She cut that thought off before it went further, blinking fast to stave off the faint feeling spreading through her. “We need to decide on a schedule of when each of us can be here and the other cannot.”
He thought about it for a second. “That’s petty,” he said. “Not to mention immature.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, bite me.”
“Don’t tempt me.” His gaze scorched through her, and her skin warmed. Leveling her breathing, she reminded herself that he was purposefully lewd just to bother her. He was an incorrigible flirt. There was no need to think anything of his words.
Straightening her shoulders, she focused. “If we divide our hours at the shop, we don’t need to spend time in each other’s company. A prospect I’d gladly welcome.”
As she spoke the words, she understood how petty and immature it sounded, but she didn’t care. She couldn’tthink straight when she was around him! Being near him felt like being around a live wire, and any moment she’d be electrocuted. To death.
Luke’s lips twitched as he regarded her, as if he could read her mind. “Okay, I’ll humor you,” he said. She swallowed. “Like anyone else with a job, I work about nine to five, Monday through Friday.” He paused condescendingly. “I assume you do, as well?”
“Yes,” she begrudgingly admitted.
“Hm.” He pretended to think. “So we’re free at the same time. If we divide that up, it limits our already limited time. Not to mention being needlessly tedious.” He took a step toward her, leaning forward. “Feels like a lot of trouble.”
Realizing he was right, Emmeline held back a groan. She clenched her jaw, trying to think and, as she did, he considered her closely, dark eyes unreadable.
“Now, I don’t mind trouble,” Luke said plainly, and then his tone shifted. “Though I don’t understand what for.” He cocked his head to the side. “What is it, Sterling? Can’t handle being around me?”
Though his assumption was arrogant and ridiculous, Emmeline paused before responding, and he took the split-second hesitation to pounce.
Savage pleasure spread across his face, his dark eyes glinting like a blade catching sunlight.
“That’s it, isn’t it?” he said, satisfaction dripping from his words. “You can’t handle me.”
She scoffed. “I can see the years haven’t done anything for your inflated ego,” she gritted out. “I just thought it would beeasiernot to be in each other’s way. I can handle being around you just fine. I am a professional, after all.”
“Okay, sure.” He shrugged easily, not believing her. She glared, and his voice turned to a dare: “Prove it, then. We don’t need to work different times.”
“We don’t,” she snapped, and he considered something.
“Actually, you know what? We should be here at the exactsametime,” he added. “I don’t trust you not to hide files away or to try and sabotage me.”
That was, unfortunately, also a good point. She narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t trustyou, either,” she replied.
“So we’re in agreement, then,” he said. “We’ll come to the bookshop only when the other is here. Deal?”
He held out his hand for her. Her gaze dropped to his outstretched hand, and her pulse quickened.
Why did she have the sense that she had been tricked into something? It felt like she was treading dangerous territory, but there was no way she was backing down from the challenge in his gleaming eyes, the smirk tilting his lips as if he was waiting to call her bluff.
Emmeline lifted her chin. “Deal.”
She took his hand in hers, shaking it. His large hand tightened around hers, and an electric jolt went through her at the contact. As if sensing it, he ran his thumb across her knuckles.
Then, he gave her hand a slight but firm tug. She stumbled forward, and her breathing hitched. She inhaled the smell of his cologne: cypress and spruce. Why, oh why, did he have to smell so good?
Feeling disarmed by how close they were, she gazed up athim with wide eyes. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and her lips parted involuntarily. Her stomach burned.
A slow smile spread across Luke’s lips.
Emmeline had the distinct feeling she had no idea what she had just agreed to.
Chapter 10
The next day was Saturday, thank god; Emmeline needed a day off. In the morning, she took a long, hot bath, then headed straight for the Baby Dragon Cafe, taking Motu with her.
