My Lucky Catch (University Park #6) by CM Doporto Read Free Book Online

basket on the counter. “I’m not a coffee drinker.”
    “Okay. How about a frozen yogurt? There’s a place across the street.” He pointed behind him.
    “Not a good idea.” I shook my head. “Your sister is next door at the sandwich shop.”
    “Yeah, that wouldn’t be smart.” He raised his thumb and index fingers to his lips and his eyes darted to the floor for a few seconds. “Do you like gelato?”
    “Your total is four-hundred and sixty-nine dollars and twenty-three cents,” the clerk said.
    I handed her Martin’s credit card and signed the ticket. Gathering the bag in my hands, I told myself to say no . Not to go with him. Not to fall for his tactics. But it was getting harder to stay away from him by the second. Instead of saying no and leaving, I said, “Yeah, why?”
    He gave me a one-dimple smile. “I know this great place on West 7 th Street.”
    “You do?” I shifted closer to him. He handed the clerk his books, and she rang them up. I waited anxiously for him to pay for his books. I was doing everything I knew not to do.
    He signed his receipt and said, “Yeah, come on.” We exited the bookstore and headed to the parking lot. The sun was starting to set, and a breeze swirled around us, blowing my hair in all directions.
    “I walked, so I don’t have my car, but we can go get it.” I struggled to keep my hair out of my face.
    “No worries.” He reached up and brushed the strands of hair stuck to my lips. “I drove here.”
    My heart switched to a funny beat. A beat I hadn’t felt in years. I told myself it was nothing, but I knew better. I loved the way Luke made me feel inside.
    I wanted more of it.
    More of him.
    More of this need rousing inside of me.
    “Great.” I followed him to a black 1969 Camaro SS. “Is this the same car I rode in last night?”
    “No.” He opened the door. “It was in the shop. I just picked it up this morning. You’ll have to roll down the window because the air conditioner is still not working.”
    “Oh, okay.” I got in, and he shut the door. Rolling down the window, I noticed how everything was original and in mint condition. The dashboard was incredible. Wood grain accents with chrome fixtures. Even the six-speed gearshift was a shiny chrome ball. I felt nervous sitting in it. Like the sweat from my ass might leave a ring stain on the vinyl seat.
    The driver’s door opened, and Luke got in. “This is very nice car.”
    “Thanks.” He put the key in the ignition and the car came to life with a roaring engine that could probably be heard from a block away. “It was my dad’s, and he gave it to me.”
    “Wow, that’s awesome.” I fastened my seat belt as he backed out of the lot.
    “It is, but it came with some stipulations.” He revved up the engine before turning on to the street.
    “Everything in life has stipulations.” I huffed, thinking about the conditions my parents gave me after the apartment fiasco.
    “True. But where would we be without them?” He winked as he sped down the street.
    My hair flew around me, and despite my efforts to control it, it wasn’t happening. The hot Texas wind felt good, and the vibration of the motor had me thinking of what Luke and I could do in his car. I asked him a few random questions, keeping the conversation light. It didn’t take long for us to get to West 7 th Street. I ordered three different types of a gelato in a cup, and Luke got one flavor, peanut butter.
    “So, you’re from Dallas?” I asked, wiping my mouth.
    “Yeah, what about you?”
    “Originally, I’m from Waco, but I moved to the Dallas area when I was eight.”
    “No shit.” His eyebrows shot up. “I used to live in Waco, too.” He licked the top of his cone, and I watched purposely, loving how the tip of his tongue curled with each swipe. “So what part of Dallas?”
    “Greenville.”
    “Why did y’all leave Waco?”
    I shoved my spoon back into the heap of gelato. I didn’t like to talk about what happened to