Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The potent scent of freshly brewed coffee permeated the air as Luke took a moment to look around while the percolator finished its cycle. The window above the sink looked out over a small, but well-maintained backyard.
The grass was green, but Luke knew it would be hard and brittle to the touch, dry from the intense heat of the sun. It was one thing Luke didn’t think he’d ever get used to. Back in Wisconsin, the grass was lush and soft; here it was like walking across a green Brillo pad.
Unread mail was heaped in a small pile on the corner of the counter, and several plates and glasses, including Luke's own from last night, filled the sink. Hannah took good care of the place, but she wasn’t a neat freak.
Luke liked that about her. He wouldn’t have to worry about her losing her temper if he left something out of place.
His mom and two sisters had instilled good habits in him growing up, and what they hadn’t taught him, the military had.
He’d been on his own for over a decade, but he couldn’t deny how nice it was to be here with Hannah.
He liked the idea of sharing responsibility—taking care of her, and her taking care of him.
“How long have you been here?” Luke asked.
Hannah pulled a small glass container of sugar from the cupboard, then glanced over her shoulder at him. “In Florida?”
“This house.”
“Oh.” She set the container on the counter and strode to the fridge. “About two years now.” Yanking open the door, she pulled out a bottle of hazelnut creamer, then gestured to a jug of milk. “How do you take your coffee?”
“Black, just a touch of sugar.”
With an affirmative nod, she closed the door and set the creamer on the counter. Turning to face him, she crossed her arms over her chest. “You’ve been here for a month?”
“Yep. I bought a little fixer-upper on the outskirts of town. It was cheap, and I figure I can flip it once I find something I really like.”
It was actually only about three miles from the health center, so it was an almost perfect arrangement.
Right after he’d accepted Knox’s offer to work for Vantage, he’d contacted a realtor in the area and purchased the small ranch.
With a little work, the place could be really nice, and he hoped to turn a decent profit once the renovations were complete.
The neighborhood was older and fairly quiet, which suited his needs well.
Given a choice, Luke would rather be in the country where he had a little space to himself. It’d be hard to come by, being this close to the city, but maybe he’d eventually find a little plot of land somewhere more rural.
Although the house was conveniently located, he enjoyed his privacy and would prefer to have some space to roam around. He didn’t want neighbors right next door. He wanted to be someplace where he could walk outside in his underwear because, well… why not?
He stared out over the backyard, at the roofs of the houses just over the fence at the edge of her property.
This was ultimate suburbia. Each home sat on a quarter- to half-acre, with only small hedges or trees to separate one lot from the next.
Still, it was nice. He imagined it was perfect for Hannah, young and vibrant as she was.
She probably attended cookouts and block parties with the neighbors, waved to them as they passed on the street or walked their dogs.
“It’s nice here,” Luke remarked.
“Thanks. Everyone seems to be pretty friendly,” Hannah replied.
“Have you met many of your neighbors?”
She shook her head. “Only a couple. I pretty much keep to myself.”
Luke nodded. “Where I grew up was mostly woods. We had almost twenty acres, and I knew it like the back of my hand. I spent every season hunting or fishing, building forts and putting up tree stands. My dad and I were always out just after midnight on Thanksgiving, ready for the first day of hunting season.”
She grinned. “I can see that. My parents would never dream of doing anything like that.”
He shrugged. “It’s not for everyone. It’s tedious and time-consuming, freezing your butt off fifteen feet in the air, trying not to move too much, just waiting for a buck to wander by.”
“Sounds cold and tiresome.”
“It can be. But the thrill of the hunt is what it’s all about.” He winked at her, and she arched an eyebrow.
“Is that what they call hunting these days? Sitting in a tree drinking coffee and just waiting for a deer to wander by?”
He narrowed his gaze, but the teasing smile didn’t leave her lips. “It’s a lot harder than it sounds.”
She lifted her hands in the air, fingers spread wide, her expression playful. “I’m just saying, it sounds pretty easy to me.”
“Oh yeah?” He took a small step toward her, and her arms dropped to her sides. “I don’t think you appreciate the extent of my tracking skills.”
“I…” Her eyes darted to the side, and she let out a shriek as he lunged forward.
His fingers grazed the material of her robe as she sprinted toward the living room, her musical laughter filling the air.
He caught up to her just as she reached the couch, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
She wriggled like a worm on a hook, laughing and pleading incoherently as he hauled her against his chest.
“Who’s laughing now?” he teased.
Her head dropped back, and a peal of laughter filled the air. He took advantage of the position, kissing the exposed column of her neck. The laugh died in her throat, and a soft sigh escaped her lips as she turned to putty in his arms.
Luke set her on her feet, then spun her to face him. Her hair fell around her face in gentle waves, and her luminous gray eyes sparkled up at him, cheeks pink from exertion. The tingle of their chemistry ignited a fire inside him that shot sparks of awareness all the way down to his toes.
Why had he ever thought she was cold and unfeeling?
Hannah was soft and sweet, and she fit him perfectly, all soft curves to his hard planes of muscle.
Cupping her chin in one hand, he watched her eyelids flutter closed as he traced the contour of her jaw with his thumb.
He traced one finger along the slight point of her chin, over the curve of one cheek, up to the sculpted, winged eyebrow over her right eye.
Dipping his head, he captured her mouth with his. The kiss sent a flash of heat over his nerve endings, and he shuddered at the sensation. He tightened his hold, pulling her infinitesimally closer. He increased the pressure of the kiss, loving the taste of feel of her.
With a shaky inhale, Hannah pulled away. Her forehead dropped forward to rest on his chest, and Luke banded his arms around her lower back, holding her tight. He kissed the top of her head, stirring the wisps of hair there as he spoke. “Sorry, sweetheart.”
She shook her head. “It’s just…”
It was too much, too soon, and she needed reassurance that she could trust him.
Last night had opened the door, but she still had a long way to go.
Whether it took days or weeks or years—he wanted to be the one to guide her.
He cupped the back of her head and tipped her slightly away, catching her gaze.
“We’ve got plenty of time. Not gonna rush you. ”
A sweet smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “Thank you.”
“Nothin’ to thank me for. But,” he dipped his head and searched her eyes, “I do want to see you again.”
“When?”
“Soon. Dinner tonight?”
Lower lip still caught between her teeth, she let out a soft exhalation and nodded. “Okay.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up around seven. Wear a dress.”
One sleek brow shot toward her hairline. “What do you think this is, 1950? Why do I have to wear a dress?”
“So I can check you out.”
She laughed and lightly smacked his chest but didn’t say anything else.
He studied her for another moment, a strange combination of emotions radiating through his chest. He recognized part of it as lust for the beautiful woman in his lap.
Another was joy that she’d allowed him into her life, trusted him with her body—and maybe even her heart.
That remaining feeling eluded him, though. It ran deeper, more powerful than the other two; he felt it down to the tips of his toes. Whatever it was, he wanted a lot more of it.