Chapter Six Luke
Six
Luke
Luke slouched deeper into his porch chair, watching the sun bleed pink and gold across the lake as Coral rested her chin on his thigh.
Spring evenings always turned everything soft and hazy, like someone had thrown silk scarves over the world.
Not that he’d ever say that out loud. Man had a reputation to maintain.
He took another pull from his beer, trying to wash away the taste of guilt he’d been choking on since that scene at the café.
Making an ass of himself in front of the whole damn town was bad enough.
Making assumptions about Sophie Bennett’s plans without even asking her first?
That was the kind of rookie mistake his grandfather would’ve tanned his hide for.
The lake stretched out before him, mirror-smooth except where a family of ducks cut V-shaped ripples through the sunset’s reflection.
Everything smelled like cherry blossoms and lake water, a familiar mix that announced spring had arrived.
Usually, this was his favorite time of day.
Right now, it was just giving him too much space to think.
Movement caught his eye. A silhouette in the window of the boathouse next door.
Sophie, sitting by one of the front windows, reading.
The failing light turned her into something almost ethereal, like one of those old stories about lake spirits his grandmother used to tell.
Maybe she was still wearing that pink dress, the one that made him feel like he was about to lose all sense and rip it off her, right there in that damn café.
“Christ,” he muttered, scrubbing a hand down his face. “Get it together, Rhodes.”
“Talking to yourself now?” a familiar voice called from the dock. “That’s never good.”
Luke didn’t bother turning around. “Shouldn’t you be out rescuing cats from trees or something, Martinez?”
Jake Martinez, Solace Springs’ fire chief and former boat thief dropped into the chair next to him.
The scent of smoldering timber wafted off him, a leftover from the last blaze his firefighting crew had battled.
And by the shadow of stubble on his grizzled jaw, Luke could tell he hadn’t made it home yet.
“Nah, all the cats are behaving today,” Jake said, “unlike some people I could mention. Bumped into Grace earlier. She said you made quite the scene at the café this afternoon.”
“You and Grace gossip worse than the knitting circle.”
“This town runs on gossip and coffee, you know that.” Jake stretched out his long legs. “So. The new girl. Heard you really stepped in it.”
Luke grunted, but his mind was already replaying the way she’d squared up to him in the café, all fire and British indignation.
The memory of that spark in her brown eyes, the slight catch in her accent when she’d gotten angry—it had hit him hard, made him want to push her buttons just to see what else that pretty exterior was hiding.
He took another swig of beer, trying to cool down thoughts that had no business heating up.
Jake nodded toward the boathouse where Sophie’s shadow now moved behind the windows. “Saw her walking in town earlier. She’s cute.”
“Don’t.” The word came out sharper than Luke intended.
Jake’s smile grew knowing. “So you agree, then?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Sure it’s not. You’re just taking her out on your boat tomorrow morning because…?”
“Because the whole damn town cornered me into it. Because I was an idiot and owe her an apology. Because—” He stopped, jaw clenching.
“Because she’s just your type,” Jake finished for him. “Your kryptonite. All soft curves and dark hair. Another city girl who’s going to get under your skin, just how you like ’em, even though you pretend you don’t.”
Luke gave his old friend a sharp look. “Exactly why I’m not getting involved. Been there, done that, got the emotional scars to prove it.”
Jake was quiet for a moment, watching the last of the sun sink behind the houses across the lake. “You know not everyone’s Claire, right?”
“Wasn’t even thinking about Claire.”
“Hmmm.”
“Anyway, I’ve got my hands full keeping this lake the way it should be. Don’t need complications.”
“Right. Because you’re such a simple, uncomplicated guy.” Jake’s voice dripped sarcasm. “That why you’re sitting out here brooding and watching her window?”
“I’m not watching her window. I’m watching the sunset.”
“Oh yeah, you’re really convincing me, bud.” Jake stood up, stretching. “Better head back. Just wanted to check in. But see you for some beers at the Spring Awakening next weekend?”
“Maybe. I’ll see.”
Jake’s laugh echoed across the water as he headed back down the dock. “Try not to scowl too much. It puts wrinkles on that pretty face of yours.”
Luke waited until his friend was out of earshot before muttering to Coral’s sleeping form, “Jackass. Doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
But his eyes drifted back to Sophie’s place anyway. She’d moved to her bedroom balcony now, leaning on the railing with a mug of something steaming in one hand, book in the other. The sight did something to him, made him hot and hungry.
Tomorrow morning, he’d take her to the island, show her the driftwood, keep things professional. Simple. Uncomplicated.
Coral chose that moment to wake up and peer at him, giving him a look that suggested she wasn’t buying his bullshit.
“Not a word,” he told her. “Not one damn word.”