“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours Spunky?” He asked sincerely.
“I’m not pawning you off.” She said immediately. “I don’t know if you’ve realized yet, but I’m kind of selfish.” She bit greedily into the slice of toast, and then widened her eyes as if taking a huge bite of toast proved her point. He didn’t say anything, he just smiled slightly as she chewed. God, he had a great smile and she was the one making him smile. Something fluttered inside her. “I don’t regret last night, Luke. I’m not going to pretend it didn’t happen or that I didn’t want it to happen.” She put the slice of toast down and took a deep breath.
“But…” He probed.
“But I’m not ready to jump into a relationship.” She said honestly and surprisingly, he didn’t shift his gaze from her. He gave her his undivided attention. “I’m also not willing to give you up and have Phillip set you up with Mallory. That’s their plan, you know? Mallory has the hots for you.” She said with a frown and looked down.
Luke lifted his hand to her chin and tipped it up with his fingers. Little did she know, he’d wait until he was old and gray for her. Funny, he thought, how you just know when you find the right one and you’re willing to go to the ends of the world or wait until the end of time to only have that one person. “I don’t want Mallory.”
She stared at him. “Do you want me?” She asked with her voice uncertain.
“More than you’ll ever know.” He confessed.
“It might take me a while to get myself together.” She warned.
“I’m a patient man.” His thumb ran across her jaw.
“It might take a while for me to feel comfortable with... you know.” She added, hoping he got her drift and she wouldn’t have to say it out loud. See? Selfish. The guy was already bursting at the seams, point proven in the shower.
“I can wait.” He said with the slightest hint of humor in his eyes.
“What if we fall in love?” She asked.
Already there, sweetheart, he said to himself as he reworded his answer in his head.
“What would people think?” She asked in a whisper.
“That I’m a lucky son of a bitch?” He offered and saw she was serious.
“You’re Jake’s brother.” She sighed and felt awful instantly. Jake would want her to move on. He had said it his own words, but how would he feel if it was his brother?
“And I always will be.” Luke said, dragging her from her thoughts. “I’m not looking to replace Jake. I’d never attempt to. I know I can’t compare the man I am, to the man he was. What the two of you had was rare and it was special. It was so goddamn beautiful to watch.” He paused and dropped his hand from her face. “I just want a piece of whatever you’re willing to give.”
“You shouldn’t settle for a piece of anyone. You deserve someone who can give themselves wholeheartedly. You’re that kind of guy, Luke.” She said taking his hand and lacing her fingers with his.
“Maybe one day you’ll be able to and if not that’s okay too. It’d be my honor to share your heart with Jake.” He reached up and cradled her face in the palms of his hand. “How about we take it one day at a time? Yeah?”
She wrapped her hands around his wrists. “If I say yes, will you kiss me again?”
“Is that an invitation Cara?”
“Yes.” She said and before she could smile fully he pulled her face to his and his mouth found hers. He took control of the kiss, working her lips so perfectly that she had no choice but to part them, craving more. He slipped his tongue inside reveling in the taste that was all Cara. He didn’t know what drunk was until he was kissing Cara and he was drunk on her. Her fingers went to his hair and she grabbed at the ends desperate for him and everything he poured into that kiss. His heart. His soul. Him.
Chapter Sixteen
December 1
Cara stood in the center of her living room in her new apartment, glancing around at all the boxes that she had to unpack, dreading it. She blew a piece of hair out of her eye that had fallen out of her ponytail and braced her hands on her hips contemplating what to tackle first. The front door kicked open and Luke strode in carrying another box.
“This is the last of it.” He declared setting the box down alongside the rest of the boxes that crowded the small living room. She looked up at him as he eyed all the boxes before finding her eyes. “Jesus Cara, you got a lot of shit.” He said as he scratched the back of his head. She laughed slightly and climbed over the debris of boxes and bubble wrap wrapping her arms around his neck then pulling him down so she could press her lips to his.
“Luckily Rudy likes Benny, and we didn’t have to move in with you.” She said between kisses.
“I would’ve bought a bigger house.” He said as he cupped her ass with the palms of his hand, squeezing her cheeks playfully.
She laughed before she nibbled on her lower lip. “I bet.”