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“Willow Cove.”
She laughed. “You know I’ve seen that movie like five hundred times, right? It’s kind of a prerequisite to live here.”
“Well, I was told by a local that I needed to see it.”
Ella gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth in mock shock. “Are you telling me you haven’t seen one of the greatest movies of all time that takes place in our very own little town?”
Lucas laughed. “Guilty.”
“Then we must remedy that,” she said with a quirk of her lip. “But after we eat.”
Chapter 15
After dinner, they moved to the couch with two glasses of red wine. Lucas put on Willow Cove and pulled Ella close. He kissed the top of her head, the sweet fruity scent of her hair invading his senses.
He wanted to toss her over his shoulder, bring her up to his bedroom, and explore every inch of her body with his hands and mouth, but he also didn’t want her to think that was the only reason he asked her over.
The truth was, he liked kissing her—hell, he loved it—but he also loved simply spending time with her. She was a breath of fresh air from the smoke in his mind, a shining ray of sunlight that he wanted to bask in for as long as he could before their time together ran out.
“I can’t believe you haven’t seen this movie,” she said.
“Is it that great?”
“Depends on your definition of great, but it has a massive cult following, so take that as you see fit. Personally, I think it’s the city people who watch it and fall in love with the concept of a small town, like when I watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s or West Side Story and fall in love with the idea of city life.”
“Have you ever thought about moving to a city?” he asked, wondering what she would think of his place in L.A.… if she’d ever consider visiting him.
“More when I was younger and wanted to see the world.”
“And now?”
“It seems rather lonely to me. I’d be somewhere surrounded by people, but my family wouldn’t be there. My friends. The people I’m used to seeing every day. I think I’d miss them too much.”
“I hope they all realize how lucky they are to have you in their lives.”
“They do, I’m sure. But I’m lucky to have them too.” She was quiet for a moment then turned her head, catching his gaze. “What about you? Since you don’t talk to your parents anymore and Joe lives here so far away from you.”
“I still talk to my mom, even though I usually hang up with a headache. And I have my two roommates from college. Leo.”
She smiled. “The chef?”
“Yes, Leo the chef, and Brian the frat boy who never grew up, but he’s smart as hell. They’re more like family to me than my own. They’re also my business partners. Can’t seem to get rid of them.” He laughed, but the truth was, he had no idea where he would be without them. They kept him upright on days when his world felt like it was falling off kilter. Between Brian with his quick wit and ability to turn any situation into a party and Leo with his laidback, fun-loving ways and master cooking skills, they managed to get Lucas through the hardest time in his life.
They didn’t need to be blood to be family. No matter what they would be there for him just as he would always be there for them. It was a silent oath they had and he would honor it until his dying day.
“I’m happy to hear you’re not alone out there,” Ella said and her words were like a warm embrace. To think that she cared enough about him to hope he wasn’t living life alone…
“I’m not,” he said. “But it can still get lonely.”
She looked at him then, dark eyes full of understanding. “I know exactly what you mean.”
He didn’t care about the movie anymore or about Ella thinking that he only wanted one thing from her. The way she was looking at him, all he cared about was her and making her know he never wanted her to be lonely again.
He cupped her face, running his thumb across the apple of her cheek, loving the soft feel of her skin beneath him.
“I thought we were watching the movie.”
“The only thing I want to watch is you,” he said just before leaning in and kissing her.
