11. Olivia
When Luke requested the next playdate to be on his terms, I never expected it to be at his place. I stare at the building we are directed to, located in Upper Manhattan and perhaps one of the most expensive properties in the area. Then we’re ushered to the lobby and up the elevator, every step surreal as I examine the bold chandeliers and the lush carpets.
“Mom, is this where Luke lives?”
I nod, distracted when I realize we’re headed for the top floor. But what did I expect? Shock hits me when the elevator doors open, and instead of being met with another hallway, we’re met with a penthouse suite that looks like those dreamy, luxurious places in home magazines.
“Hey, Riley and Liv. I’m glad you made it.”
Luke strolls over to us, ushering us in with a nod. I watch out of the corner of my eye as he gives a tip to the building staff member before the elevator doors close. Then it’s just the three of us.
“The address you gave us was easy enough to follow.” I desperately try not to ogle the place too much, most of all him. He’s dressed in slacks and a casual dress shirt that emphasizes his broad shoulders and highlights just how well he fits into this sophisticated world. “Thanks for inviting us over.”
“My pleasure. Riley, what do you think of the place?”
Riley isn’t as tactful as I am as she openly looks around the place. “It’s so cool. Do you live here alone?”
“Yes.”
She wrinkles her nose. “Isn’t it too big for you?”
Luke laughs. The sound makes my stomach jump. “It is, which is why having company like you guys is a welcome change. Come on. Let me show you the coolest part of the place.”
I watch as he offers his hand, and I soften when Riley takes it. I follow them as they slip through the glass doors opening up to a balcony, where there’s a pool and a view of all the other buildings surrounding us.
I’m not going to lie, I’m overwhelmed and just a bit intimidated, the complete opposite of Riley, who’s already having a blast oohing and aahing over the view. I’ve never been exposed to this environment, and knowing Luke is a part of it only emphasizes how different we are. I’m almost relieved when we finally leave the balcony and return inside, but it looks like Luke isn’t done trying to impress us.
“My chef has prepared lunch for us. It will arrive here shortly and I hope you guys enjoy the meal.”
I raise a brow. “You have a chef?”
There’s a hint of amusement in his tone. “Sometimes. When I have events and I need help. Mrs. Simmons isn’t your regular chef, though. She makes the best home-cooked meals.”
When the food arrives, I understand what he means. I anticipated us eating gourmet delicacies, but instead, we get upgraded pizza, pasta and sauce made from scratch and various finger desserts. Riley stuffs herself while I try small bites of everything, unable to stop my appreciative murmurs at how good everything tastes.
“Your chef is phenomenal. Can I have her?”
At my joke, he smiles. “You can try, but she’s extremely loyal to me.”
“I’ll try to convince her!” Riley grins as she hastily wipes the sauce off her chin. “Does she also make strawberry shortcake?”
“She did make it today. But it’s a different version. And a surprise for later.”
The surprise ends up being strawberry shortcake-flavored ice cream, which Riley goes nuts over. I can’t blame her since it’s so good, too. I can’t begrudge her, either, especially when I see how she lights up over every bite.
“You’ve done it, Luke.”
Luke glances at me. “Done what?”
“Spoiled her. Now she’s going to ask for that ice cream all the time.”
I’m startled when his smile warms as if the idea alone makes him giddy. Butterflies flutter in my belly at the look. “Then I’m going to keep asking Mrs. Simmons to make pints of them. I’ll have it delivered to your house regularly.”
Oh, this man…he’s really trying. I know he’s showing off his wealth, too, but the sincerity of him doing this for Riley makes me reluctantly accept his presence more in our lives.
After lunch and dessert, the sugar rush hits Riley and she’s a bundle of energy just bouncing around. Since she only gets to eat that much sugar on rare occasions, I let her be and wait for what else Luke has up his sleeve—which happens to be a lot.
“I got some board games if you’re into that, Riley. And I also got some more movies. Which ones do you want to try out today?”
I raise a brow but don’t comment when Riley chooses a board game and I’m encouraged to participate. We spend the afternoon playing one board game after another until Riley gets bored and wants to do something else. Of course, Luke’s ready for that, too.
“How about dancing?”
Riley blinks. “Dancing?”
Luke nods, then chooses from a selection of music before a fast song plays and fills the large living room. He takes Riley to the center, with enough space for a makeshift dance floor.
Astonishment spreads over me when the two start dancing—and when I say dancing, I mean their limbs flailing about and not following the rhythm. It’s such a far cry from the formal, no-nonsense Luke I interact with in the hospital that I can only stare at him, mesmerized and, yes, liking this new facet he’s revealing. I suppose it’s similar to his vibe at the bar, too, when it was just us and we were free to be ourselves with each other.
This is Luke, the real Luke. I’m not saying the hospital Luke is a fraud, but this Luke is the side of him that he only shows to selected people: carefree, laid-back, and teasing his loved ones. Riley giggles as he makes joke after joke, her eyes shining with so much affection that I know these two will love each other in no time.
Perhaps they already do. My heart aches with conflict before the conflict eases and I become happy that someone else gets to love Riley as much as I do.
When the sun sets, Luke lights up his fireplace while Riley wanders over to the couch and collapses over the pillows. She closes her eyes and dozes off while the music turns slow. I wait for Luke to call it a day, but instead, he approaches and offers me his hand.
I look at it, hesitate, then take it. I ignore the electric charge humming through our joined hands, wondering why I’m doing this. Maybe it’s the few glasses of wine loosening me up, though I’m not tipsy at all.
Hands positioned over my waist, gently urging me to sway to the slow beat. My pulse beats with it. I swallow and stare at his chest, then look away because it’s too…broad.
“This is your fault.”
“What’s my fault, Liv?”
The tension. The effect it has on me.
I shoot him an accusing look. “I don’t think I can go back to eating regular pizza.”
Luke’s lips quirk, drawing my gaze there. Then I look away again.
“I see. What else is my fault?”
“Your dancing.”
He gasps, pretending to be offended. “What about my dancing?”
This time, I grin. “I won’t be able to work with you without imagining that awkward dancing of yours.”
“Hey. That was a unique kind of dancing.” He sighs softly. “Riley dances the same way.”
Just like that, I soften when I remember how much fun they were having. “She does. You’re better at this type of dancing.”
“That’s because I dance like this during some functions. Not like the way I danced earlier. Imagine me dancing like that at a formal event.”
I giggle and get surprised at my reaction. He laughs a bit, too, then draws me closer, and I don’t have it in me to protest when it feels so comfortable.
“You dance well, too, Liv.”
“It’s the one talent Riley didn’t inherit from me.”
“What about art? Did she inherit that from you?”
I look up, surprised that he remembers me mentioning it years ago. I shake my head. “It’s too early to tell. But so far, she’s not interested in doodling.”
“I see. Do you still draw? Or paint?”
“Sometimes. When I’m stressed or when there’s time.”
“Are you stressed lately?”
I nod. “Yeah, but I don’t have time to draw or paint.”
“Too bad. I would have liked to see your work.”
Right. He doesn’t know that my work is available to the public—or at least, samples are available online, as well as some finished works for people to purchase or check out should they want to commission me. I debate telling him about it, but my decision is waylaid when one of his hands leaves my waist and takes my hand.
“Luke?”
“You’ve got callouses. I never noticed. This is an artist’s hand.”
I suck in a breath when he caresses my fingertips, specifically the callouses on them. It’s supposed to be nothing but an observation—except the way he’s observing me is sending pinpricks of heat all over my body.
“Luke…”
“You must be working so hard. Or it must be such a big passion to earn these callouses. So, either you did a lot of artwork as an extra income for Riley or just for yourself.”
I swear he can read me like a book sometimes. The income in my online display is for Riley’s future savings, though there’s no denying that that’s not the only reason.
“I’m doing it for myself. Not recently, as I said, but…yeah. To relieve stress.”
He sighs. He draws me even closer, letting go of my hand in the process.
“Do you still need to relieve stress?”
I gulp. “Sometimes.”
“Do you want me to show you another way to relieve stress?”
Just like that, the atmosphere shifts as we enter into dangerous territory.
Lust spears into my system. His mouth nuzzles my ear while his hands return to my waist, urging my hips to continue swaying to the beat that’s become reminiscent of something more sensual…primal. My breath hitches.
It would be so easy to say yes—to let this man guide me to what I assume would be his gigantic bedroom with a gigantic bed, where I know he will take his time. It’s been so long since I’ve had the pleasure of someone exploring my body that way. He’ll do it so well, his cock inside me a surety in making me feel good.
The temptation makes me drunk as his mouth cruises to my cheek, his hot breath stirring my senses. His voice is like gravel, low, and as aroused as I am.
“Liv…”
Giving in to it a bit, I turn my head so our lips can brush. It’s the only touch Luke needs to kiss me fully, sinking so deeply into my mouth as he pours out all the passion he feels. Desire rages in my system, mirroring his hunger, and the soft groan he emits sends my stomach tumbling, prompting a moan to escape my lips.
The soft murmur beside us is like a bomb dropped, pulling us apart in an instant. My breath heaves as I glance at Riley, who stirs but goes right back to sleep. Then I look at Luke, his breath also not steady and his eyes are smoldering with desire.
He’s temptation personified, the kind of man I can easily get lost in. But there will be consequences.
And I’m not brave enough to face them yet.
“We should go. It’s getting late.”
I don’t miss the disappointed look on his face, though he masks it well. He nods.
“Let me take you home?—”
“No, it’s fine. We’ll take a cab.”
He frowns. “Why?”
“Just because. We’ll be fine.”
Tension brews in the air and his jaw clenches, but the argument remains unspoken. Eventually, Luke relents and finally nods.
“If you insist.”
My relief is endless. “Thanks.”
“You should come back here next time for another playdate. So Riley can swim in the pool. You can swim, too.”
Me in a bikini while those eyes are on me? I’m instantly hot and have to fight my reaction, but I nod. “We’ll see.”
Silence. It’s not as awkward as I expected, but the lack of a conclusion between us hums in the air. Luke breaks it, clearing his throat and meeting my gaze.
“At least let me accompany you downstairs. And hail the cab.”
I nod. Then I break the gaze first, not wanting to be pulled into it—and him—again.
“Okay.”