Chapter 25
Luke
My blood boiled all the way back to Mina’s house after we cleaned up the coffeeshop.
It ticked me off that someone thought they had the right to ransack her business, hoping to find evidence they left behind thirty years ago before we did.
I highly doubted whatever they were looking for was still there, even if Ozzie didn’t find it last week. Decades had passed since Moira went into the wall. What else could be left after all this time?
That earring survived, my subconscious mind reminded me.
Gritting my teeth, I tightened my hand on the steering wheel and stared straight ahead.
That earring could be nothing. Just because it had an “M” on it didn’t mean it was from Moira. It was in an antique store. I was sure Walter probably processed inventory on that counter. More than likely, it fell back there while he did that, and it had nothing to do with Moira Duluth.
But there was still a chance it was connected to her. And that the killer thought there was more evidence somewhere. Evidence they desperately wanted to keep away from the police.
My headlights swept over Mina’s house as I turned into her driveway. The sun had set while we picked up the coffeeshop mess.
The soft snick of me setting the gearshift to park filled the truck cab.
“Thank you for driving.” Mina grasped the door handle, and light flooded the interior as she let herself out.
I shut off the truck and exited.
She frowned as I followed her to the door but didn’t say anything. I was glad. I wanted to get a foot in the door—literally—before she asked why I didn’t stay in the truck.
Giving me another quizzical look, she unlocked her front door. “Well…” She glanced up at me over her shoulder as she stepped inside.
I motioned her forward so I could come in.
“Luke—”
Grasping her by the waist, I maneuvered her into the house with a gentle touch. Once I cleared the doorway, I shut the door and flipped the lock.
“What are you doing?”
“Staying.”
“Excuse me?” Her dark eyebrows rose up her forehead. “What do you mean you’re staying?”
“Exactly what I said.” She’d have to put up a pretty convincing argument to make me go home. Even if she got me out of the house, I would probably camp out in the driveway in my truck all night.
Joe trotted up and wound through my legs, meowing. I looked down at the cat. “See? Even Joe agrees.”
“He doesn’t count.” She ticked a finger at me. “No. We’ve barely spoken in three days. You knew when we parted ways the other day that I was upset over your stupid-pretty ex-girlfriend, and we’ve yet to talk about any of that. What makes you think you can just waltz right back into my bed?”
“I didn’t say I was staying in your bed.
I know I could have handled the last several days differently.
I came here tonight to talk about that, actually.
But it’s late, and I think that conversation is better suited for when we’ve both had some rest.” Not to mention, my emotions were already in a powder keg thanks to the break-in and the implications for Mina’s safety.
I didn’t want to say something I would regret.
When she opened her mouth to reply, I cut her off. “I just want you to be safe, Mina. I know you’re armed and can probably shoot better than a lot of people, but I still don’t like the idea of you being alone. All I want from you tonight is a pillow and a blanket. I will sleep on the damn couch.”
She drew in a long breath through her nose, and she studied me for several seconds. “You’re too tall for my sofa.”
“I’ll sleep on the floor.” My back would not thank me tomorrow, but I would still sleep better there than at home.
I watched a war wage in her eyes as she held my gaze for several beats. Finally, she let out a soft huff of exasperation and a slight smile graced her face. “It’s kind of cute you’d go to such lengths.”
“So, does that mean you won’t fight me, and I can stay?”
Her mouth flattened, and she looked away momentarily. “Fine. You can stay. I’ll even let you sleep in my bed, so you don’t throw out your back.” Her finger came up to shake in my face. “But no monkey business. I just want to sleep.”
That was more than I’d hoped for. I held up my hands. “Promise.” I would build a pillow barrier between us if it made her happy. Though I hoped it wouldn’t come to that. I liked the idea of having her within touching range.
She studied me for several beats. “You can use the guest bath to get ready. There are towels in there if you want to shower and extra toothbrushes in the cupboard.”
“A toothbrush is fine. I showered after work earlier.” I didn’t want to traipse dust and heaven only knew what else through Dad’s rehab room, so I cleaned up first.
“Okay.” She turned, heading for the stairs, but paused at the edge of the banister. “I, um, guess I’ll see you up there.”
Before I could reply, she took off.
Once she was out of earshot, I groaned softly and scrubbed my hands over my face. I really screwed up. It was like we were back at square one.
Well, almost square one. I got to sleep next to her.
“Mrroww?” Joe rubbed against my legs.
I looked down at the same time he looked up. A low chirp rumbled through him and his expression seemed to say, “She might be mad, but so long as you pet me, I’m not.”
Huffing a soft chuckle, I scratched the top of Joe’s head.
“You’re not luring me to my doom, are you, by being nice?
Your mama said you like to lure your prey to their death.
Is this you buttering me up so I won’t suspect anything when you walk across my chest in the middle of the night a split second before you go for my jugular? ”
Joe just pressed his head into my hand.
Sighing, I gave him one last good scratch, then straightened.
Making my way into the bathroom, I found the toothbrushes and went through a modified bedtime routine. After leaving my shoes by the door, I went upstairs. Mina had yet to emerge from the master bathroom.
I turned out the light, then shucked my jeans and shirt, before climbing into bed. Hugging the edge of the queen-size mattress, I made sure to stay on my side.
This was probably a terrible idea. I knew I could keep my hands to myself—I was an adult, after all—but that didn’t mean sleep would come willingly with her so close.
Maybe I should take my pillow and go downstairs anyway.
There were a couple of blankets on the couch.
I could make do, even if it was too short for me to stretch out on.
Still hem-hawing over what to do, the decision was made for me when Mina stepped out of the bathroom.
A sliver of light silhouetted her figure for a brief moment before she turned the light out. My body tightened, and I had to remind it I would not be peeling that t-shirt and shorts off her tonight.
She padded softly across the floor to the other side of the bed. The mattress shifted only slightly as she got in beside me. Covers rustled as she got comfortable.
When the room fell silent, I turned slightly. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” Her soft voice was barely above a whisper.
I pulled the comforter up, tucking it near my chin, and closed my eyes, wishing for sleep to come quickly. Heat radiated from her body under the blanket, reminding me I wasn’t alone. The sooner my mind fell asleep, and I was no longer aware of her nearness, the better.
The stillness lasted only a few minutes. She rolled over, tugging on the blankets.
Then she flipped her pillow.
A minute later, she flopped onto her back.
When she rolled again, I turned to face her. Every other night we’d slept in the same bed, she’d barely budged once she settled in.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
I hummed. “Sure. That’s why you’re flip-flopping like a fish.”
“So, I’m a little stressed. Sue me.” Annoyance colored her voice.
I sighed. Why was she so combative? “Do you want to talk about it?”
“No.”
The word was out almost before I finished my sentence.
Again, I hummed.
“Would you stop doing that? Just say what’s on your mind.”
I sat up. She wanted me to speak my mind? Fine.
“You obviously have something on your mind. For whatever reason, you don’t want to talk about it. I don’t know if it’s just me you don’t want to talk to or not at all, but I think you need to let it out if either of us wants to get any sleep tonight.”
She sat up next to me and snapped on the bedside lamp. Her eyes flashed with fire in the light’s warm glow. “I didn’t ask you to stay, Luke. You can go home. I won’t be there to disturb your sleep.”
I scoffed. “Not physically, no, but metaphorically, you’ll be there. Knowing you’re here by yourself will be enough to keep me awake.” I would probably sleep even less at home than with her rolling around just feet away.
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know. Doesn’t change anything.”
Her jaw worked, and she looked away briefly. “Why me, Luke?”
A frown bit into my forehead. “What do you mean?”
“Why choose me when you can have someone like Taylor Bray?”
Oh, hell. I sucked in a sharp breath. Apparently, we were having this conversation now, whether I was rested enough or not.
“Because I don’t want Taylor. I want you.”
“Why? You never answered that. I mean, I look at you”—she lifted a hand gesturing to my face and my naked chest above the covers—“and, well…” She trailed off, glancing down at herself and shrugged. “Then I look at her and can’t help but think how perfect a match she is for you. She’s beautiful.”
“So are you.” My frown took on a more curious note, but a low anger simmered in my belly.
How did she not see how gorgeous she was?
“Taylor is no less beautiful than you are, Mina. It’s just a different kind of beauty.
Hers is flashy and on display. Yours is more subtle.
You don’t need all the trappings of makeup and clothes to show the world how beautiful you are.
” I shifted closer and lifted a hand to trace the line of her cheek.
“You have the most amazing eyes. Clear. Bright. They’re like looking at the sea.
And don’t get me started on what you do for a pair of jeans.
One of my favorite things is to fill my hands with the curve of your hips. ”
Her pupils dilated ever so slightly, and I knew I was on the right track.
I inched closer, brushing her dark hair back from her face and sliding my hand around the side of her head.
“I don’t want flashy beauty. Honestly, Taylor’s a little shallow, and that’s not what I want.
I want a woman with substance. You have that in spades. ”
“Oh,” she breathed.
I took a chance and moved close enough our thighs touched. “Yeah. Oh. If I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t be. If I didn’t think you wanted me here, I wouldn’t be, either.” My brows twitched with a small frown. I hadn’t asked her opinion on the matter. “Do you want me here?”
Those bright blue eyes searched mine. Her hand came up to run over the stubble dusting my face. “Yes.”
In an instant, that single word set my heart alight.
Raising my other hand, I skimmed her shoulder, feeling the warmth of her skin through her shirt.
“Don’t ever doubt I’m with you because I want to be.
Taylor’s the past. Hell, she was barely even that.
” I moved my hand over the top of her shoulder, caressing her collarbone and cupping the side of her neck.
Those delicious blue eyes of hers fluttered, and a tinge of pink colored her skin.
That same magnetic pull that caused us to throw caution to the wind almost two weeks ago and hop into bed together reared its head again.
The world receded as I leaned in toward her lush mouth.
Her hands came up, fingertips skimmed my chest. Dipping my head, I brushed a soft kiss over her lips.
Memories of our previous bedroom endeavors played through my head.
One thought in particular edged front and center. Pulling back slightly, a slow, sexy, teasing smile tugged at one corner of my mouth. “I think we should try some strawberry sauce.”
The little frown that creased her forehead was adorable and sent a shaft of lust straight to my groin. I bit back a groan, only to have her tease it free when she tipped her hips into mine.
She nipped my chin. “Only if I get to lick you like a lollipop.”
Oh, yes, please.
“You’re on, witch.” I sealed my mouth over hers in a hard kiss.