One of the ladies reaches out to place her hand in the crook of his elbow, and I suck in a breath.I look away, gnawing my lower lip.
“Bradshaw has never been the commitment type. Don’t let him stress you out.” Henrik says.
I nod, sipping the champagne. My stomach feels hollow.
In the corner of my eye, I see Luke stand. He tosses his drink back before he removes her hand. He pauses, regarding me with an expression of...interest. His eyes darken when he sees Henrik.
“Now that’s a sight I’ve never seen.” Henrik chuckles. “Let me see something.” He reaches over to brush a stray hair out of my eyes. I gape at him.
Luke stalks toward us, and I swallow down my nerves.
So handsome.
“Henrik.” He says, reaching out to shake his hand.
“Been keeping this lovely girl company for you.” Henrik grins. They shake hands for an oddly long time.
“Yeah, I see that.” Luke grits.
Henrik is unbothered, grinning like it’s his birthday. I shift to face Luke.
“Did you...talk to your mom?” I ask, eyes flitting to the three murderous glares being shot at me from behind him.
He nods, heaving a sigh as his fingers reach out to trace over my bottom lip. I’m motionless, not even daring to breathe. I can smell the bourbon on him.
He watches the movement as his hand continues down to my neck, where he pulls me in close, dropping his mouth to kiss the top of my shoulder. My sensitive skin ignites at the contact, my thighs clenching together.
“I missed you,” he whispers.
“I...wasn’t gone very long.” Breathing is difficult with his rapt attention on my neck.
“I want to go back. Let’s go night swimming and then make love in the moonlight.”
That’s the best idea I’ve ever heard.
I hear Henrik mutter something about miracles before stepping toward the three women.
I nod, looking up to see Fallon walking toward us. I try to back away from him, but he grabs my waist, preventing me from going further.
“Luke, can you please come above? We’re about to start serving the appetizers.” Her expression is wounded as she lowers her voice. “You promised to participate.”
He looks up at her. “I can’t do it, Fal. I thought I could?—”
“No! Lukie,please. You swore to me. Do it for me, not for him. I don’t even have Dad here. You can’t bail.” She’s pleading with him, honey-brown eyes watering.
He closes his eyes, tightening his grip around my waist.
What on earth could be holding him back from supporting his sister the night before her wedding?
He finally nods, jaw clenching. She engulfs him in a hug, sniffling. A few bystanders have started to curiously eye ourtrio, and I find myself wanting to tell them to mind their own business.
Fallon regains her composure, pulling back to smile at Luke. “Can we go sit? They’re ready to start.”
“Yes, let’s go,” he says, guiding me up as she leads the way, her model-walk betraying the emotion expressed moments before.
I have a bad feeling about tonight.
CHAPTER 20
