“You knew they were going to do this to me?” I ask Andi, deceptively calm.
She’s still smiling, “Mmmhmmm,” she nods.
“So this was all planned?”
“Yep.” She’s so damn proud of this little covert coup against me. “Remember the text in the truck?”
“I see. Untie me, Andi.”
“You have to promise me something first,” she says, still smiling but a little hesitant now. As well she should be.
“I will promise you something, Andi,“ I state confidently, “I will promise if you don’t untie meright now, it will bemuch worsefor you when I do get untied.” I am still calm but there’s no doubt in her mind as to what I mean.
She laughs nervously, but the mischievous gleam in her eyes is shining bright, “No, Luke. You have to promise you will behave and be nice if I untie you. Otherwise, I will just have to hand-feed you every meal until you promise me you decide to be a good boy.”
I smirk, “OK, Andi.” She won’t accept that – she makes me say the words verbatim.
“I promise I will behave and be nice if you untie me now,” I recite after her. So she unties my legs first. Then my hands last. And she’s kept her eyes trained on mine the whole time. I stand up, moving my arms and legs around to get the blood flowing again. Then I give her my mischievous grin and she squeals.
“NO, LUKE! YOU PROMISED!” She’s laughing and backing away from me with her palms up between us.
“Silly woman…..didn’t you notice my arms and legs were crossed when I said that? Automatically makes it null and void….so I’m not breaking my promise, now am I?” I respond in a low, threatening whisper despite the smile that is splitting my face in two. I’m closing in on her as she turns to run from me – in her heels.
I wrap my arms around her and tackle her full force and we land in the deep end of the pool. When our heads emerge back up through the water, she’s sputtering water and laughing hysterically. She playfully swats at me as she admonishes me, “You lunatic! You are crazy!”
I wrap my arms around her and hold her afloat, “I am crazy….crazy about you.”
ANDI
I knew I’d pay for that little trick but it was well worth a little dip in the pool to see him tied up to the chair like that. The look on his face was priceless. I don’t know what he thought we were going to do with him but it certainly wasn’t this. I’ve just washed my face and I’m changing into my bathing suit for a real swimming party and I can’t help but laugh again every few minutes when the scene replays in my mind.
I go back outside and most of the gang is already in the pool. My girls already had a bathing suit at my house from our hot tub party and the guys brought theirs, plus one for Luke. I put towels out for everyone and smile at Luke, who’s stalking towards me in a cat-like prowl right now. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me in for a bear hug. I love his hugs, so much that I moan in pleasure and feel his smile against the side of my head.
“Does this mean I’m forgiven and we’re back together?” Luke whispers in my ear.
“You’re forgiven, Luke.“ I can’t stay mad at him, especially when he apologized so sweetly, explained everything to me and then was such a good sport after our little practical joke.
Most people would think I should stay mad at him and hold a grudge for how much he hurt me. But one thing that I’ve learned the hard way is that life is too short to stay mad at the ones you love. And I do love him.
“But we’re not back together? Because you have to protect me?” He’s only half-joking and we both know it. He wants me to say we’re back together but the stubborn man doesn’t think he needs to be protected. Even though he doesn’t know what he’s up against.
I bang my forehead in frustration against his massive chest as his laugh rumbles through it. “Do we need to have another disagreement about this?”
“No, no argument here. I will let you protect me as long as you say we’re back together. That’s a fair compromise, don’t you think?” He’s murmuring in my ear, his lips are grazing my earlobes and sending chills through me.Smooth talker.
When I look up into hiseyes, I can see it - he knows he has me. There’s no use in denying it. Or in denying myself of what I really want.Him.I just want him.
“So, Andi, how do you know Luke doesn’t just want you for your money?” Brandon calls from the pool. He really is a great brother to Luke and right now I’m really appreciating that he just got me out of answering Luke’s question.
“Shut the fuck up, Brandon. You know better than that. And I’ve told you a million times –you can’t have her! Find your own girl” Luke yells back at Brandon as I laugh.
“Think he’s funny?” Luke says, turning on me with that evil glint in his eye. I immediately start backing up but he keeps advancing on me, slowly but surely gaining on me.
“Yeah, I think he’s funny,” I answer casually.
“Huh. You think it’s funny that he’s badmouthing me?” He tilts his head down and his eyes track my movements from under his furrowed brow.
“I think it’s funny that he’s giving you a hard time,” I clarify. I’m still slowly moving away from him because I know he’s up to something.
