Chapter 7 #2
“That you and Luke Caldwell were getting cozy at Pete's last night. And that Harper and Kirk were there too.” She leans against the desk, eager for details, but sporting a sympathetic smile. “Was it as awkward as it sounds?”
“Worse,” I admit, sinking into my chair. “I made a complete fool of myself.”
“How?”
“Tequila shots. Bad dancing. An even worse kiss.” I cover my face with my hands. “God, it was humiliating.”
She’s quiet for a moment. “So, no spark then?”
I think about the kiss in the car, how it lit me up from the inside out, made my nerves dance under my skin, and blood rush to my cheeks and lower. “I didn't say that.”
Her grin widens. “I knew it. You're into him.”
“It's complicated,” I say, giving her the same answer I gave Nikki while avoiding her gaze by straightening some papers and the stack of children’s books for this week’s readings on my desk.
“Honey, it's only complicated if you make it complicated.” She places a gentle hand on my arm. “He's single. You're single. You're both adults. What's stopping you?”
History. Fear. Harper. The fact that this whole relationship is built on a lie. But I can't tell her any of that.
“I just got out of a relationship. I'm not sure I'm ready to jump into another one.”
“It's been eight months,” she points out gently. “And from what I hear, you and Kirk were on the rocks long before you left him and he and Harper started dating.”
“You mean openly dating.”
“I mean, it doesn’t matter what happened between him and Harper. You were already done with him. You just hadn’t left the party yet.”
She's not wrong. Things with Kirk had been strained for months before I caught him having lunch with Harper.
We'd grown apart, wanted different things. I had suspicions about his cheating, but no proof. Not until I saw them at Pete’s together.
But finding out he'd been cheating with my best friend had been a devastating blow to my self-esteem.
“Maybe,” I concede. “But this thing with Luke is new.” And not real. “I'm not sure what it is yet.” I can’t confess, even to Rachel, that it’s all an act.
The kiss wasn’t, though, and neither was the touch. Was it?
I’m so confused.
“Well, whatever it is, the whole town is talking about it.” She straightens and heads back to the children's section. “Just be careful, okay?” she calls over her shoulder.
I spend the morning shelving books and helping patrons, but my mind keeps drifting back to Luke.
To his suggestion that we take a more organic approach to our pretend relationship.
And then I think about the way his fingers felt against mine.
The heated gleam in his eyes. The kiss. Those sure didn’t feel pretend.
Around noon, the library door swings open, and I look up and through my office door to see Luke strolling in, carrying a paper bag with the Sweet as Sin logo on it.
He pauses to quietly chat with a couple of people.
My heart does a little flip as I watch him stride toward me, looking all manly and sexy in his work clothes, a pair of sunglasses propped on top of his head.
“Thought you might be hungry,” he says, setting the bag on my desk.
I peek inside to find a turkey sandwich and a chocolate chip cookie. “You didn't have to do this.”
“I wanted to.” He leans against the desk, close enough that I can smell his cologne. “Besides, it's good for business. Anna said there’s been a slow but steady stream all morning.”
“Really?” I can't help the happiness that spreads across my face. “That's great.” And I do mean it. Regardless of what’s going on between me and Harper, I don’t want the town picking sides and hurting Anna’s business as a result. That’s not fair to her.
“Yeah, it is.” His eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles, and I find myself staring. “Can I walk you home later?”
“I close at five.” I want to sound casual, but my pulse is racing. “And it’s only a ten-minute walk.”
“I'll be here.” He straightens, adjusting his belt. “Enjoy your lunch, Callie.” He comes around to plant a kiss on my cheek, and then he leaves.
As he strolls away, softly whistling, I notice Rachel watching from behind a bookshelf, a knowing grin on her face. I roll my eyes at her, but I can't stop the arousal spreading through me, and I have to forcibly resist the urge to place my hand over where his lips just touched.
This is just for show, I remind myself. A business arrangement, nothing more.
I know I’m the one who made the offer, and he, or his family, gets something out of it too.
But doubt begins to settle in my gut as I bite into the delicious sandwich.
Mayo oozes out from between the thick slices of bread, and a piece of tomato drops to splat on the wrapper spread out on my desk.
I can't help but wonder if there could be something real here, if I gave it a chance. If we gave it a chance.
My gaze drops to the grant application for next summer’s literacy program sitting half-completed on my desk.
I’ve also noticed the number of children in the reading circle has dropped since I stopped bringing treats from the bakery each week.
If nothing else, perhaps this whole charade with Luke will help restore some normalcy to both our businesses.
At five o'clock sharp, Luke appears right as I'm locking up. He's changed out of his uniform into jeans and a simple gray t-shirt that stretches across his broad shoulders in a way that makes my mouth go dry.
“Ready?” he asks, offering his arm.
I take it, feeling strangely shy. “Ready.”
We stroll down Main Street, and I'm acutely aware of the looks we’re getting. The butcher from the market tips his hat. Even a group of teenagers hanging out in front of the Dairy Queen seems interested in our progress.
“People are definitely noticing us.”
He slips his arm around my waist, natural and possessive, and I try not to stiffen in response. “Just act normal.”
Normal. Right. As if there's anything normal about the way my pulse races when he touches me, or how I have to remind myself to breathe when he looks at me with those beautiful eyes of his.
As we approach my house, I see Nikki's car in the driveway and suppress a groan.
“My sister's here,” I warn Luke. She's going to have lots of questions.
“I can see that.” But he doesn't seem bothered. “Want me to come in, make it more convincing?”
Part of me wants to say yes, to extend this charade a little longer. But I know Nikki will see right through us. “Better not. She's already suspicious.”
We stop at my front steps, and an awkward silence falls between us. In a real relationship, this would be the moment for a goodnight kiss. But we're not in a real relationship. And it’s not dark.
“Thanks for walking me home.”
“Anytime.” He steps closer, and my breath catches. “We should have dinner again. Something a little more intimate this time.”
The way he said that sends a delicious shiver down my spine. “I'd like that.”
He leans forward slowly, probably waiting to see if I’ll pull away. But I don't. I stay perfectly still as his lips brush against mine, soft and questioning, until I open and give him access. Unlike the desperation that fueled us last night, this kiss is gentle and deliberate.
A perfect performance for anyone watching.
When he pulls back, his eyes are darker, and I wonder if he felt that current that seems to spark between us whenever we touch.
“Goodnight, Callie,” he says, his voice husky.
“Goodnight, Luke.”
I watch him walk away, my lips still tingling, before I turn and head inside to face Nikki’s interrogation. As I shut the door behind me, I catch a glimpse of Mrs. Faraday peering over her fence, phone already in hand.
By tomorrow morning, the whole town will know that Luke Caldwell walked me home and kissed me goodnight. Mission accomplished.
So why does it feel like I'm the one getting played?