CHAPTER 192: IN A DIFFERENT WAY

"Not at all!" I replied quickly. But my face turned red.

There was a slight pause as we both did our best to calm down. Lucas retreated behind the canvas after flashing me a smile, while I sat stiffly in the chaise lounge.

My nerves calmed down only slightly. Listening to the rhythmic scratching of Lucas’s pencil on the canvas helped soothe me, but the heat from earlier was still present.

I glanced around the room, finding anything to distract me, until I finally landed on the small platter of snacks that Lucas had prepared for me.

Today, there were grapes, crackers, and an assortment of different kinds of cheeses spread beautifully on the silver platter.

I reached out and picked up a cracker with a slice of cheese and put it in my mouth. The saltiness of the cracker paired perfectly with the creamy cheese, creating a blissful pairing as I ate. My mouth felt a little dry, so I took a sip of the juice that was sitting beside the platter.

Oh, this is yummy.

It was sweet and slightly tangy, making me continue taking small sips, one after another.

-

Behind me, the sun began to set, causing the light to beam down on me directly through the window. I was now feeling fully relaxed, too relaxed.

My head began to feel a little lightheaded, and I realized that I was now fully slumped on the chaise. But the initial warmth that was in my abdomen turned to heat and began to spread throughout my body.

My skin began to tingle, and my loose dress started to feel tight in all the wrong places.

"Leslie," Lucas said gently, stepping out from behind the canvas. "If it’s alright with you, I’d like to adjust the neckline of your dress. Just a little. The way it sits now, it’s not catching the light how I want."

I nodded before I could stop myself, "Yes. That’s fine."

He approached, slow and careful. I could feel the warmth radiating off of him before he even touched me. When his fingers brushed the fabric of my sleeve, it was featherlight—barely anything—but to me, it felt like he’d struck a match against my skin.

My breath caught. My thighs clenched.

Don’t react. Don’t embarrass yourself.

My mind raced, but I was already falling apart.

He slid the white silk off my shoulder with such delicate care, never touching my skin directly. And still, I was burning. The contrast between the cool air and my overheated body sent a wave of electricity across my chest, down to my core.

"There," he murmured. "Perfect."

I stared at him.

Something had shifted.

I wasn’t looking at the sweet artist anymore. Not the man who constantly made sure that I was comfortable in every situation. Now, I was seeing the man beneath all that kindness. The firm set of his jaw. The veins on his hands. The way his black shirt clung to his chest, loose but still showing just enough muscle to tease the imagination.

He was... beautiful.

And you’re losing it, Leslie.

I felt my eyes glaze over, and the air between us turn heavy. My misty eyes met his, and every part of my body wanted to lunge myself over into his arms.

For some reason, his cologne and natural scent became so appealing, I couldn’t get enough. My eyes were glued to his face, pleading for him to touch me even more.

I wasn’t sure if he understood my silent desire, but he didn’t leave my side even after adjusting my dress so that one of my sleeves was hanging off my shoulder. It was such a small gesture, but I felt like I was lying naked in front of him.

"Leslie?" he asked in a very hoarse voice.

My lips parted slightly, "Hmm?"

His outstretched hand trembled slightly as it brushed a lock of my hair behind my ear. I could feel every strand of hair move, tickling me.

"You’re breathtaking," he said in a whisper.

My heart raced. I looked at him with expectation, wanting him to come closer.

But he stood still.

After moving a lock of my hair, he even took a step back.

Why? Why won’t he come closer? Why won’t he reach out?

My mind was a mess, and my body was only becoming more and more fidgety. I noticed how his eyes went from looking at me to glancing at the small table beside me.

"Oh, Leslie! You already drank all of the wine?" he asked with surprise.

Wine? When did I have wine?

Is that why I feel so strange?

The gentleness returned to his face, and he flashed me a guilty smile. "That’s my fault. I should have let you know in advance. I’m sorry, Leslie. Let me bring you a glass of water."

Without waiting for my reply, he practically ran out of the room.

I buried my face into the cushion beside me and let out a muffled scream.

"Pull yourself together," I hissed, smacking my cheeks. "You’re not going to jump the first man who looks at you. You’re better than that. This isn’t you."

A few minutes later, the door creaked open.

I sat up straight so fast I nearly fell over.

Lucas stepped inside, holding a crystal glass filled with water. "Sorry I took so long. I wanted to make sure it was cold."

I reached for the glass with shaking fingers, but he noticed and stepped in to help, his hand brushing mine as he guided the glass to my lips.

I almost dropped it. The contact sparked something wild again, my stomach flipping, twisting and turning inside.

"Are you alright?" he asked, peering at me with concern. "You seem... flushed."

I swallowed the water, hoping it would cool me down. It didn’t.

"I’m okay," I lied. "Just a little warm. Probably the wine."

Lucas didn’t question it. He just nodded, then knelt to tidy something near the foot of the chaise. The movement made his shirt ride up, revealing a sliver of skin above his waistband.

My mouth went dry.

Don’t look! Don’t stare! Don’t imagine what his hands would feel like if he touched more than your shoulder.

Too late.