Steal My Breath (Elixir 1)

Swiping the phone off the kitchen counter, I check who it is.

Luke.

Butterflies instantly crowd my tummy.

“Hey, you,” I say softly, biting my lip.

“Callie,” he says, his deep voice almost a growl that only intensifies my butterflies. “Are you free for a few hours?”

I clench my thighs together. What would be the chances of breaking a sex drought with a guy you can’t sleep with again straight away? Only you, Callie, only you. “I’m about to go to the shops. Why?”

“I’m coming over to take you out for lunch. We’re going to start that friend thing you want today.”

“I can drive to wherever you want to have lunch.”

“No, I’ll come get you.”

“Honestly, Luke, I don’t mind.”

“I do.” His voice is definitely a growl this time.

Oh, my.

Why have I never dated a man with a voice like this before?

“Okay, I’ll see you soon.”

I drop my phone on the counter after we end the call and proceed to freak out. My hair is a mess, and I don’t know what clothes I have clean that I can wear. Because lunch with Luke demands the exact right clothes.

You should have asked him how far away he was.

Well, I was hardly thinking straight, was I?

Then, it hits me—this is my first real date with Luke. The butterflies that took over my tummy a moment ago completely consume me now.

Jesus, Callie, it’s not like you haven’t been on a date recently. Dating is kinda your thing these days.

Shut it. I don’t need your sarcasm.

Taking a deep breath, I concentrate on one thing at a time. First, my clothes and then my hair.

By the time Luke knocks on my front door, twenty minutes later, I’m presentable. Not as presentable as I would prefer, but given the short time frame, it will do.

Luke’s expression tells me that he doesn’t share my hesitation with my appearance. His heated gaze makes its way down my body, taking in the tight jeans I’ve thrown on with a black V-neck T-shirt and black leather jacket. He spends a moment checking out my heels before his eyes meet mine again.

“I thought you hated heels,” he says.

“Not for special occasions.”

He watches me in silence, processing that.

When he doesn’t say anything, I add, “First dates are special occasions.”

“So this is a date?” The sexy smirk forming on his lips shows me where he’s going with this.

“Not a full-service date, Luke, so drag your mind from the gutter.” But oh, God, I wish it was.

His smirk forms completely. “A man’s gotta take his opportunities when they come, Callie.”