My head whipped around to see a young woman—probably not more than twenty-two or twenty-three—heading across the street toward us on four-inch heels. Her long legs, visible beneath her short white skirt, were toned and sleek. Long, glossy black hair hung around her shoulders, dusting the tops of perky boobs, which showed above the neckline of her tight lavender sleeveless top. Tucked under one arm, she held a white blazer and a small black purse.
Luke froze for half a second before a polite, but welcoming, smile came over his face. “Taylor.”
“I was driving through, on my way up to the family cabin, when I saw you step out of the building. What are you doing swinging a hammer?” She gestured to the tool still gripped in his hand. “I thought you hung up your hard hat for a T-square.”
I narrowed my eyes. Who was this woman, and how did she know so much about Luke?
“I did, but Dad’s had some health issues. I’m filling in.”
The woman’s perfect eyebrows drew together. “Oh? I hope he’s okay.”
“He’s fine. Just recuperating yet.”
“Good. I always liked your dad.”
Still eyeing the woman, I shifted slightly.
Luke glanced at me, a slight deer-in-headlights look on his face. “Taylor, this is Mina, my—” his brows tweaked, and a beat of silence passed before he continued. “She owns this building, and the coffeeshop next door.”
What had he been about to say before he so abruptly changed it? That I was his what? Lover? Girlfriend? Cougar toy?
I fought an eye roll. While we’d certainly enjoyed our playtime last night, I wasn’t old enough yet to truly be considered a cougar, even if I was older than Luke.
“Mina, this is Taylor Bray. I did some work for her family. Well, Dad’s company did. I was on the crew.”
With a bright, toothy smile, Taylor held out a hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
My smile was tighter, but still polite as I shook her hand. “You too.”
Letting go of my hand, she tuned me out and focused on Luke once more. “You should come by the cabin sometime. We’ve made a few upgrades since you were there last.” A heated look entered her eyes. “Like a hot tub. I’ll be there all weekend.”
“Oh.” Luke reached a hand up and rubbed the back of his neck. “Um, thanks, but I”—he cast a quick look at me—“I’m busy.”
For the first time, Taylor truly noticed me. Her eyes narrowed, then roved over me from head to toe before she smirked. “I see you still have a thing for jobsite romances.”
My eyes widened. Before I could unstick my tongue from the roof of my mouth and hit her with some tart comeback, she was waggling her fingers and turning to cross the street.
“My invitation still stands, Luke.” Spinning on her pointy heel, she looked both ways, then crossed the street to a shiny silver BMW SUV.
One of my eyebrows winged upward at the extra sashay she put in her hips. An inelegant snort left me. This time I didn’t hold back the eye roll. “I need to get back to work.”
I was sure my abrupt spin didn’t look nearly as elegant as Taylor’s, thanks to my slip-on canvas shoes, but I did my best to keep my spine straight and make as smooth of a turn as possible.
“Mina.” Luke grabbed my arm, halting my retreat.
I froze, then turned slowly to stare at the strong, tanned fingers encircling my arm.
“She was just a fling. Years ago,” he said, gentling his touch, but not letting go. “We went out a few times, but it was nothing serious.”
When I raised my gaze to his, an apology shone back from the depths of his gray eyes.
It didn’t stop the edge from entering my voice, though. “I didn’t ask.” I didn’t want details. Thinking about him with another woman—especially one who looked likethat—wasn’t something I was keen to do.
Luke studied me. “You don’t need to be jealous, Mina. I’ve never cheated on a woman, and I don’t plan to start now. Taylor’s my past, and she can stay there.”
While my heart skipped in delight that he didn’t want to go running back to that brunette bombshell, I couldn’t help but compare myself to her.
“I’m not jealous,” I denied, hoping I put enough conviction in my voice to make him believe me, because it certainly wasn’t the truth.
