Chapter 10
Summer sat in the backseat of Luke’s SUV, the sleeping dog’s head in her lap.
Determined not to look like a coward, she’d started their journey in the passenger seat, and only moved to make the dog stop whining.
Zeke definitely made the association between her and her brother, but at least the dog wanted her beside him, unlike the asshole driving the car.
She was wretchedly embarrassed.
It was nearly midnight as they made their way through the Berkshires along the Mass Pike, the ever-present snow falling on the windshield and the wipers squeaking rhythmically.
She hoped her father was taking his medication and wondered again if she should get him some permanent help.
She couldn’t be solely responsible for the minutia of his disease.
It was just too much to expect from an adult child who didn’t live under the same roof, though she knew he was bound to resent it if she hired someone.
Luke changed lanes to pass a bus, her eyes settling on his profile. He hadn’t spoken more than two words to her since they’d left the cabin, and she’d considered asking Mac for a different bodyguard. Of course, then she’d have to give up the dog, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to do that.
She rolled her eyes at her own ridiculousness.
By the time they pulled into the hotel parking lot, all she wanted to do was get away from Luke for a while and get a locked door between them. “Can I have Zeke tonight?”
“Sure.”
She’d only been in her hotel room a few minutes when Luke knocked on the adjoining door. She sighed heavily before opening it halfway. “Yes?”
His eyes were hooded, and it occurred to her it was the first time he’d looked at her since they’d stood in his kitchen. “Are you hungry?” he asked.
The idea of repeating any part of last night’s dinner was too difficult to imagine. She shook her head. “I’m just going to go to bed.”
“Okay. Sleep well.”
She closed the door and locked it. He immediately knocked again. She opened it. “Yes?”
“Don’t lock the door. I need to be able to get to you.”
She swallowed her annoyance. “Fine.” She closed it harder than she had to, flustered.
Zeke stared at her, his tail wagging.
“Your owner’s a jerk.” She sank to the floor and opened her arms for the dog to come to her, wrapping her arms around him. Her stomach growled. “Going to bed hungry is better than eating with him.”
She was being childish, but she didn’t care.
He’d really hurt her today, telling her in no uncertain terms he didn’t want her after making her feel so special last night.
It was reminiscent of the way he’d disappeared after Edward’s death, not answering her emails even when she could see they’d been read.
When someone shows you who they are, believe them.
She was so foolish. And hungry, to boot.
She took a nice long bath and climbed into bed, Zeke curling up by her legs. But an hour later she was still awake. What had started as wanting a small snack had gradually turned into a preoccupation with food that demanded action. She threw back the covers and got dressed.
There had to be a vending machine around here somewhere.
Tucking her room key into her pocket and grabbing a few dollar bills, she went in search of her dinner. “You be good, Zeke. I’ll be right back.”