Luke gives a short laugh.“I’ll add that to my LinkedIn endorsements.”
And then—before he leaves—he does something that punches me square in the chest.
He walks over to Claire and gently touches her shoulder.“Good luck with the baby.If you ever need security for your nursery camera, let me know.I know a guy.”
Claire stares at him, touched.“Thanks, Luke.”
Then he turns to Harper and says, “I hope your next trial closes well.That paralegal you mentored?I read her write-up in the law journal.Smart move bringing her in.”
Harper’s eyes widen, speechless for once.“How did you?—?”
“I make it a point to know impressive people.”
Surprise—and something else I can’t describe—places a knot in my throat.I cough to clear it.
"I'll walk you out," I say quickly, needing air and space and distance from my family's knowing looks.
By the time Luke and I exit to the porch, the autumn mist is already creating halos around the streetlights, the damp air soaking into my skin.
My eyes flick over Luke’s six-foot-four figure, landing at the partnership papers tucked under his arm.
"Thank you," I say, at last."For playing.For helping me win.For not running when Claire mentioned the kissing within thirty seconds of your arrival."
"Your family's wonderful.”He nods, the strong jaw of his bobbing."Chaotic, but wonderful."
"They're something."
He shifts on his feet, and I realize he's nervous.
Luke Sterling—billionaire tech genius, impossibly muscular human machine—is nervous on my parents' porch.
"I need to take the train back to the city," he says."But I could drop you at the inn first.If you want."
"You take the train?"
"Sometimes.When I need to think."He pauses."It's a bit unusual.The train, I mean."
"Unusual how?"
"You'll see.If you come."
I blink, crossing my arms against the cold.
This is exactly the right time to say “no.”
To take my own car.To take a step back, to put some slack into the slowly tightening rope that’s tying me to this god of a man.
It’s exactly the time to remember that tie—the tether between us—is all built on lies and desperation and a hack that could destroy everything if he finds out.
Instead, I say, "Let me grab my things."
"Really?"He looks surprised.
"Really.Just promise me the train isn't made of solid gold or something equally billionaire-ridiculous."
His smile is mysterious."I make no promises."
I head back inside to find my entire family pressed against the window.
