Luke’s face pulled into a sarcastic pitying wince. “Oh, brother. I’m sorry. You weren’t able to...” He made a gesture with his finger like it was a drooping dick.
“You’re a prick,” I said on a chuckle. “I mean I’m not talking to you about shit like that because it’s none of your business.”
“Fair enough. But don’t think I missed that smile, man. You looked downright giddy.”
I couldn’t really argue with that, so I didn’t bother trying. “The date went well.”
Luke pointed through the screen at my face. “I figured that from the hickey on your neck there, buddy.”Ah, shit.
I lifted my free hand to slap it against the side of my neck, and the instant I did, Luke’s eyes bugged out and he burst into laughter. “I was just fucking with you, but at least now I know the date went well.”
I didn’t bother hiding my smile. I didn’t want to. “Yeah. It went well. She’s...” I scrubbed a hand down my face as I tried to search for adequate words. “She’s incredible. I don’t know how else to describe her.”
He studied my expression, his gaze shrewd. “I’ve never seen you like this, man.”
“I’ve never felt like this,” I admitted. “She’s different, brother. I can’t explain it. I just...Ifeel different when I’m around her. I’ve never felt like this about a woman before.”
Luke was silent for a beat, like he needed a moment to take in everything I just confessed. “I’m happy for you, Tan. Honestly, I am. But I just want to make sure you’re being smart. That you’re looking out for yourself first and foremost.”
I understood his concern. He’d been there for me when shit had gone down in the past. It was unbelievable what some people were capable of when money or fame was involved. I’d met more than my fair share of women who wanted nothing more than to use me for both those very things. Women who would go to ridiculous lengths just to catch me in a compromising position so they could profit off it.
“I get why you’d worry, but I’m not an idiot. I learned to look out for myself a long time ago.”
Luke blew out a heavy sigh. “I know that all too well. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to punch your piece-of-shit father in the fucking face.”
My mood began to dim, something I hadn’t thought possible after the night I had. But that was what talk of my father always did. “He’s not worth it.”
Something over my shoulder caught Luke’s attention, and a shit-eating smile. “Well, good morning,” he said before his attention came back to me. “Now Ireallysee how your date went well.”
My back shot straight, and I looked over my shoulder to find Holly standing in the entryway of the kitchen. She was dressed in my button-down from the night before, her hair hanging loose and slightly disheveled from sleep, and in her just-waking-up rumpled state, she was more beautiful than I’d seen her so far.
“Hi,” I said, once again struck mute by this incredible woman.
“Hi back. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” She pointed at the phone I was still holding, the screen facing her clear as day.
“You didn’t,” I assured her at the same time Luke spoke up. “He’s right. I called him at the crack of dawn to give him a hard time since his lazy ass gets to be on vacation. If anyone interrupted, it’s me.”
She smiled at my best friend, her whole face lighting up. “That’s okay. I’m sure Tanner can use you giving him a hard time now and then. Keeps his ego in check.”
“Oh, I like her,” he declared.
My lips hooked into a smirk as I eyed her up and down. “Yeah, I do too. That’s why I’m hanging up on your ass.” I didn’t let him get a word out before I hit the button disconnecting the call. Placing my phone face down on the island, I swiveled on my stool to face her full-on as she walked farther into the kitchen. As soon as she was within reach, I snagged her by the wrist andyanked her between my legs. My free hand hooked behind her neck so I could pull her down for a slow, thorough kiss.
“Good morning,” I said with a smile against her lips.
“I’ll say.” She pulled back and beamed down at me.
Now that she was in the room, the desire to touch her became a physical thing. My palms itched like there were bees under my skin. “I hope I didn’t wake you up. I wanted to let you sleep.” It was still early, the sun was still ascending, after all.
She shook her head, wrapping her arms around my neck and perching her full, round ass on my thigh. “No, I’m used to getting up early so I can open the shop every day.”
“Do you not have any other staff?”
“Oh, I do. I have three girls. They’re amazing, and One More Chapter wouldn’t be what it is today without them. It’s hard for me to schedule them early in the morning. I feel too guilty.”
I lifted my hand to brush a few wild strands of hair back from her forehead, then trailed my fingertips down her temple and over her jaw to cup the side of her delicate neck. Her kind heart was one of the things that made her so damn attractive. “Sounds to me like they’re lucky to have you as a boss.”
“Or maybe we’re all lucky.”
