Starting Fires by Makenzie Smith Page A

trouble?”
    “No,” I said, before taking another sip of my drink, knowing that this wasn’t what he wanted to discuss.
    “That’s good,” he said, bringing his hands out in front of him and fisting them together.
    “Mmhmm,” was all I offered as I propped my head into the palm of my hand, staring at him.
    Lucas was looking anywhere but at me, his hands, out the window, the kitchen island. “I, uh,” he began then stopped himself. “Well, I was just…” He chuckled with what I thought was embarrassment and brought his hand to his mouth, propping his knuckles against it. He shook his head from side to side, contemplating how to say whatever it was he wanted to say. I didn’t feel even a little bit guilty about letting him squirm. “Listen,” he finally looked me in the eyes, “I just wanted you to know that what you saw this morning wasn’t what it looked like.”
    There was finality to his tone, as if I should just accept it as fact. I laughed, trying my best to brush this whole thing off. The last thing I wanted was for him to think that he somehow hurt poor little me’s feelings. “Is that what this is about?” I smiled. “Lucas, whatever it was, it’s none of my business. I haven’t even thought about it.” I waved him off and stood from the table. Reaching the sink, I poured my now cold coffee out and reached for the pot on the counter to do the same. Once it was empty, I started rinsing it out with water.
    Two strong hands suddenly caged me into the sink, and I felt his torso brush up against my back. My inhale was sharp and I paused what I was doing. His breath was hot on my neck and ear when he whispered. “It wasn’t what you think, Marlowe. If I want a girl to share my bed, I know exactly where I’m going to look.” He moved his hands to my hips and gently squeezed. I put down the coffee pot and barely turned my face to look at him over my shoulder. The movement caused his lips to brush against my ear and I shivered. “I think you know, too,” he whispered.
    He’d just put it out there. We’d been harmlessly flirting, but nothing this forward. My stomach tightened and I turned a little more until I could see his face. I brought one of my hands to rest against his neck, caressing his hair as I started to pull his mouth down to mine. I wet my lips. He wet his. Our mouths were a breath apart when Charles came whistling into the kitchen. We both stilled then I turned back around, cursing Charles for ruining this moment.
    “Oh hey, Lucas,” he said as he walked to the fridge.
    “Hey,” Lucas replied, sounding annoyed. He slowly let go of me and took a step back, raising himself up on the kitchen island.
    “I need to go pick up a new bed frame today. Think you can help?”
    “Why not?” Lucas huffed.
    If Charles knew that we were both shooting daggers into his chest, he didn’t let on. “I’m going right now, if that’s cool.”
    Annoyed, I made my way to the living room. From the couch, I could hear them talking, but my inner string of curses was tuning them out.
    “See ya in a bit,” Charles called to me from the foyer.
    “Yeah, whatever,” I said as he left. Lucas hovered in the doorway then gave me a wave as he followed him.
    I didn’t know if I should be mad at Charles or grateful. Part of me wanted to know what Lucas’ lips felt like, but the other part of me was glad he broke the magic. One minute I wanted to have a fling with Lucas. The next I didn’t. One minute I thought I could handle that type of relationship. The next I knew I couldn’t. Either way, it was time Charles and I talked.
     
    About two hours and an entire documentary about meerkats later, Charles strolled into the house, carrying a long rectangle box. Lucas didn’t enter behind him. He gave me a chin lift in hello and then made his way up the stairs. After the commercial break was finished and he still hadn’t returned, I decided to go to him.
    When I made it to his room, he was taking wooden