18
Chapter Eighteen
With Amanda gone, Lucas disappeared to the other side of the room, heading for the balcony. The restaurant had a wraparound terrace on the first floor, great for getting some fresh air.
He was thinking about what he would have to do to get Amanda to open up to him when the sound of sobbing reached him.
The lights on the terrace were muted, so he hadn't noticed he had company. He stared into the darkness in the direction the sound was coming from, trying to see who it was.
He caught the glimpse of a glint in the night, then his eyes finally adjusted and made out the woman standing several paces away.
"Hello? What's wrong?" He asked, reaching for his pocket handkerchief as he walked closer. He recognised her. She was the woman who had introduced herself to him in the elevator last week. "Ah, it's you." He pushed the handkerchief towards her. "Here, use this. It's clean."
She took the cloth and wiped below her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered. "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you."
He shook his head. "It's fine. Why are you out here, crying all alone?"
She shook her head and gazed downwards. "Don't mind me, it's stupid."
"I'm sure it's not. Tell me."
"Your parents have such a beautiful marriage. It… It reminded me of my parents. And I…" She hiccupped. "I wish they were happy like this."
Lucas arched an eyebrow. "How do you know they're happy?"
She twisted the handkerchief in her hand. "I know people pretend. But, my parents never had the decency to treat each other nicely even in front of others."
"Oh."
She laughed. "I know this looks stupid. I have no idea why I got so emotional about it. It's not like I'm a kid or something."
"Don't beat yourself up about it. Just because you're grown up doesn't mean some things stop hurting."
She dabbed at her eyes again. "Thank you for understanding.”
Lucas reached out and wiped a tear mark she had missed. "Stop crying, okay? It's blocking the beautiful view."
She smiled, her gaze dropping to the ground shyly.
He held back his smirk. He had always been good at comforting women.
It was a pity his charm no longer worked on the one woman he cared to comfort.
"I think I'll leave now," she said, her eyes flitting back to the packed reception room.
"I'll escort you to the front," he offered.
She gave him another smile. "Thank you."
***
"Can we pick up from where we got interrupted?"
Amanda turned, surprised to find Lucas standing behind her.
Hadn't she just seen him leave with Tyra a few minutes ago?
"Didn't think you were still around," she commented.
His brow creased. "Why not?"
"I saw you leave with Tyra." She took a sip of her champagne. "How do you know her?”
"I didn't leave with her, as you can see. I waited with her for her ride. We met once at the company." He tossed a snack into his mouth. "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why are you curious about that?"
"She's my best friend, and I didn't know you two were in talking terms."
"Oh, is she?" He leaned in and whispered, "Are her parents that horrible?"
Amanda frowned. "What?"
"Seeing my dear parents all lovey-dovey got her all emotional."
Amanda's frown deepened. "I've never heard her complain about her parents."
"Have you met them?"
She tilted her head in thought. "Just her father, at one of their company's events." She gave him an assessing glance. "Why are you asking me about this?"
A slight smirk appeared at the corner of his lips. "Nothing."
"Are you interested in her?"
It was a blurt, but she couldn't help it. Since she saw the two together, various scenarios kept playing in her mind. Tyra had confessed having the hots for the guy, and Lucas's history with bedding women spoke for itself. It wouldn't surprise her if the two clicked and decided to take care of their urges.
She was glad when Lucas didn't beat around the bush or try to call her out on her misplaced curiosity.
"Not nearly as much as she is in me, no." His gaze went past her. "I'd love to stay and chat but daddy dear is beckoning. Save a dance for me when the music comes around, okay?"
She didn't get a chance to reply as he moved away.
***
"You lied."
Amanda turned, startled, when Lucas's voice came out of the blue from behind her. She was on the stairs leading to the ground floor of the restaurant, headed for the exit.
She stepped to the side as he came down the steps. "About what?"
"Saving a dance for me."
She resumed her walk downstairs, and he followed. "I don't remember promising you that."
"Fair." He cleared his throat. "Is it an habit of yours to sneak out of parties when nobody is watching?"
She gave him a sideways glance. "Appears that this time, somebody was watching."
He chuckled. "Guilty."
She came to a halt when they got to the ground floor. "I'm calling it a night, Lucas. You should go back up."
"Have you realised?"
"What?"
"We've been on a first name basis all night."
Damn, he was right. "We are not at work."
"Does that mean we can have a personal relationship outside work, Amanda?"
She met his grey eyes for a second, then looked away. Her stomach was suddenly full of butterflies.
She had many reasons to say yes. Everything else aside, he actually was a decent person.
But if she accepted a personal relationship with him, she knew she would end up in his bed. Could she handle the consequences of what would follow if someone found out she was screwing the CEO? After what happened with her ex?
Maybe it was time she moved past the fantasy of being with Lucas again. It was okay when the idea was in her head. But when reality presented itself, so did the risk that came with such a relationship.
If she needed someone to hold her so badly while dealing with the aftermath of her botched engagement, maybe she was better off looking elsewhere.
Maybe finally, at twenty six, she was meeting her 'the one who got away'.
"I don't think so."
"Still don't trust me?"
"It's not that."
"Can I make one thing clear, at least?"
She nodded.
"I told you I would forget about what happened. I haven't been able to. I think about you, a lot, and not in matters only concerning work. I still want you, Amanda." Her breathing got shallow as he stepped closer, getting into her personal space. "I've never been hung up on a woman before. If you give me another chance, I promise you won't regret it."
Amanda stared into his eyes. He wasn't kidding around.
And she…
She…
Why was it so hard to take that last step it needed to get everything she craved?
Lucas stepped away. "Think about that, Amanda. I'll see you Monday."
Then he was gone back up, leaving her in a breathless puddle.
