Chapter 23 #2
Four hundred words flowed from my brain to my keyboard with an ease that resembled breathing.
I was writing from the SEC investigator’s point of view—a man I’d begun to picture with thick dark hair, brown eyes deep enough to get lost in, and a chiseled jawline that spoke of authority.
In this chapter he finally admits to himself that he can’t stop thinking about my main character after the case closes.
It made me wonder if Luke ever thought about me when we were apart.
Not that I should be pondering things like that.
I double-checked that my document was saved, and next thing I knew, I was standing in front of the window.
Several boards were now missing from the stairs and a saw was set up on the tailgate.
Sweat dripped down Luke’s temples and pooled around the collar of his light blue T-shirt.
He tossed the pencil he’d held between his teeth into his toolbox and lifted the hem of his shirt up to wipe the sweat from his face, revealing a tan, toned stomach.
Dark hair dusted his chest before narrowing and traveling downward to his belt buckle.
“That’s the best view I’ve seen out these windows in a while.”
I jumped.
Mimi stood over my left shoulder, watching Luke, too.
“How long have you been standing there?”
She shrugged one shoulder and smirked unabashedly. “About as long as you have.”
I huffed and shook my head. “Think he knows we’re watching?”
As the words left my mouth, Luke took off the ball cap, removed the T-shirt entirely, and put the cap back on, backward. Damn.
“Yep,” Mimi replied. “I think he likes you.”
“He’s just a good guy, Mimi. He’d do this for any neighbor or friend.
And look at him.” I gestured toward the window.
“He could probably have any woman he wants.” I often wondered why he wasn’t dating anyone already.
There had to be a number of single women on the island that would love to date him…
Mimi turned to face me, lifting my chin with her hand.
“Look at you, my dear. You are astonishingly beautiful. Always have been.” She smiled and gazed off, like her mind was traveling elsewhere for a moment.
“Even when you were in middle school, you didn’t have an awkward phase. You looked so darn cute in braces.”
I laughed. I definitely had an awkward phase. “Thanks, Mimi.”
“And the best part about you is your beauty isn’t just on the outside.” Warmth bubbled through me. Mimi had known me my whole life, so I should believe her, right? At a loss for words, I pulled her in for a hug.
After a moment of embracing her fragile frame, I said, “I had beautiful role models.”
She pulled back and smiled at me. Then she tossed my hair, twirled it over my shoulder, and pinched both of my cheeks. “Now, go bring that man a glass of ice water.”
I guffawed. Mimi, always with her eye on the prize.
“I have a boyfriend, Mimi.”
“It’s just a glass of water, Val,” she sang as she walked into the living room.
I shook my head and entered the kitchen.
Water in hand, I stood at the top of the steps and watched him cutting the boards at the back of his truck. Sweat glistened on his bare, sculpted back, and his abs flexed each time he brought down the saw.
When he turned the saw off, he caught me staring.
“Enjoying the view?” He removed his safety glasses, and a smug smirk took over his face.
Shoot.
I shrugged, feigning nonchalance, and trained my gaze to Mimi’s neighbor’s house across the street. “Eh, it’s just the same street and houses as it’s been for thirty years. I like it, though.”
He shook his head, seeing right through me, but he let me get away with it.
“I came out to bring you some water.”
“Thank you.” He set down the boards in the grass and leaned over the treacherous stairs to take it.
His rough fingers brushed mine as he closed his hand around the glass.
The spot on my fingers where he’d touched me tingled after I drew my hand away.
It took all of my self-control not to watch him drink it.
I left through the side door when it was time to go get Luna from sailing. Wallet in my hand, I was pulling out a couple fifty-dollar bills when Luke said, “Don’t even think about it.”
I didn’t realize he’d even seen me, let alone my wallet. “But I feel bad, it took your whole afternoon. You could have been doing something else.”
“I didn’t have anything pressing today, and besides, I like getting out from behind the desk sometimes.”
I opened my mouth to object, to insist that I at least pay for the materials, when he added, “Seriously, Val. Do not try to pay me.” His tone was low and final. I pushed the bills back into my wallet and shivered despite the heat.
“Fine. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” A small, victorious smile appeared under his dark beard.
“See you at home?” I asked as I walked toward my bike. “I mean, your house,” I corrected myself quickly.
He nodded, staring at me, face unreadable. “Yeah.” He swallowed. “I’ll be back shortly. Just finishing this and checking on one more site.”
I waved and swung my leg over my bike, letting out my breath when I sat down.
That was quite the slip.