Terrible was underselling it. They were somehow both burnt and soggy, often with a fishy aftertaste. It was an art Burt had perfected over the years.
Jesse dropped behind his new desk. “And doesn’t everyone hate the sheriff?”
“They hated Rowan because he was a grumpy old ass.Youare young and vibrant and loveable.”
“I don’t think any of those things apply to me.”
“Of course they do. Maybe not today though. Today you’re looking a little worse for wear. Trouble at home with yourroommate?”
Shit. He didnotwant to talk about Aspen. “No trouble. In fact, she seems completely unaffected by me.”
Luke cringed. “That must hurt the ego.”
“My ego’s fine.” The other parts of him? Not so much.
“Why did you ask her to live with you again? Because you like torturing yourself?”
He could have laughed because wasn’t that the same question he’d been asking himself all morning? Hell, all month. “She needed to get out of Misty Peak, and I had a room.”
“Oh, yes, because of the ex and the unstable mother. And maybe you were hoping that if she stayed with you—”
“No. I wasn’t hoping anything. She just got out of a bad relationship. She’s not in a place to date.” She’d said that more than once, and he needed to respect it, dammit.
Luke’s nose wrinkled. “You poor son of a bitch. You know what you need?”
“A drink?”
“Let’s agree you need a few things, but first, coffee.”
Jesse took the outstretched drink. What the fuck? “The mug has breasts.”
“You’re welcome. And the second thing you need is a date.”
“No.” Hell no. He couldn’t date when Aspen was all he could think about.
“Yes. And I know just the right woman. I met her in yoga.”
“You do yoga?”
“Hell yes, I do yoga. Have youseenthe women there?”
“I thought you were dating Margot?” Margot was a deputy here at the station, and honestly, Jesse didn’t know if they were dating or friends.
Luke lifted a shoulder. “You should know that no woman can tie me down.”
Jesus Christ.This was why he’d found it hard to reconnect with Luke since coming back. While Jesse had grown and matured, he wasn’t so sure Luke had.
“Come on.” Luke leaned forward. “One date. The two of you might hit it off over a slice of pizza.”
“I’m not dating a woman from your yoga class. And even if I was, I wouldn’t be doing it with Burt’s Pizza.”
“Chinese then.”
“I need to check my emails.” He turned toward his computer.
“Fine, but I’m picking this conversation back up at lunch.”
“Close the door on your way out.”
