It was endearing in a way I hadn’t expected. This careful, analytical approach to something as simple as a cookie.
It should have felt awkward, sitting at his kitchen table, neither of us quite sure what to say. But it didn’t.
When was the last time something had felt this easy?
“Thanks for helping me get all this stuff inside,” I said finally. “You didn’t have to. Most people wouldn’t have.”
He glanced up at me, then away. “It was the least I could do after you agreed to take on this whole project.”
“It’s my job, Luke.”
“Still.” He hesitated, then added, his voice lowered. “I’m glad I got paired with you.”
The sincerity in his voice made my chest feel warm in a way that had nothing to do with the kitchen’s temperature.
“Me too,” I admitted.
We lapsed into another moment of silence, but this one felt different. Charged, somehow. Like we were both aware of something humming beneath the surface, but neither of us knew quite what to do about it.
The silence stretched, and I became hyper-aware of how close we were sitting, how his knee was just inches from mine under the table. I cleared my throat, needing to break whatever spell was settling over us. “Well, I should probably?—”
“Do you have somewhere you need to be?” he asked quickly. “I mean, if you do, that’s fine, obviously. But if you don’t … you could stay. For a bit. If you want.”
The way he looked at me—hopeful and a little bit nervous, like he expected me to say no but was asking anyway—made me want to say yes. When was the last time someone had looked at me like that? Like they actually wanted me to stay, not out of obligation or politeness, but because they genuinely enjoyed my company?
I couldn’t remember.
“I don’t have another appointment until four,” I heard myself say.
“Okay.” He smiled. “Good.”
We talked for another hour or so about Christmas traditions and then about nothing in particular. Luke was funny when he relaxed, making dry observations that caught me off guard and made me laugh. And when I talked, he listened with this focused intensity that made me feel like I was the only person in the world.
It was nice.
Reallynice.
Which was why I was disappointed when I finally glanced at the clock on the far wall and realized I needed to leave.
“I should head out,” I said reluctantly, standing from the table. “Thanks for the cookies. And the help. And the company.”
“Anytime.” Luke stood too, following me through the house to the front door. “Drive safe, Holly.”
“Will do.”
I pulled on my coat, gave him one last smile, and headed down the porch steps to my SUV.
The key turned in the ignition, but nothing happened.
I tried again.Click click click.
No. No, no, no.
I turned the key a third time, pumping the gas pedal, as if that ever actually helped. The engine gave a pathetic whine and then … nothing.
“Come on,” I muttered, trying again. And again. “Please. Please, not today.”
A knock on my window made me jump. Luke stood there, concern written all over his face.
