Reid’s hand slowly slid up her side until his thumb was millimeters away from her breast. She told herself she shouldn’t feel disappointed when he moved it around to her back, managing to avoid anything inappropriate. His voice, pitched low and near her ear, rolled over her skin causing the tiny hairs at the back of her neck to stand on end. “I start with simple chitchat, shoptalk, but the entire time you’re talking I’m staring at your lips and imagining what they’ll taste like.”
“You are?” she asked on a breathy whisper.
“Fuck yeah, I am.” His free hand came up to frame her face and he nudged her cheek with his nose until her head angled to the side. “You’re sexy as hell, Lucie, and I want to unwrap you to get to the decadent prize underneath. I want to learn your likes, your dislikes—to know your fears and your dreams—and I vow to peel back each beautiful layer until I discover everything about you.”
Lucie’s heart was pounding so hard she was sure the hostess could hear it in the front of the restaurant. She wanted to be known like that—physically, emotionally—desperately.
“Yes,” she said. “I want that.”
“Then take what you want.” His voice was little more than a rasp at her ear. It sounded strained and on the edge. “Make it happen.”
She was so wrapped up in the image in her mind, she didn’t notice Reid had stepped back from her until the feeling of bereftness came over her. Letting her eyes flutter open she focused on Reid standing in front of her. His hands shoved into his front pockets and the stiff look on his face didn’t match the sultry emotions he’d just poured over her.
“All you have to do is remember everything I’ve just told you, and walk through that door.” Before she could ask him if everything was all right, he jerked his head in the direction of the banquet room. “Go on. It’s time to make your entrance, Cinderella.”
The idea of walking into a room with all eyes on her no longer sent her into a panic. He was right. She might not be celebrity beautiful, but she did look one hundred percent better than she had a week ago. There was no reason she shouldn’t find some confidence in that. Stretching up on her tiptoes Lucie placed a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Reid.”
One side of his mouth quirked up. “Anytime, sweetheart.”
With her newfound conviction and brand-new look, Lucie pushed her shoulders back and strode down the hall.
…
Reid dragged his hands down his face as soon as Lucie turned the corner. What he wouldn’t give for a sweaty gym and a tough sparring partner to beat him senseless right now. The visualization technique was something that could be applied in any situation so he knew it would work for her. What he hadn’t known was how it would work him over.
He couldn’t even say for sure who he’d been speaking as that whole time. At some point it felt like he’d slipped out of character. He hadn’t been picturing Dr. Dipwad staring at her lips and kissing her. He’d been picturing himself.
“I need a drink,” he mumbled, making his way to the room. As soon as he crossed the threshold he spotted Lucie. Like she was the North his gaze would always point to. The simple pale blue shift dress she wore was understated and yet magnificent. He kept eyes on her as he crossed to the table set up with punch and premade cocktails. Grabbing one of the drinks he watched her ass as it moved under the thin material with every step she took. His gaze drifted lower to wander over the curves of her smooth legs. Damn, she’s hot.
He raised the glass then stopped. If he had to guess based on the shower’s signature drink, Lizzie was due to have a girl. It looked like a crazy version of a Shirley Temple, bright pink with cherries stabbed on an open plastic diaper pin straddling the rim of the glass.
“It’s emasculating, isn’t it?”
Reid glanced to his left to see a well-built Hispanic guy standing next to him with an amused smirk on his face. He was holding two open bottles of Corona instead of the current embarrassment he held.
“There’s not even any alcohol in that thing,” the guy said.
“Holy shit, that’s inexcusable.” He put it back on the table with a disgusted look at the whole set up. “How can they justify that?”
The man laughed, and held out the extra beer. “It’s a baby shower, man. That’s all the excuse they need to suck anything even remotely manly out of the occasion. Normally we aren’t even supposed to step foot in these things, but Lizzie’s kind of like the darling of the hospital staff. Everyone loves her so it became an ‘everyone’ event. I’m Eric.”
“Reid.” Gladly accepting the offered bottle, he shook Eric’s hand before twisting off the cap and downing half of it in one shot. “Thanks, man, you’re a lifesaver.”
“Don’t mention it.”