the music. “I should apologize to you for yesterday morning. I didn’t mean to insinuate that you couldn’t take care of Granny.”
She shakes her head, but I don’t let her pull away. Her voice is soft and timid. “No, you have every right to question me, Lucas. You’re looking out for your grandmother, and no one could fault you for that.”
I pull back and search her face. Her cheeks are tinged pink as she looks at me, but at least she’s looking at me now instead of some random spot over my shoulder. “No, but no one should question your abilities either. Especially me. I see how much she means to you. I know you’d do anything for her.”
She licks her lips, and with her face only inches from me, the thought of leaning in and touching mine to hers is overwhelming. “Thank you for that, Lucas. That really means a lot to me.”
I nod, transfixed on her lips. I’m about to ask her to meet me later so we can talk when the night nurse comes into the room.
“Well, it looks like a party in here!”
Isabella pulls from my arms and slides her hands down her thighs. She almost looks as if she’s been caught making out or something the way her chest and cheeks are red. I let my gaze travel down her body, but I don’t make it past her chest. Her nipples are tight, pressed against the front of her shirt as she turns to walk away from me. She approaches Betsy, the night nurse, and thankfully, Betsy doesn’t seem to notice. Thank God, Ford is in the other direction. I definitely don’t want him getting any ideas, and he would if he saw her like that.
I talk to Ford, Ollie, and Granny, and eventually Isabella comes over to hug Granny good night. She avoids looking at me, which is fine, but she does tell us all goodbye as she walks out of the room. I’m going to let her off the hook–for now, anyway.
Shortly after she walks out, Ford and Ollie leave too.
I help Granny to her bedroom, and she leans onto me heavily. “You doing okay?” I ask her.
She lets out a breath as she sits down on the edge of the bed. I know Betsy will be in to help her into her nightgown soon, so I sit next to her. “Yeah, I’m okay. I don’t want you worrying about me, Lucas. You’re young, and you should be living your life. Not stuck in some house night after night, worrying.”
I could argue with her. It would be easy to do. But I know that’s not what she wants to hear. “I was thinking... how do you think I could win over Isabella? I mean, I haven’t exactly had any luck getting on the right foot with her.”
The smile that lights up her face makes it all worth it. Yeah, I’m attracted to Isabella. Who wouldn’t be? And I know nothing serious can come of it. But I know if I can just talk to her about it, she’d be game in pulling this off with me.
Granny claps her hands together. “I knew it. I knew I saw sparks when you two are together.” She grabs on to my hand and squeezes it. “Well, first of all, you should probably ask her out for a date, don’t you think?”
I laugh because of course Granny makes it all just sound so simple. “Yeah, a date. Good idea. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. Maybe I’ll ask her out on a date.”
Granny squeezes my hand. “She’ll say yes. I know she will.”
I nod and smile at her as if I don’t have a care in the world, but there is a part of me that wonders if Isabella may just say no to what I’m proposing.
Isabella
I make it back to my room with my heart racing. I don’t have any clue what has come over Lucas, but I don’t know if I’m going to survive it. My heart won’t for sure. He’s playing some kind of game, and it looks like I’m his target. I’m not even sure what to think about him acting like he’s jealous or something. None of it makes sense.
I change out of my scrubs into jeans and a T-shirt. Pulling my hair from its ponytail, I brush the long strands until they’re shining. I need to get out of the house. Maybe I’ll head into town and see if Carlotta wants to meet me. I haven’t taken the time to see my best friend lately, and I know I need to catch up. I roll my eyes as I grab my purse. Knowing Carlotta, she’s going to tell me to go for it. Whatever he’s wanting, give it to him.