Luke, of course, had remained very much in control of himself. Reserved. Not cold, just distinctly out of reach.
Yet he’d shown up here. Here! Which proved her five-step plan was working better than she’d thought.
Some of the guests were stealing covert glances at him. In fact, a pulse of interest seemed to be traveling through the room.Is that Luke Dempsey?she imagined one person saying to the next, like a game of telephone.
She greeted several acquaintances as she passed. Running an animal shelter in Misty River ensured that she could attend any type of gathering and find people there she knew.
A redhead came into view, standing beside Luke.
Finley stutter-stepped. Wait. The redhead was Dakota, the beautiful librarian who’d helped them research the Dewey decimal number.
Surely, Luke had not brought Dakota as his date. Luke andDakota had been strangers the day of the library visit. Finley had introduced them. .. .
Vividly, she recalled the smitten looks Dakota had sent Luke.
Finley watched Dakota and Luke separate from Ben and walk together toward the fireplace.
In her whole life, she’d never experienced jealousy more powerful than a mild twinge. Until now. It began to simmer like acid in the center of her torso.
Finley had kissed Luke, and he’d kissed her back. Very thoroughly! Then he’d closed the door to the possibility of more between them. She’d thought he’d done so because of his inability to let himself care about anyone, because of his guilt, his issues. She might have gotten that wrong. Maybe it hadn’t been about him so much as her. Maybe he was able to care, he just didn’t wanther.
She was still at least ten feet away from Luke. Even so, his chin turned in her direction as if she’d called to him. They looked at each other, his chiseled face inscrutable.
She pasted on a smile and approached. “Happy Valentine’s Day!” Her words sounded so merry that they rang false. If she didn’t tone it down, they’d think her tipsy.
“Same to you,” answered Dakota, who wore a tight navy dress that accentuated her curves.
“Thanks again for your help when we came by the library a few weeks ago,” Finley said to her.
“You’re welcome. I just wish I could have done more.”
All the things Finley wanted to say to Dakota, but wouldn’t, filled her head in a rush.I understand why you’d set your sights on Luke. Handsomeness and intrigue flow from him. However, I’ve spent more than a month talking to him, pulling hard-won smiles from him, getting to know him. You can’t possibly understand as well as I do how broken he is inside.
Derek appeared next to Finley. She startled. Upon seeing Luke, she’d temporarily forgotten about her date. “Have you both met Derek Upshaw?” she asked Luke and Dakota.
Luke’s hazel eyes turned to chips of ice.
“I don’t think we’ve met.” Dakota introduced herself to Derek.
“Luke and I went to high school together,” Derek said, shaking Luke’s hand. “Can you believe so many years have passed?”
“I can.”
“Have you been doing well?” Derek asked.
Luke gave a single nod but didn’t reply.
See, Dakota? This is what I’ve put up with from him for weeks.
Thank goodness she’d brought Derek. He was good-looking, flirtatious, and loved animals. Derek reminded her of a mirrored garden orb. Shiny. So what if he had a habit of speaking in questions? That really wasn’t annoying at all. It showed his willingness to involve others in discussions.
“What do you do, Derek?” Dakota asked.
“I’m a physical therapist. I’m really fortunate to get to work with patients, you know?”
“His patients are the fortunate ones,” Finley responded dutifully.
“How do you two know each other?” Dakota asked.
