Page 80 of Lucky Mother Pucker

I slide my arm around Lucy’s waist and pull her next to me. When I breathe in, I get a whiff of her perfume. Something sweet and light and flowery and a little citrusy. Oh, fuck. She smells so good.

Anna hands Lucy her phone back, and we head out.

I offer her my arm as we walk down the staircase to the front of the building.

“Thanks,” Lucy says through a cute laugh. “I’m not used to wearing heels this high.”

She must be wearing sky-high shoes because her head is just under my chin. She’s usually barely at my shoulder in her sneakers.

I open the passenger door of my car for her and hold her hand as I help her in. When I hop into the driver’s seat, she’s looking at me, concern flashing in her eyes.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

“Yeah, I’m great.” My gaze lands on her lush lips. My mouth waters with the urge to nibble softly on her plump bottom lip…

“I was just hoping you weren’t too stressed about seeing your dad tonight.”

“Oh. That.” I was so distracted by how hot Lucy looked that for a second, I forgot what we were doing.

“I’ll be okay. I’m feeling better now that you’re going with me.”

The worry fades from her gorgeous eyes. She reaches over and gives my arm a soft squeeze. “I’m your emotional support buddy this whole night.”

I turn on the engine and drive off, feeling a million times better about tonight because Lucy is by my side.

Twenty minutes later, I pull up to a luxury hotel in downtown Denver.

I hop out, then round the front of the car to get the door for Lucy. I grab her hand and help her out, then hand my keys to the valet.

We walk through the entrance of the hotel, her small arm looped in mine. A happy feeling blooms through my chest. I like it when she’s touching me. When she’s standing this close to me.

Easy, dude. This isn’t a date. She’s your friend who was nice enough to be your emotional support tonight.

I refocus and try not to think about just how attracted I am to her…how much I want her.

Lucy gazes around, her eyes big as she takes in the modern decor of the lobby. Every surface is pearly white and shiny, like they polish and clean it constantly.

She stares at an Art Deco sculpture in the middle of the massive space. It looks like a giant white boulder that’s been smoothed out, with a trio of holes carved into it. It sits on top of a shiny wooden block that’s almost as big as the sculpture itself.

“Is that wooden stand part of the art piece or…just a stand?” she asks.

I laugh. “I have no idea.”

We walk into the ballroom where the charity event is being held.

“Oh wow. This is fancy,” Lucy says while looking at the floral centerpieces on the tables. “Look at all those peonies and roses.”

I glance over. “Is that what those fluffy flowers are called?”

She chuckles. “Yeah. Not a big flower guy?”

I shake my head. “They all kind of look the same to me.”

“Seriously?” She laughs.

“I mean, they’re pretty, I guess. I just don’t really pay attention.”

We weave around the tables in the direction of the bar, which is at the far end of the ballroom. A few people are in line to get drinks, so we get behind them.