He doesn’t hesitate to share his thoughts with me. I love this about Luke. That he’s confident enough in his manhood to expose his fears because I’ve met many men who would never admit to any. “There are only two things I’m scared of in life—losing Sean and not being there for him however he needs me. I’d do anything to avoid those things.”
“I would be scared of those things, too, if I had a child.”
“Do you want kids?”
“Oh, my God, yes. At least two. And cats. And a house in the city and one by the beach.” My life dreams begin to fall out of my mouth, uncensored.
“You love the beach that much?”
I nod. “I just find it so peaceful and refreshing. When I first moved to Queensland, I spent days at the beach. If it wasn’t for uni being in Brisbane, I would have moved to the Coast.”
“Thank fuck for uni, then.” I know exactly what he means and smile in agreement.
“Fate would have found a way for us to meet if it hadn’t been for Avery and the bar.”
“You think this was predetermined?”
“I’m choosing to believe it was. I mean, I seriously need a man in my life who can cook roast and pizza, right? The universe sent me you. I’d say that was fate.”
His hand curls around my neck, and he pulls my face close, so our lips almost meet. “I’ve never met anyone like you before, Callie.”
My breathing speeds up. “How do you mean?”
“Someone who is different to me on so many levels, but in such a way that I appreciate those differences. You show me other ways to think about things, other facets to consider.”
“I know what you mean,” I whisper before closing the distance between our mouths.
Within five minutes, Luke has me on the blanket, my body tangled with his. I don’t want to move out of his hold, but I know I need to. This is leading into dangerous territory.
I finally disentangle myself ten minutes later and scramble to a sitting position as far from him on the blanket as possible. Pointing at him, I say in the sternest voice I can muster, “You need to stay on your side.”
He grins and sits up. Moving the basket in between us, he says, “That was your fault.”
I pull a face. “How do you figure that?”
“If you weren’t so damn hot I wouldn’t be so damn tempted. You need to tone the sexy down a notch, and we won’t have a problem,” he says as he opens the basket and pulls an assortment of cheeses and crackers out.
“I guess I could wear a face mask next time.”
He pauses and gives me a pointed look. “We all know face masks are not safe around me, but knock yourself out. I sure as fuck won’t be complaining.”
I pout. “You always win. It’s not fair.”
“Baby, I think we both know who wins around here. And it ain’t me, but I’m happy as hell to lose to you every time.”
“What do you lose to me? Ever. I’m pretty sure you win often.”
His eyes hold mine. So intense. When he answers me, his voice has a tinge of the sexy growl I love to it. “I’m slowly losing a part of me to you, Callie. I swore I’d never lose it again, but it seems I’ve found someone I’ll happily give it to.”
My stomach does somersaults.
What do you say to that?
To a man practically telling you he’s giving you his heart.
Mrs Harper was right when she said time means nothing where love is concerned. Because I’m sure that Luke Hardy is getting my heart in return.
21
Callie
“Callie! Thank you so much for this,” Paris says when I knock on her front door Tuesday night.
Luke called me before I left work to ask if I could drop by Elixir and collect the new asthma puffer he had there for Sean and drop it off to Paris.
“Anytime,” I reply, handing over the medicine.
She waves me inside, and I follow her down the hall into the kitchen. I’m surprised to see Alanis there. She stares at me, her expression neutral.
“I’m just going to check on Sean to see how he is. His asthma has been playing up today,” Paris says as she leaves us.
Alanis and I stand in silence until I finally break it. I struggle with awkward silences. “How are you, Alanis?”
She ignores my question. “Let’s cut the pleasantries. I’m trying to figure out what you want from Luke.”
“I don’t want anything except him.” Not that it’s any of her business.
She places her hand on her hip. “Really? I’m wondering if you’re thinking you’ve found a rich guy who owns his own business, a gorgeous house, and a nice car and thinking you might want to get your claws into him.”
My blood boils and as much as this woman is a friend of Luke’s, I won’t stand for being spoken to that way. “I’m thinking you’re a bitch who knows nothing about me and what I want. And I’m also thinking you need to back off and leave us alone.”
Her lip curls up in a sneer. “I’ve known Luke for a long time, and I look out for him. His first wife was after his family’s money. I won’t ever let another woman do what she did to him.”
“I can assure you I’m not after his money, and I’m not a murderer. All I’m after is his body and his heart. Swear to God.”
Her eyes widen when I mention his body.