She looked up at me, saw my eyes and followed them to Luke. She realized what she was about, pulled out of my arms and swiped at her face.
“Hey Luke,” Sissy said in belated greeting and I had to press my lips together not to laugh.
“Sissy,” Luke replied.
“Sorry I yelled at you,” she told him.
He did a single shoulder shrug.
“I’m usually not this loud,” she went on.
He did the half-grin. Sissy stared, transfixed at all that was Luke. I rolled my eyes and caught a look at the clock on the roll back.
“Shit!” I shouted. “I’m supposed to meet Riley in twenty minutes!” I made a mad dash out of the kitchen and then halted and whirled. “Have coffee, get settled, I’ll be back in a couple of hours and we’ll talk,” I told Sissy and then whirled again and restarted the dash.
I got four feet and was caught short when Luke threw an arm out as I was about to pass him, so it caught me at my waist.
I let out an “oof” and heard Luke say, “Just a minute,” to Sissy. He grabbed my hand and dragged me through the living room, up the stairs and to the bedroom.
I allowed this mainly because I didn’t want Sissy to hear me struggling and also I was mentally counting to ten.
When he’d closed the door to the bedroom, I turned on him.
Half-grin, Amused Luke was gone, brows drawn, Pissed Off Luke in his place.
“What was that?” I asked, foolishly ignoring Pissed Off Luke.
“I thought I made myself clear about Riley.”
“He’s my personal trainer.”
“He wants to fuck you.”
I looked at the ceiling seeking divine intervention. When none was to be had I looked back at Luke. “He’s a friend.”
“He wants to fuck you,” Luke repeated.
“Okay then, he wants to fuck me. He’s not going to fuck me. No one’s going to fuck me.”
“I’m gonna fuck you.”
I put my hands to my hips and leaned forward, yes now Pissed Off Ava.
“Luke, get it through your head. You and me, not… gonna… happen.”
His brows went up. “So tell me, what was that ten minutes ago?”
Hmm. He had a point.
“Temporary insanity,” I answered.
“Because you’ve sworn off men?”
Hell and damnation.
Sissy and her Pink Lady Sandy big mouth.
“Yes,” I snapped.
We stared at each other, Pissed Off Luke vs. Pissed Off Ava, the battle of the century.
Then to my surprise (and discomfort), he grinned. Not a half-grin, a full-fledged one.
I did not take this as a good sign.
“What’s with the grin?” I asked, wary.
“I like this,” he told me.
“What?”
Instead of answering my question, looking very pleased about something he said, “I’m gonna enjoy this.”
“What?” I snapped.
Again he didn’t answer my question, instead he said, “We still haven’t discussed your payment.”
I threw up my hands
Jeez.
I couldn’t take anymore.
“Oh for goodness sakes!” I cried and started to move toward the closet. “I don’t have time for this. I have things to do.”
He caught me and swung me into his body, both his arms locked around my waist and he looked down at me.
“I’ll take you to the gym. After you’re done, I’ll pick you up. I don’t want you going anywhere alone, so whatever you gotta do, wherever you gotta go, either I take you or I’ll arrange for someone to do it. Same with Sissy. Last night you likely pissed off some pretty dangerous people. I’m not fuckin’ around with this.”
“Fine,” I clipped, mainly so he would let me go so I wouldn’t have to think about dangerous people being pissed off at me and so I could get to the gym. It was rude to be late.
“Tonight, we talk about your payment.”
“Fine,” I lied, totally not going to talk about payment or be anywhere near Luke that night.
He shook his head while it dropped to mine and I knew he knew I was lying.
His face an inch away from mine he said, “If you think I’m gonna let you go back on that promise you made me in the kitchen, think again.”
“I didn’t make any promise.”
“Oh yeah you did.”
I gave up. “Luke, let me go, I’m going to be late.”
He kept looking at me then his eyes got ultra warm and he murmured, “Yeah, I’m gonna enjoy this.”
Shit.
Chapter Eight
Get the Business
This was my morning:
Luke took me to the gym. Sissy decided to go with so we all trudged out to the garage. Luke took the keys to my car out of my hands and declared he was going to drive. Standing outside of the garage, we had a fight about who was going to drive.
Luke won.
Then Luke drove us to the gym. Luke got out when we got there and I told him he didn’t need to walk us into the gym. Standing by my Range Rover, we got in a fight about whether he was going to walk us into the gym or not.
Luke won.
Then when we got into the gym, Luke asked to talk to Riley privately “outside”. Standing in the reception area of the gym, Luke and I got in a fight about him talking to Riley privately “outside”.