Chapter 20
CLARA
My shopping trip ended up being a rousing success. Luke had stayed back at his penthouse to get some work done, and I had enjoyed a few hours to explore and try the city on for size.
The sidewalks hummed with thousands of people going about their day, each one with their own universe of drama and sorrows. The sky was gray and the wind was chilly but the energy was infectious. It lit a fire inside me no cloudy day could snuff out.
Some of that heat was because of Luke, I supposed. The man was sexy as hell, and he wanted me. I wanted him, too, but so did most of the women in the country. He was rich, famous, and had a smile that made me forget how to breathe when it was aimed at me. Obviously, I was attracted to him.
But the fact that he was interested in me?
Now that changed the whole ballgame. Being flirty and teasing him had been fun when I figured he would never really be interested in a simple hometown gal like me.
It was like flinging lit matches into a swimming pool, thinking there was no way anything would catch fire.
Then it turned out the pool was filled with gasoline.
That was how he’d ended up fingering me in the back of a limo like we were a happy couple on prom. He’d made me come so hard I nearly clawed gouges in the leather seats.
And then the kiss last night? He’d pulled himself back from the brink but I had hoped he would keep going. As fun as things had been in the back of that limo, I hadn’t had a chance to get to know his body the way he’d gotten to know mine.
Curiosity had me dying, wondering if I had felt what I thought I’d felt back at the Christmas Spectacular, all those years ago.
Luke had said it was a candy cane, but the thing that had poked me right in the sweet spot hadn’t felt like a thin swirl of minty sugar.
There was a girth to it, and a heat that matched my own when I was sitting on the Luke Whitaker’s lap.
That moment had regularly featured in late-night fantasies ever since. Now, after a decade of wondering, I was so close to finally confirming my suspicions.
Except he had been a gentleman and had gone to hide in his room. I had almost chased him in there with some flimsy excuse about being cold. Then I could have burrowed under the covers with him to see what he was working with.
For the moment, I had no choice but to continue wondering.
The bags grew heavy in my hand and I adjusted my grip. Luke was going to hate my purchases. I had to look through a few clothing stores, but eventually I found exactly what I wanted.
Everything else was ready for the Christmas party tonight.
Kerri had loved my ideas, and she was all gas and no brakes.
With her encouragement, I might have gone a tad overboard with the decorations for a simple office Christmas party, but it looked so good, the network had decided to feature it on some of their shows.
Plus, some pretty famous athletes were going to swing by now, interested in seeing what all the fuss was about.
It had been a few years since my designs had been broadcast out into the world, and it felt damn good. With any luck, I would keep the momentum going and my meeting with Ganymede Raye would lead to a spot on a major production. It could be the foot in the door I’d been dreaming about.
And it was all thanks to Luke. Just one more reason to fall even more madly in love with him. One of these days, I would get his resolve to crack.
Bags in hand, I made my way back to the penthouse, feeling light as a snowflake on the breeze.
When I walked in, Luke was sitting at his kitchen counter, working on his laptop.
As a former quarterback, he had never been huge, but he still looked like a giant hunched over and tapping away at the keyboard.
Big as he was, it was easy to forget there was a sharp mind behind all the muscles, not to mention a giant heart he didn’t like showing to the world.
We locked gazes. His blue eyes burned with intensity when he looked at me. I had no trouble seeing it because I was feeling it too. The man had always been sexy, but after getting to know him better, spending time with him, my feelings had deepened.
The friction from earlier seemed to have eased up since I’d been gone. Maybe he had taken my advice and eaten a muffin or something. Or maybe he’d rubbed one out while I was away, easing the tension the old-fashioned way.
Either way, Luke seemed calmer. I felt less riled up too, definitely needing to put some distance between us to get myself together again. I wanted him, but I had to respect his choice to keep things innocent. He meant well.
“Have you been a good boy or a bad boy since I’ve been gone?” I asked him.
Luke looked at me with a puzzled expression, then got to his feet.
“Listen, I wanted to say I’m sorry,” he said gruffy.
“I know I can be a grouch sometimes. I didn’t sleep well.
And the caffeine hadn’t properly kicked in yet.
” He smiled softly. “And you were right. I ate something and felt a hell of a lot better.”
“I told you so,” I said with a grin.
“Okay, you don’t have to gloat.”
“I don’t have to, no, but let me have a little fun.” I held up one of the shopping bags. “And I got you a present.”
His eyebrows perked up. “Oh, yeah?”
“Just keep an open mind.” I handed him the bag.
“That’s not a reassuring statement.” Luke looked skeptical. He pulled out a bundle wrapped in festive red tissue paper.
I was on pins and needles while he tore into the thin paper, gently at first and then shredding it into confetti. “A green sweater?” he said, smiling politely.
“You sound disappointed,” I said, shaking my head. “But you haven’t even looked at it yet.”
Luke unfurled the sweater and his expression fell. “Clara, no.”
“Lucas, yes!”
“It’s so tacky.”
I clapped my hands in excitement. “Isn’t it? It’ll be perfect for the ugly sweater thing we’re doing tonight.”
“You didn’t tell me about that,” he said sternly.
“Surprise!” I said. “Now put it on. I want to take a picture to send to my brother.”
Luke held the sweater up to me like an accusation. “You can’t be serious.”
“Correct. This is a fun thing. It’s not meant to be serious at all. Now you’re getting it.” I laughed and pointed at the figures embroidered on the center of the sweater. “I found it at a nearby vintage store. It was the most atrocious thing I could find.”
He frowned at it, eyes narrowed. “It’s two elves riding horses?”
I scoffed. “Those are unicorns, pal. Show a little respect.”
He chuckled. “I can’t help but notice you’ve had our faces printed onto the elves’ faces.”
“I wanted to make it special.” I shrugged. “That was not cheap, by the way. I’m glad I still had your card. Plus, it was a rush job. Totally worth it, though.”
“Return them,” he said. “I can’t be seen in this.”
“Funny story: we can’t return them since they’re personalized,” I said. “But hey, it lights up. Watch.”
I pressed a small button on the inside collar. Christmas lights surrounding the elves and their steeds began to blink. The little LEDs were sewn in expertly, making a flashing border around the elves.
Luke shook his head. “Why would you do this to me?”
I put my hand on his shoulder and patted him reassuringly. “Luke, my sweet boyfriend, I’m not doing this to you. I’m doing this to us.”
I pulled out sweater number two from my other bag. It had an identical design on it, including having our faces added in. With a flick of the switch, mine started blinking too.
“We’re matching,” I said proudly.
“I can’t wear this.”
I stepped close to him and looked up so we were nearly nose to nose. “If I kiss you again, will you say yes?”
The question took him off guard. “Clara, that’s not helping.”
“Then what about this,” I said. “You want the executives to think you’re settled down and stable, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Nothing says settled down like a lame couple’s sweater. You’ll be running your own show in no time.”
Luke stared at me with his mouth open. “That’s a really clever idea.”
“I know. Now I’m going to get pretty for you.” I turned away and called over my shoulder. “I expect you to be wearing that by the time I come back out.”
I freshened up, added another layer of makeup to my face, and got dressed in a long red skirt like Mrs. Claus might wear. Then I put on my sweater.
When I came back out, Luke was nowhere to be found. Had that little scamp turned tail and run? I chuckled at the image of Luke halfway to Atlantic City in the back of an Uber. Lenny would probably take him, actually. Or he’d probably just take a helicopter.
I heard grumbling from behind his bedroom door. As I approached, it was clear he was cursing.
I knocked softly. “You okay in there, buddy?”
“No, I’m not coming out.”
“Like, ever?”
There was a pause. “Okay, fine.”
The lock clicked open and then he emerged. The green sweater clung to his strong arms and chest in a way that wasn’t funny at all. Then I clicked the switch on his collar, the lights started up, and I found my laugh again.
His grumpy face also had me dying. I swept my phone out and took a picture of him before he even realized what I was doing.
“Clara, you better not send that to anyone.”
“I told you, just Nic. I told him about the sweaters and he thought it was hilarious. If I don’t send him a picture, he’s going to pout just like you are.”
“I’m not—” Luke sighed and shook his head. “We can’t have that, I suppose. But if you’re sending him a picture, it’s going to be of both of us. Then maybe he’ll make fun of you instead of me when we go home for Christmas.”
“Deal,” I said with a grin, then sidled up to him. I held my phone up to get us both in the shot, and he was forced to scrunch down and get awfully close. So close I could smell the masculine scent of him and feel his strong chest. “Say, candy canes!”
I snapped the pic and laughed at the look of surprise on his face.
“It’s perfect,” I gushed.
“No,” he protested with a chuckle. “I’m making a stupid face.”
“That’s the face you’re always making,” I joked, knowing it would get his goat.
“You take that back, Snow,” he said, eyes glittering with a challenge.
“Sure.” I tapped the screen a few times. “Oops. I accidentally sent it to Nic.”
Luke groaned. “He’s gonna bust my balls. I just know it.”
“Our balls,” I said, and he laughed.
Seconds later, my phone dinged with a reply from my brother.
“That was quick,” Luke said. “What does he say?”
I smiled. “He says, ‘you nerds make a cute couple. Have fun at the party.’ Sounds like we have his blessing.”
I looked into Luke’s eyes again, feeling a charge crackling in the air between us. My brother was joking, of course, but his message sure felt like he was fine with whatever Luke and I had going on up here.
I broke eye contact with Luke, needing to stop the runaway train inside me. “We should get going or we’re going to be late.”