Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“You okay?”
Luke’s voice cut through the silence as he pushed his food around his plate. She met his gaze and shot him a wan smile. “I’m fine. Just thinking that I should go home soon.”
A wary light entered his eyes. “Well, you should be safe there now. I’ll bet you’re getting tired of living out of a suitcase.”
His gentle teasing caused her heart to constrict. “A little bit. It’s just… I can’t let someone run me out of my own house. I can’t let him win.”
“I understand.” He scooped up another bite of food. “Well, we can head over to your place after dinner if you want.”
We. She sucked in a sharp breath at the word. “Luke? Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure. What’s on your mind?”
“I was just wondering… What will you do after your job here is up?”
“You mean working at the health center?” He shrugged.
“I’m not sure. I put in a request for an extension after your house was broken into, but it hasn’t been approved yet.
The landlord may deny it and turn the responsibility over to the PD since you’ve been targeted at home.
But to answer your question, I honestly don’t know. Why do you ask?”
“No reason.” She pushed the rice around her plate before sighing and setting her fork down. “Will we still see each other?”
Surprise flashed in his eyes. “Of course. Is that what you’re worried about?”
She nodded and swallowed down the lump that had formed in her throat. “What if your next job takes you far away?”
He tipped his head to one side, hazel eyes studying her intently. “We’ll just have to take it one day at a time.”
“But what if you’re gone for months?” She pressed. She cringed at the insecurity and neediness in her voice but couldn’t help it.
“Sweetheart, everything will be fine. I promise.”
He sounded so sure of himself, yet her doubts lingered. “But how can you know?”
“I just know.” His voice was low and patient as he took her hand in his, gently stroking her palm with his thumb. “We’ll still talk and spend time together, just like we do now. Maybe I won’t get to see you every day, but… we’ll work it out.”
“I just… What if you find someone else? What if you get bored?” He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. “Andrew told me today that Rina Sterling hired your company—”
His eyes narrowed and he pulled his hand away. “Andrew? Is that what brought this on?”
“Well, he and I were talking today and—”
“Of course you were.” He abruptly pushed back from the table and grabbed up his plate. She winced as he set it in the sink with a little more force than necessary. “And what did Andrew have to say?”
She hesitated, a little thrown by his reaction. “Just that your company is taking on more high-profile contracts—like the one with Rina.”
“Mhmm…” He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the counter. “He’s been around a lot lately the past few days.”
To anyone else, it would have sounded like he was merely stating an observation. But she heard the faint thread of jealousy just beneath the surface. “He just wanted to… check on me.”
“Right.”
“He’s just a friend.” It sounded feeble to her own ears, and she fought the urge to look away as Luke stared at her.
“A friend who checks on you every day out of the goodness of his heart?” Her cheeks burned at the implication, but he wasn’t done. “How would you feel in my position? What if a woman came to visit me every single day, right in front of you?”
His words were like an arrow to her heart. It hurt just thinking about it, and tears burned the backs of her eyes. “I… I didn’t think.”
“Does he know we’re dating? That I was your first? I thought this thing between us was more than just sex—”
“It is!” The chair screeched as she shoved it back and jumped to her feet. “I swear, he’s just a friend—that’s all. I promise.”
Luke sighed. “Come here, sweetheart.”
She threw herself at him, burying her head against his chest to conceal the tears creeping from the corners of her eyes. He kissed her temple before tipping her head up to meet his gaze. “You don’t have anything to worry about. I want you—no one else.”
“I just…” She blinked away the moisture clinging to her lashes. She didn’t know how to voice her fears without sounding irrationally needy or insecure. She swallowed the emotion clogging her throat. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not going anywhere. But inviting a third person into a relationship is trouble,” he admonished softly as he stroked one hand over her hair. “It’s no wonder he still thinks he has a chance if you continue to cry on his shoulder.”
“I know, but he’s still my friend. He helped me work through a lot of my old fears and…” She trailed off with a small sigh. “Audrey told me the same thing—that I needed to be upfront with him—but I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.”
“I know he’s your friend, sweetheart, and I respect that. There just have to be boundaries.” He tightened his hold on her. “You see the good in everyone. It’s one thing I love most about you, but it also worries out of me.”
Her heart gave a funny little lurch. He loved that about her? She tamped down her pleasure as he continued.
“You’re too trusting.” He pulled back, hazel eyes searching hers.
“I’d do anything for you—you know that, right?
” She nodded. “I know this is new for you, but I want you to be able to come to me when you’re worried about something.
You help so many people by talking them through their fears. Do the same with us.”
A wry smile twisted her mouth. “Always easier to fix someone else’s problems, right?”
“It is,” Luke agreed. “But you’re not in this alone.”
“Do you…” She licked her lips. “Do you see us, you know… dating for a while?”
“Yes.” He framed her face and gave her a single hard kiss. “A long while.”
Her chest warmed at his words. “I want to make this work.”
“Me, too.” He studied her for a moment. “I appreciate everything Andrew has done for you, but he needs to learn to respect our relationship.”
He left the rest unsaid, but his tone was heavy with disapproval, and she shivered at the possessiveness.
He wouldn’t stand for having another man around.
What would happen if Andrew tried to interject again?
Would Luke leave? Andrew had been her friend for years, but what if he cared more about his own happiness than hers?
What if he really was trying to coerce her into leaving Luke?
She nodded. “I’ll talk to him.”
His features softened. “Okay. Do you still want to go home tonight?”
Without a word, she laced her fingers through his then led him down the hall to his bedroom. Stopping next to the bed, she slid her hands up his chest. “I want to be with you tonight.” She pulled him down for a kiss. “Every night, until you get tired of me.”
He let out a low growl and slipped his hands around her hips, inching her shirt up and revealing the satiny flesh of her stomach. “That’ll be a long time.”