Her eyes darkened. “I see.”
“You see what?”
She dropped her cup on the table, and the dark liquid splashed over the rim and stained the white wicker. Standing up, she shot a cool look in his direction. “Everything. I see everything.”
Her icy tone grated his nerves. Damn, when had she become so difficult to read? Before she could march through the back door into the bungalow, he bounded toward her and grabbed her arm. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“It means you succeeded.” He was surprised to see hurt flickering in those blue eyes. “You came here to drag me home, and I know you, Luke, you would’ve done everything to achieve that goal. Even taking me to bed.”
Her harsh accusation hung in the humid morning air, causing anger to spiral through him in sharp waves. He couldn’t believe the words had even exited her mouth. He hadn’t come here to sleep with her. She was insane if she actually believed that.
He wanted to laugh with disbelief. From the second he’d seen her up on that stage, shaking her hips and wiggling her ass, he’d fought against that carnal need pleading with him to take her. Two weeks of living in a constant state of arousal, two weeks of fighting the temptation that was Ellie. And she was accusing him of using sex to pressure her?
“I can’t believe you even said that,” he snapped, unable to keep the hurt from his voice.
“Isn’t it the truth?” she shot back.
“I told you last night that the games were over, and I meant it. I had no ulterior motive in sleeping with you.”
“Then why did you? We both know you’re not looking for a relationship.”
“And what if I am?”
She faltered. “What?”
“Did you ever stop to think that maybe I want to be with you?”
“Do you?”
Their eyes locked and he just stared at her, searching for an answer. Everything about her distracted him. The scent of her hair. The way her T-shirt outlined those small breasts. Her bare legs. He knew that he wanted her, physically, sexually. But did he want to be with her? After the way Robin had turned his life upside down, the answer should’ve been no. After seeing his father’s slow and painful disintegration these last ten years, the answer should’ve been no.
So why was the word yes biting at his tongue?
“Luke?” Her gaze pierced through him and went straight to his heart, made it squeeze.
“What the hell is going on here?” came an angry male voice.
Simultaneously, both he and Ellie swiveled their heads in time to see Josh appear from the side of the bungalow.
Luke’s gaze went from Josh’s enraged face, down to his own bare chest and boxers, to Ellie’s barely-clad body, then back to Josh.
Oh shit.
Ellie pulled her jeans up to her hips, straightened out the hem of her T-shirt and shot a glance at Luke, who was throwing on clothes like a madman. The bedroom seemed to lose its soft romantic air as they dressed. Not surprising, considering that Josh was pacing her living room at the moment, waiting to pounce on them.
She’d dealt with her brother’s overprotective nature and short temper long enough to know that he wasn’t happy with what he’d walked in on. Sure, she could lie, tell him that Luke had just stopped by this morning—and decided to shed his clothing for some inexplicable reason—but Josh wasn’t stupid.
“We could say nothing happened,” she said feebly, more to herself than to Luke.
Zipping up his jeans, he just stared at her. “Have you ever been able to lie to him?”
“No.” She sighed. “Look, let me go out there alone. I’ll handle this.” He opened his mouth to object but she held up her hand. “Please.”
With a brisk nod, Luke buttoned his fly and sat down on the edge of the bed, looking oddly nervous.
Watching him rake his fingers through his hair, she wished Josh hadn’t chosen to show up at the most inopportune moment. She and Luke had been…getting somewhere. Where, she didn’t know, but she suspected he’d been about to say something important. Something that couldn’t wait.
But her brother couldn’t wait, either. Patience had never been Josh’s strong suit.
Straightening her shoulders, she walked into the living room, prepared for a confrontation. When he heard her footsteps, Josh stopped pacing and looked at her.
The sight of him sent a familiar rush of warmth and fondness to her chest. God, she’d missed him. Her gaze swept over his short brown hair, the exact shade as hers, his serious blue eyes. Even the starched white shirt and shiny loafers warmed her heart. This was Josh, her protector, her annoying older brother, the big-shot lawyer who loved a good verbal sparring.
“Ellie…” He stopped, then opened his arms, and in a second she was crushed in his embrace. “I missed you, kiddo.”
She hugged him tightly as every pang of homesickness she’d experienced these past two months slipped away. “I missed you too.”
He kissed her forehead before pulling back, his eyes trained on hers. “Are you okay?”