“Do you honestly intend to take these with you?” Lucas asks, hoisting up the plastic bags stuffed with the underwear and clothes we bought.
“Yes. Why would you want to toss them?”
“Because.” He kisses me behind my ear. “I’ll buy you something sexier.”
“You mean you’re going to ask your assistant?”
“She can send us the whole catalogue, and you can model for me and we can decide together.”
I elbow him in the side. “We won’t be doing much picking then.”
“If we can’t get through everything in thirty days, we’ll just keep all of them.”
I laugh. “You’re terrible.”
We settle our bill with Doris. I look around as she and Lucas go over the items to make sure everything’s right. I’m going to miss this place. Maybe we should come back, make our stay here an annual event. I’d like that.
The drive home is quiet. Lucas maneuvers with his left hand, holding mine with his right for the hours it takes us to reach Charlottesville. I feel the weight of real life growing with every mile.
I don’t understand why I’m so uneasy. We can’t live in that bed and breakfast forever. But for some bizarre reason, the real world feels like a wedge that’s coming between us.
My hold on him tightens, and he looks at me questioningly.
“Nothing,” I say. “I just wish the weekend were longer.”
“Me, too.” He smiles. “But I meant what I said about abducting you to Paris.”
“I look forward to it, but not over Thanksgiving. I definitely need to spend that with Darcy and Ray.” I hesitate. “Do you have any plans?”
“For what?” He blinks. “Thanksgiving?”
I nod.
“No… No plans.”
The slightly bemused tone speaks volumes. He doesn’t celebrate the holiday—or at least his family doesn’t. “You’re welcome to join us.”
The eyebrow rises. “Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
“Well…okay. Thanks. Let me know if I need to bring anything.”
“I will.”
“And speaking of things—do you want your Lexus back?”
My head swivels so fast I almost sprain my neck. “My what?”
“Your Lexus. The car. You left it.”
“I didn’t leave it. I gave it back to you.”
“Well, I’ve got it in the garage.”
“Why?” It’s not like he doesn’t have a car of his own.
He shrugs, then clears his throat. “In case you changed your mind.”