“That’s sweet but I don’t want to drag up all those old ghosts,” I said, shaking my head. “Besides, I don’t want that life anymore. I want to be right here.”
“I’m honored I’ve been able to help with that,” he murmured, gazing into my eyes.
I shuddered and hoped he didn’t see it. Or if he did, I hoped he thought it was from a chill in the air. “Anyway, long story short, that dickhead left me with an apartment I could barely afford and nothing to show for my time in LA. I went home and took a job at the Helios. I thought things were looking up, too, right before the rug got pulled out from underneath me and they shut the place down.”
“I’m sorry that happened.”
“It was heartbreaking, but then you showed up and put all the pieces back together.” This time, I looked intohiseyes, wanting him to see how much it meant. When he didn’t look away, I got shy and went for more champagne.
Luke was intense. My heart kept beating fast when I thought about what it would be like to kiss him like he’d kissed me in the studio. To feel his strong arms around me, his breath on my face, his tongue parting my lips. I shivered again.
I needed to change course or I was going to internally combust. “My story probably sounds pathetic. After what you went through.”
Luke tilted his head. “What did I go through?”
“Um, that knee injury that ended your football career?” I smiled, confused.
“Oh, yeah, that.” He waved it away. “I remember the injury when it rains, because it aches like a bastard, but you know, I figured things out.”
I shrugged. “I’m just saying, you didn’t let that hold you back. And me? I’ve been trying to prove myself my entire life.”
He held up his hands to stop me. “Let me be clear. It was a dark time for me. I struggled and I cursed my fate and my decisions. Just like you, I ended up back home, licking my wounds, trying to decide how to navigate stormy waters.”
“You went back to the ranch?” I asked, sitting up. “I didn’t know that.”
Luke nodded. “Yeah, I never told anyone I was home. Things were too raw. I couldn’t handle the pity or the well wishes and questions. I thought about staying there. Working on the ranch with my dad. A simple life didn’t sound so bad to me. I imagined I’d coach football at our old school. Probably settle down, get married.”
I leaned forward. “So what happened? Why didn’t you stay in Harrison City?”
“I wanted to give the big dream one more try,” he said, staring into the fire like he was looking back into the past. “I knew I would regret it later. The ranch would be waiting for me if I needed to come home.”
“And it worked out,” I said, impressed. Luke wasn’t just a pretty face and broad shoulders. He had suffered and fought through it, earning the magical patio with the heated tiles. “You’ve been more successful after the injury than before it. You’re an inspiration.”
“Good,” he said. “Let me inspire you a little more. My torn-up knee was a setback that led me to bigger and better things. Your shitty LA boyfriend is like my knee. He blew up your whole life but it sent you right here to this moment. And from what Marshall was saying, your future is looking pretty great.”
“I never knew you had this side to you,” I said, staring at him. “I didn’t realize you had feelings.”
Luke cocked a smile. “I’m full of surprises.”
“Like that kiss in the studio,” I said breathlessly. “That was a surprise.”
“It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I should have discussed it with you first.”
I was too scared to tell Luke what I really wanted, so I came up with a flimsy excuse on the fly. “It’s fine. I’m just thinking, if you ever need to do that again, maybe it would be a good idea to do a couple practice ones, so I don’t look like it’s the first time we’ve been that close to each other.”
Luke nodded thoughtfully. “I can’t argue with the logic.”
He got up, took my hands, and pulled me to my feet. In his eyes, I saw the reflection of the dancing flames, hypnotizing me, drawing me in.
Luke kissed me again and fire scorched my veins.
Time stopped and we drifted together in our own little universe. Then he backed away and reality came crashing down on me.
“Okay, that seemed pretty convincing,” I said, scrambling to keep up the lie instead of facing the truth. I wanted him, every part of him and not just his sweet lips.
His eyes studied my face and he nodded, breathless. “It was a believable kiss. I think that’s enough practice.” He cleared his throat, breaking the spell. “We should get some rest. In all the excitement, I forgot to tell you. We have a gala to attend at the library soon for one of the foundations I donate to. We’ll have to make sure you have a dress.”
Luke started packing up the food, signaling the night was over. I watched him, wondering if I could go back to normal after the kiss.
