How Times Change

“Your driver.” Again, the unreality of Lucas as a tycoon cut through the wine grapes in her mind.

Lucas gestured to the couch. “Just right there.” At her raised brow, he stopped, “No funny business, I swear JJ. I don’t know what to make of all of this either, but I mean, I checked, and Casablanca is on…”

Casablanca. As kids, when their parents had been married, Tony and Evie had taken it upon themselves to educate Jade and Lucas on the classics. Out of all them, Princess Bride included, Casablanca had stuck with Jade. Lucas too, apparently. She still would have said no, still should have, but when Lucas broke into his best, “Here’s looking at you kid…” Bogart gone camp, she shook her head, surrendering.

“Fine. Casa and that’s it. I do have to work tomorrow.”

Lucas didn’t answer as he was already switching on the TV.

Later, she’d realize that she should have seen this coming. Her chances to put a stop to all of it were almost lit up neon, and she’d skipped everyone. Only she hadn’t, and as she settled into the sofa, leaning back on a very warm Lucas, she realized that she had no desire to.

Lucas wasn’t Gnat. He wasn’t Aaron either with his cold fish habits and no time. There was home in him.

This scared her more than she was willing to admit. She came west looking for her own stake, and outside of watching men leave for new and creative reasons, she’s found it. What was Lucas to that? What was she to him? All that money- he could buy a trophy case full of sun bunnies. Why was he even entertaining the thought-?

She stopped dead in her thought track as she felt the run of Lucas’s hand on her caramel arm. It was light, and his focus was still on the TV, but it was there, a strong, slow movement, not sneaky like a school boy, but firm. Little tendrils of electricity were spreading from his fingers like night magic, and she could feel them traveling. Saying nothing, she sat very still, as focused on the TV as possible. As Bogart cocked his head, ready to deliver another famous line, the hand moved to her shoulder. Her heart began to thump in her ears. Oh God, what is this- what am I doing? The words sounded urgent, but nothing in her body jumped her to move. Instead, the warm hand on her shoulder was tattooing stay, stay, stay in her mind to rhythm of her heart.

And then his breath replaced his hand. And then she found her head turning up towards him, seemingly of its own free will. Jade Brawley you need to-

Everything disappeared in the warmth of his kiss. Stubble, barely there, brushed past her brown lips as they touched, touched again and then parted, just the softest hint of breath passing between them. As she turned, she felt him blow out, his breath full of spice and wine and the taste of salt. It was delicious, and it flowed back over her in waves. She could feel the pressure building inside her, something that she’d pushed down for years…

And then his firm hand was on her stomach- sliding up, traveling over the soft valleys of her dress, up and up, and all she could see in her mind was light and shadow…the flickering of the TV…Lucas, so very close.

Alarm bells. With a force that shocked her and had her body demanding why, she pulled away, breaking their kiss and leaving trails of regret running across her body. She needed this. But she couldn’t, not this way, not wine soaked and memory soaked and tired, so tired…

“No. Lucas- I can’t.” She pushed a hand to his chest and lifted away feeling the disappointment in the air as he looked back, shocked. “I’m not …” She moved her hands to her lap, letting her head fall, and spoke again, very small. “I’m just not.”

Nothing passed at all for a moment as all she could do was hear him breathing. She was afraid to meet his eyes. God Lucas, it’s not you. Well, it is you- but not the way you think…Finally, mercifully he broke the silence.

“Jade, come here.” When she turned to face him, his eyes reflected the TV in gray and green. His look was open, and to her surprise, he wasn’t angry. “I won’t.” He didn’t have to explain what. “Just, please. Come here.” He opened his arms, beckoning her back to him. “Please.”

She’d been poised to run. Instead, she found herself scooting back into this mysterious man, pushing up close to his chest. “ Lucas, I’m sorry.“

“No. I am. Just finish Casa with me and I’ll get you home, Ok?” Jade said nothing. “I mean it. I didn’t want to start all this, I just wanted to …well, God JJ, I mean Jade, I didn’t know you’d show up like this. I didn’t know…” He stopped, worried now, as Jade was still quiet. “JJ?”

Soft snores answered back.