His wide smile made the risk feel more than worth it. He pulled his phone out of his back pocket and handed it to me. “I understand. Questions about the play.”
In the soft glow of the setting sun he was even more beautiful. The gold on the inside of his hazel eyes was so captivating that I wasn’t sure I could look away. He looked younger when he smiled and showed off the slightest gap between his front teeth. There was something so charming about his face when he smiled.
“Now that I’ve managed to score your number, a feat that Cole and Ben are going to hate me for, I guess I should get you and Oliver off the side of the road.” He took my hand and led me around to Oliver’s door. “I’ll drive you home and have someone get the car back to you tonight.”
I whistled. “Mr. Darcy, why you do spoil me!”
“Mr. Darcy, huh?” Luke’s eyes moved down my body. “Not exactly the book boyfriend I would’ve assumed you’d connect me to.”
I blushed because I knew exactly what he was getting at.
8
Callie
Oliver stared at Luke from the backseat, studying the way he spoke and moved like Luke was the most interesting specimen ever. He stayed quiet, as expected around a new person in such a small group, but he was taking everything in.
“My daughter, Emma, is thrilled to start school next week. It’s a little weird, actually. She’s normally pretty anxious this time of the year, like most kids, I guess. But she gets her overthinking from me and it usually hits more with change.” Luke drove with one hand on the steering wheel and navigated traffic effortlessly. “How was she when you met with her? My ex-wife brought her because I had a meeting I couldn’t move.”
I shifted in my seat so I could watch him without straining my neck. “Yeah, Michelle, right? Emma was nervous at first but once we chatted for a bit she calmed right down. We painted while we talked about everything, so it was a low-stakes situation. I’m glad to hear she’s excited. She’s such a sweet girl. Your ex-wife seemed really nice, too.”
He kept his eyes on the road and his posture relaxed but I could sense some major tension. “You won’t typically have to deal with Michelle. She only shows up if I absolutely can’t get away.”
I shrugged. “I’m easy. I can deal with anyone.”
After turning where I indicated, he cleared his throat. “So. Are you cooking tonight or should I order takeout?”
“Oh, god, Chinese sounds delicious! But you don’t need to order it. You’ve done enough just by not leaving me to melt on the side of the road.” I squeezed my hands between my thighs. “Thank you, by the way. And thank you for not making this weird. I know our situation isn’t exactly…normal, or ideal.”
His laugh was low and mischievous. “I think our situation is pretty ideal. I’ve been thinking about you since I woke up by the lake with two assholes and no sexy little teacher.”
I slapped his arm and glanced back at Oliver. “We’re almost home, Ollie. Go wash up when we get there and I’ll fix your sandwich.”
“I know, Mom. I follow the rules.” He might as well have added that I don’t. “I won’t share my sandwich with Mr. Carter.”
That made Luke laugh out loud. “That’s alright, Oliver. I’ll bring my own food to dinner. Is it okay if I eat with you and your mom?”
I held my breath, unsure if I wanted Oliver to agree or disagree. Dinner with Luke Carter? I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. I still wasn’t sure giving him my number had been a good idea. If Darren found out, he’d use that information to harass me. Or worse. He’d use it to fire me.
“You can eat with us.”
Luke passed me his phone. “Go ahead and order dinner for us. Whatever you want, it’s on me. I’m easy so just order two of whatever you order. Or we could get our own and share. I’m not picky.”
I opened his phone without a password and saw that his background was a selfie of him and Emma, both wearing Disney ears and grinning like mad. Then I saw that my favorite Chinese restaurant’s ordering app was on his home screen. “Oh, my god, you love Teaden, too?”
He shifted in his seat and cleared his throat again. “Yep.”
I stared harder at him and noticed sweat beading on his forehead. With the AC vents blasting him right in the face, I doubted it was from being hot. “You’re lying.”
He flinched and I watched in awe as his cheeks burned red. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to come off as a creep. I found your socials and saw you eat Teaden takeout more than anywhere else. Putting the app on my phone was wishful thinking.”
I sat perfectly still, so charmed that I didn’t trust myself to speak. Maybe some people would’ve found it creepy but I’d never been with a man who put effort into being with me. God knew Oliver’s dad had been absolutely useless.
“You’re creeped out.”
I held his phone tighter and shook my head. “No. I’m not. Which should maybe creepyouout.”
His laughter filled the truck but the sound didn’t seem to phase Oliver, which was a massive gift. “So, you’re into stalking. Got it. This seems like a good time to mention in passing that I noticed you a few days before we spoke at the retreat. The way you were sneaking around like a bridge troll gave me the impression you weren’t interested in getting to know anyone but then you tried to body slam Cole for a cupcake. The rest was history, as they say.”
