LITMIR.BIZ

      Stacey’s usual upbeat mood was flagging as she flopped into bed. Why would Lucas never open up? Instinct told her he’d never move on until he did. And though building a monstrous business was huge credit to him, where was his personal life? Did he have one? Didn’t he want one? Or wasn’t he capable of building something requiring feelings and giving his all, and risking his heart?

       You’re a fine one to talk.

      Yup. That was a fair accusation. But this was about Lucas, not about Stacey.

      Even with all the complications, she loved being with him. The rescue spoke volumes about him. He was a very special individual, and their relationship, such as it was, was very special to her. Sex had been extraordinary; far more pleasure, and infinitely more emotional investment than she had expected.

      She smiled, remembering the moment they’d found the cat. Cradling the small, half-frozen animal had woken her heart. Maybe she should get a cat. However fabulous this accommodation and however successful her life, it didn’t make up for the stark fact that she was alone.

       So change things.

      Change things? Her mouth tilted at a disbelieving angle as her inner voice had its say. It wasn’t that easy to change things, as proved by the fact that it was midnight and she was out of bed pacing the room. She glanced at the huge, comfortable bed. There was nothing wrong with it, it was just too big for one person.

      Luc’s room was only a little way down the corridor.

      That’s a crazy idea, her sensible self warned.

      Crazy or not, he had to get things off his chest.

       Pardon me if I stay out of the way when he shoots you down in flames.

      When you cared about someone that was a chance you had to take.

      She smiled as she glanced at the door…the door she’d left a little bit open, as if Luc would take that sort of hint! He was far too worldly-wise to fall for her clumsy ruses these days. If he did notice her door was open, he’d close it as he walked past. Bottom line. If she didn’t do something, nothing would change. Reviewing occasions of being proactive in the past, she could only conclude they’d all worked out well. There was no rule that said she had to wait around for things to happen, and she had no intention of revisiting that wallflower on the bench. It was time the wallflower took matters into her own hands. And there was no time like the present.

      Sucking in a deep, steadying breath, she tiptoed out of the room. Padding down the corridor, as she had expected she found Luc’s door firmly closed. Turning the handle carefully, she opened the door without a noise. Cautiously peering in, she was rewarded by the sight of Lucas sprawled face down on the bed in all his naked splendour. She took a moment to admire him as she might admire a sculpture in a gallery. Built on a heroic scale, he was a magnificent sight.

      She curbed a smile at the thought that her crazy plan was to slip into bed beside him. And when he woke they’d have a chat? Fantasies like that were dangerous. But how she longed for him…longed to feel his arms around her, and to make love quietly, deeply, tenderly—

      In practical terms, there were two things wrong with that plan. She hadn’t expected to find him naked or in full starfish position, so there wasn’t an inch of bed to be had.

      ‘Just leave, will you?’

      She yelped with shock at the sound of his voice. ‘I thought you were asleep.’

      ‘Clearly not.’ He shifted position, muscles rippling, but he kept his head turned away from her. ‘I mean it, Stacey. Please leave. Now.’

      She remained frozen in place by the door, trying to decide how best to rejig her plan. Slipping into bed beside him without waking him until they yawned, stretched, and reached for each other in the morning, according to the natural flow of things, clearly wasn’t possible now.

      Surprisingly, coming to a decision proved easier to navigate than she’d thought.