“I’m glad you are here. And you’re right. We’re crazy. But I’m glad we’re crazy. If we weren’t crazy, we wouldn’t have moments like this.”

“And God knows school isn’t going anywhere.” I laughed.

“Sometimes you just have to grab life by horns and ride it wherever it takes you. This is a good thing for us. School is important, and I would never say otherwise, but this is giving you real world knowledge. You can go back to your history classes and tell everyone, hey guys, this is what really happened.”

“Yeah, that will be awesome.” I smiled quickly, trying to ignore the stinging feeling in my heart at his words. I didn’t want to go back and tell anyone about anything. I was caught up in this moment, in the here and the now, and I didn’t want to be anywhere but here. I didn’t want to be with anyone, but him.

“That’s my Lucky.” He kissed my nose and grabbed another towel. “Now go and get dressed so we can leave.”

“Yes, sir.” I ran out of the room, giggling and singing to myself as I got ready.

***

“Okay, first stop.” Zane parked the car and jumped out. “Welcome to the Los Angeles Plaza and the statue of Felipe de Neve. He’s considered the first founder of Los Angeles.”

“Wow.” I looked at the statue in admiration. “I’ve never heard of him before.”

“Most people haven’t.” Zane grabbed my hand. “Felipe was a Spanish governor and his tenure was from 1975 to 1982.”

“1975?” I grinned. “I didn’t realize California was so new.”

“I mean 1775 to 1782.” He laughed. “Felipe was granted permission from Charles III of Spain to found and establish Los Angeles.”

“I’m impressed that you know that.” I looked at him in admiration.

“Okay, I can’t lie.” He sighed and pulled me closer to him. “I looked it up. I never heard of Felipe until this morning when I looked up historical places to show you in LA.”

“You didn’t have to do that.” I was touched that he had done research for me.

“I wanted to take you to places that you love, and you love history.” He shrugged. “It seemed like a sure bet.”

“You’re so much more amazing than I thought, do you know that?” I pulled him towards me and gave him a kiss.

“If it means I get lots of kisses, then I hope so.” He kissed me back and then pulled me closer to the statue. “Let’s see what the inscription says.”

Felipe de Neve (1728–84). Governor of California 1775–82. In 1781, on orders from King Carlos III of Spain, Felipe de Neve selected a site near the River Porciuncula and laid out the town of El Pueblo de La Reina de Los Angeles, one of two pueblos he founded in Alta California.

I read the inscription aloud, impressed at how well he had remembered the basic facts. “It seems like you remembered it all correctly, smarty pants.

“Well, I’m not just all good looks.”

“So where to next?”

“Are you hungry?”

“Yes.” I laughed. “Are we going to get food? Please say yes.”

“We’re going to get a hot dog from Pinky’s. I think they have to be the most famous hot dog stand in the world.”

“I think I’ve seen them on the Food Network. Don’t they have a long wait or something?”

“We won’t have to wait. You forget my dad runs this town.”

“Oh well sorry.” I put on a posh accent.

“I’m joking.” He grins. “Well somewhat, my dad is pretty influential, and we won’t have to wait.”

“Will I get to meet your dad?” I asked hesitatingly.

“I’m not sure.” He frowned. “He’s overseas right now.”

“Oh.” My heart panged for him slightly and I suddenly realized why he felt like such a kindred spirit. For all intents and purposes, we were one and the same. We were both alone in the world.

“But I can still introduce you to some movie stars if that’s what you’re worried about?”

“No.” I laughed and grabbed his hand tightly. “I don’t really care about actors and famous people.”

“You’re definitely one-of-a-kind.”

“I like to think so.” I smiled up at him happily and we walked back to his car. “So now we go for hot dogs, what next?”

“That’ll be a surprise.”

“You and your surprises.” I shook my head and pretended to frown. I was delighted that he had gone out of his way to make this special for me. Maybe the Zane I was hoping to find was already coming to the surface. Maybe we would fall in love and this could be our happily ever after.

“Let’s go get some dogs.”

“Sounds good.”

“So Lucky, I want to know more about you. Tell me about what makes you tick.”

“I love watching criminal TV shows. Law and Order, Criminal Minds, CSI, and Dexter—”

“I love Dexter. The books are great as well. Jeff Lindsay is such a great writer. His sense of humor is awesome.”

“Oh, I’ve never read the books. I’ll have to check them out.”

“I have some at home. You can borrow them if you want.”

“That would be great.”

“Oh, by the way, the garage called me this morning, your car does have a head gasket problem.”

“I told you.” I hit him in the arm. “I’m not just some dumb girl, you know.”

“Ow, that hurt,” he grinned, as he rubbed his arm. “I’m not sure I want to be your sub, I told you that already.”

“You’re an idiot.” I hit him again.

“Lucky, I do own handcuffs, you know. You don’t want to test me.” He grabbed my hand and held it tightly. “I’d quite enjoy handcuffing you and—”

“Zane, I’m going to start to think you’re only after me for my body.” I was only half-joking, but I kept my tone light.

“Lucky, you’re body is just one of the reasons I like being with you.” He let go of my hand and rubbed my leg. “You’re the first girl I’ve ever been able to just be with, with no expectations. You’re not expecting me to take you shopping on Rodeo Drive, you’re not—”

“You mean I’m not going to be able to live my Julia Roberts’ Pretty Women moment today?” I pouted, and he laughed.

“We can go to the lingerie shop if you want. There’s a La Perla in Beverly Hills that I can take you to.”

“Ooh you’re going to buy me pearls. What’s next, a diamond?” I joked, but immediately wanted to slap myself for my gaffe.

“La Perla is a high-end lingerie store.” Zane’s voice was amused. “And no, no diamonds will be coming from me I’m afraid.”

“I’ve only been to Victoria’s Secret before.” I kept the conversation away from the jewelry talk, and tried to ignore the hurt I felt, once again, at his words. You know he’s not looking for forever, Lucky. Just deal with it.

“Then let’s go get you a teddy. I’d quite like to see that.”

“That’s okay.” I paused and bit my lip. I was starting to feel like all he wanted from me was sex. I hoped it was about more than that. I knew it was stupid to want more, but I couldn’t stop myself from hoping and wishing. Hopes are for fools, Lucky, the little devil inside of my head whispered. Don’t be a fool. Enjoy the sex, have some fun, hope for him to change, but don’t get emotionally involved.

I sighed and turned on the radio. I didn’t want to keep thinking and analyzing the situation anymore. Whatever was going to happen was going to happen. I just had to make sure to keep my heart protected. I had chosen to walk away from my rules. If I got hurt, it would be my fault. “Maybe we can go another day.”

“After hot dogs, I’m going to take you to Griffith Observatory.” He slapped his mouth. “Oh shit, I let the cat out of the bag.”

“What’s that? A place we can see stars?”

“We’ll be up in the hills and will be able to see most of LA from above. And it’s an unusually clear day today, so we should have a great view.”

“Sounds amazing.” I sat back and listened to the sounds of smooth jazz coming through the stereo system. It wasn’t the genre of music that I normally listened to, but it seemed to fit this moment.

“I’m glad you’re here Lucky.” Zane interrupted my reverie. “In case you couldn’t tell. I’m really glad that you’re here.”

Chapter 12

“I can’t believe we’re having the party tonight.” I grinned at Zane as he prepared me a sandwich for lunch.

“I know.” He groaned. “I should cancel it. I want to have you all to myself tonight.”

“You’ve had me all to yourself for two whole weeks.” I laughed happily. “I’m surprised you haven’t gotten annoyed with me yet. We normally see each other for a few moments once a week, and now you see me 24/7.”

“I couldn’t think of a better person to work and sleep with.”

“You don’t let me sleep.” I stretched and Zane stared at my br**sts through my top. “Looking at something?” I grinned.

“Well, you can’t not wear a bra and expect me not to notice.” He stepped away from the counter and walked over to me. I hit his arm as he stood next to me and reached over to grab my breasts.

“Zane.” I laughed. “I’m hungry and we still have an interview this afternoon before we have to get ready for the party.”

“We still have time for a quickie.”

“It’s never quick with you.” I jumped up and wrapped my arms around him and gave him a quick kiss. I ran my hands through his hair and pulled away as he ran his hands over my ass. “Okay, that’s enough. I’m going to go change, and then hopefully, my lunch will be ready.”

“You tease.” He groaned and hit me on the ass as I ran out of the room giggling. As I ran up the stairs to get some clothes from my room, I marveled at just how great the last two weeks have been. I had been slightly worried that Zane was going to have next-day regrets after we had sex the first time, but he had been great. He had been sweet and caring, and we had been inseparable since we arrived in Los Angeles. It was almost surreal—I hadn’t expected us to have gotten so close so quickly. It was even more wonderful than I could have imagined. I walked into my room and looked at the bed with a smile. I hadn’t slept in it one night and while it looked comfortable, I wasn’t sad about that.

“Lunch is ready,” Zane shouted up the stairs.

“I just got to my room, Zane,” I shouted back, as I went through my clothes. “I’m going to be a few minutes.”

“Want me to come up and help?”

“No thanks.”

“I’m real good with getting clothes off.”

“That’s the least of my worries.” I laughed and grabbed a pair of shorts, a bra, and a paisley shirt I had gotten at a vintage shop. I quickly got dressed and brushed my hair, letting it hang loose instead of in my usual ponytail. I applied some light makeup and a dash of lip gloss, and smiled at my reflection. I looked pretty and in love, and I thought that this moment was perhaps the happiest I have ever been in my life.

“Aren’t you ready yet?” I heard Zane at my doorway, and spun around.

“You are so impatient.” I rolled my eyes.

“I missed you.” He walked into the room and grabbed me, pulling me towards him. I clung to him and stared up at his handsome face, his blue eyes seemed so open and there was a devilish spark in them.

“I am not ha**g s*x with you, Zane Beaumont.”

“Who said I wanted sex?” He pouted, and trailed his finger down my throat. “I just came to make sure you were okay.”

“In case I fell in the toilet or something?”

“You know, you can’t be too careful.”

“Well, of course not.”

“You are the girl whose car broke down in the middle of the night, after all.”

“Indeed, I am.”

“And you’re the girl that accepted a job with a strange guy and moved across the country.”

“I know. What was I thinking?” I shook my head in despair. “I’m a silly, silly girl.”

“Yes, you are.” He kissed my nose. “So, of course you understand why I had to come up and make sure you are okay.”

“Hmm, I still think you’re not going to get laid right now.”

“Well then, let’s go eat.” He laughed, planted a firm kiss on my lips and dragged me out of the room. “And by the way, your lip gloss tastes like strawberry milkshake.”

“Yummy.” I stuck my tongue out at him and he squeezed my hand. As we walked into the kitchen, I picked up my phone to see if I had any messages.

“Everything okay?” Zane looked up at me, and noticed my frown.

“Yeah. It’s just Leeza.” I offered him a quick smile and looked back at the text from Braydon.

Hey Lucky, I miss you. I haven’t heard from you in almost two weeks. Give me a call. I’m coming to Los Angeles soon. I’d love to take you around and show you a good time. I hope all your history knowledge is paying off and that Zane isn’t being a complete and utter jackass. I saw Angelique last night, and she told me she dumped him. I’m sure he’s pretty sore, so just ignore him. Text or call me.