“I am.” He touched her cheek and then took a couple of steps back. “Be careful, Kate.”
Be careful of the creepy workout buddy, not of him, right?
Then why did she feel like the warning was directed at something much more personal than hotel exercise rooms?
And why did she feel the urge to take that warning and toss it to the wind?
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE FRONT DOOR opened and Nick stood there in a pair of black track pants and a matching T-shirt. “Sorry for the casual attire, but comfortable clothing is easier on my back right now.”
Luke shook hands with him and stepped aside to reveal Kate, who was standing behind him. “Kate’s hotel is on the way here, so I picked her up.”
“Thoughtful of you.” Nick’s eyes narrowed just a touch as he looked from one to the other. “Hello, Kate.”
“Hi.” She came around and kissed his cheek. “Thank you again for inviting me over.”
A voice came from inside the house. “Don’t leave them out on the porch, love. Invite them in.”
He smiled and lifted his brows. “I’m just doing that now.” He stood aside and gestured them inside. “Tiggy’s just putting the finishing touches to the salad.”
“I’ll go see if I can help her.”
Kate called out to the other woman, and Tiggy answered, leaving Luke alone in the entryway with Nick. The man’s eyes were shrewder than he remembered.
“So how’s it going with Kate?”
“Going?”
“With making me look good.”
Luke’s muscles relaxed. “I think she’s basically there. Not much more I can do, she just needs to get to know you over a period of time. How’s Tiggy handling everything?”
“Surprisingly well.” The other man led the way into a small, darkly paneled sitting area. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Whiskey, if you have it.”
Nick took down two cut-glass tumblers from inside a cabinet and poured them each a drink. “Have a seat.”
Why did he get the feeling he was about to be interrogated? Not that he blamed his friend, but he could ask Luke about Kate until he was blue in the face. He’d promised her he wouldn’t say anything, and she’d promised to return the favor. He wouldn’t be the one to crack under the pressure.
Besides, seeing her in that workout gear yesterday had driven home the differences between them. She was young and strong, able to do whatever she wanted physically. And when she’d talked about finding a running buddy, he’d realized he’d never be able to be that. For anyone.
Nick handed him the glass then sat in a chair across from his. “How did your dinner date go?”
How the hell did he know about that? He glanced at the door wondering if maybe Kate had—
“Relax. I’m not accusing you of doing anything. You’d mentioned taking her out to talk about my diagnosis. How is she dealing with finding out about me?” He took a sip of his drink. “I can see what’s on the surface, but not what’s going on underneath.”
“I don’t think she knows what to think. She doesn’t have anything against you personally, it’s just been a shock, from what I can gather.” Luke took a healthy swallow of his drink. He’d have to be careful as he was driving Kate home tonight. And that was all he’d be doing.
His lecture to himself did as much good this time as it had last time. While his head knew he wasn’t the right person for her, his body was in strong disagreement. It was telling him they were compatible in every way that mattered.
Well, buddy, as hard as it is for you to comprehend, that’s not all there is to life.
“It’s been a shock for all of us,” Nick said.
“I can imagine. She did ask if she could see the physical therapy area at the hospital. So I took her over there.”
“Was she looking for me? I was there on Saturday, but I think they’ve done about all they can for me.” Nick sat with his back well away from the chair cushion, he noticed.
“How did things go?”
“It’s been a damned hard road. But I’m determined to get back to where I was—for the baby’s sake.”
If only hard work was all it took to get there. Luke had worked his ass off and he was still nowhere near where he had once been. And he never would be. He’d never be able to chase a soccer ball across a field with his son. Never be able to swing his daughter round and round and listen to her squeal with happiness.
He shook away the thoughts. He’d accepted all of that years ago, so why was he suddenly torturing himself again?
He could still do his job, and that was all that mattered. He should be happy. Fulfilled. And he knew there were others who were a whole lot worse off than he was. So it was time to stop moping over stupid inconsequential things.
Such as not being able to run like other men.
As if some switch in his brain had been tripped into the “on” position, a vision of the muscle-bound hulk next to Kate came to life in his head, reviving yearnings he’d thought long dead. Stupid, unattainable desires of physical capability.
“Luke, are you all right?”
“What? I’m sorry, did you say something?” It was then that he realized it wasn’t just Nick staring at him. Tiggy and Kate were now in the room as well—Tiggy propped on the arm of Nick’s chair and Kate on the brown leather sofa across from them. All eyes were fastened firmly on him. Kate had a worried frown on her face as she stared at his groin area.
No, not his groin. Lower.
It was then he felt the pain of his fingers digging into the muscles of his right leg. Torturing it for failing him at every turn.
He released his hold, laying his palm flat on the fabric of his jeans. “Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry, had my mind on a case.”
Kate’s brows lifted a centimeter in question. She knew he was lying.
Don’t ask it. Not in front of them.
Nick saved the day by turning to her instead. “I hear you were checking out the rehabilitation facilities over at the hospital.”
“Yes, I wanted to see what they offered.” She proceeded to talk about her LSVT training, answering questions as Tiggy or Nick voiced them, her face alive and animated, hands gesturing as she described different techniques. She loved her job as much as Luke loved his.
When the conversation inevitably rolled around to her adoptive father back in Memphis, Kate grew hesitant, obviously not wanting to offend Nick or Tiggy. “He’s been great about everything.”
“How long are you planning on staying in London?” Nick draped his arm around Tiggy’s waist. “We’d love to have you around for a while.”
“I don’t know.” Again there was that strange hesitation. “Like I said, my dad has Parkinson’s. I want to be available to help him however I can.”
It had to be incredibly awkward for her to use the words dad and father when referring to the man who’d raised her. But then again, what else would she call him?
“Will you go back to your old job?”
“Possibly. They’re holding it open for me, just in case. But they know my plans are kind of fluid right now.”
So she wasn’t just taking vacation time. He again wondered whether Kate was thinking about making a change, despite her father’s Parkinson’s diagnosis. If so, it would be a pretty drastic one.
Hadn’t he done the same thing when he’d moved from Chicago to London? The difference was that Luke had nothing to hold him in the States. His mom and dad were divorced, and aside from the money he sent to his mother on a regular basis, she’d never shown any interest in having him come for a visit. And his dad... It would be better if Luke never saw him again.
Tiggy stood. “Well, I think everything is ready.”
She hovered over her husband for a moment, as if
making sure he was okay, before he shooed her away. “I’m fine.”
They sat down at the dining room table and passed around roast beef and potatoes. Luke stretched his injured leg under the table, bumping Kate’s foot by accident.
Her gaze jerked up, eyes widening, but she didn’t move or say anything. Neither did he. In fact, he kept his foot right where it was—touching hers—in a game of chicken.
Who would move away first?
Everyone continued talking as if nothing was amiss, but that small area of contact burned through Luke, slowly traveling up his leg until it reached dangerous heights.
Kate blinked and stabbed a piece of meat with her fork, bringing it up to her mouth. On impulse, he slid his foot a little farther forward and hooked it around hers. She stopped chewing for a second or two.
He was playing a dangerous game, and he knew it. He’d basically promised Nick to refrain from any hanky-panky, and here he was playing footsie with the man’s daughter under his own table. But there was something reckless and dangerous about it, and he couldn’t seem to make himself draw back.
Neither did she pull free, which just heightened the temptation to push things a little further, toying with forbidden fruit right under her father’s nose.
What the hell was wrong with him? He wasn’t a hormonal sixteen-year-old boy anymore, but here he was, behaving like one.
All he could think of was that while Kate had shunned that muscle-bound clod’s advances, she was definitely not using her eyes to plead with Nick to rescue her like she had with him.
And that just sent another wave of heat spiking through him, making him want to up the ante. Just how far would she let him go?
He used the back of her foot to tip off his loafer, which he dragged back to his chair. The tablecloth was long enough that no one could see a thing. He then edged back toward her, using his socked toes to tug at the back of her left high heel. She grabbed her water glass and took a long sip as he casually answered something Nick had asked. When he turned his attention back to Kate, she surprised him by lifting her foot and allowing him to prise off her shoe.
Her look said, Are you crazy?
Probably. He had no idea why he was doing this. Was it the risk of discovery, like in the supply closet?
No, that encounter had had nothing to do with the taboo of public sex and everything to do with sheer need. He’d wanted her. And she’d apparently wanted him just as much.
He eased her shoe to the side and slid his foot up and over hers, while Kate carefully set down her water glass and wrapped her hands around her fork and knife. Probably wondering where to stab him first.
But, damn the woman, she wasn’t scrabbling around for her shoe or trying to shove her foot back into it. Or trying to brush him off like she had The Persistent Hulk.
Luke wanted to see how far he could push her. Well, he might end up being the first to back down from this little encounter. Hmm. Time to send her running for the hills.
He gave her a slow smile. “So how does one decide to spend a lifetime trying various massage techniques on helpless patients?”
He was gratified to see color wash up her neck and settle in her cheeks. Not so gratified to see the scowl cross Nick’s face.
A little too obvious?
Maybe. But he was feeling just a little bit desperate.
His toes edged up past the hem of her beige slacks, remembering exactly how the back pockets had hugged her delectable bottom. Her tongue moistened her lips as he ventured a bit higher.
“I wouldn’t exactly call them helpless.” She let go of her silverware and crossed her forearms on the edge of the table, leaning forward a bit. “Some of them are strong enough to heft, say, a hundred and twenty pounds, without batting an eyelid.”
“Interesting number, that.” He eyed her, his smile growing. She was skating on ice that was just as thin as his was.
Nick and Tiggy seemed oblivious to the suggestive comments winging back and forth across the table, but he was eventually going to have to call a halt to this particular game before things went too far.
“How about dessert?” Tiggy said, standing to clear plates.
When Kate started to join her, the other woman waved her away. “Stay there and enjoy yourself. I’ll just be a minute.”
“Thank you.” Her leg suddenly pulled out of reach, and just as Luke thought he might emerge the victor, a weight settled on his good knee. Hell, she’d just propped her heel on him.
His smile widened. All the better.
Luke asked Nick about his work, making sure the question required a long-drawn-out answer, and then slipped his hand beneath the tablecloth, capturing Kate’s foot before she had a chance to realize what he was doing and make her escape.
He heard her quick intake of breath as his fingers cupped her instep, his thumb massaging the curve of her arch. She squirmed and tried to pull away, but he held her fast. He couldn’t tell if the sensation was just ticklish or if it was as heady to her as it was to him. Touching her skin to skin was suddenly bringing back a whole lot of memories. And bringing a lot of things to life that should be left napping.
Along with that came a terrible realization. He needed to have her again.
Kate’s eyes were on Nick as he spoke, but her teeth came down on her lip as if trying to contain the sounds that might be bubbling up in her throat. And he wanted to hear them again. Each and every one.
Tiggy came back with a tray of coffee and pastries and served them each a generous portion.
If Kate thought she was finally going to be able to pull free, she was very much mistaken. He could cut and eat his dessert with just one hand without any problem. Because his other hand was occupied at the moment.
“So, do you have any plans over the next couple of days?” Tiggy asked Kate.
Luke spoke up. “I was planning on showing Kate some sights later on.”
“How nice.” Nick smiled, probably thinking Luke was looking for another opportunity to extol his virtues. “Big Ben is lovely at night.”
“Yes, there is that. There are a few other things I’d like her to see, as well.”
Kate shifted a bit, as if catching his drift. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Little did Nick and Tiggy know they’d helped aid and abet the very thing Nick was worried about. Luke had just propositioned Kate right under their noses, and she’d accepted without batting an eyelid.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE SECOND THEY were back in Luke’s car in the parking garage, his lips were on hers. As if the dam holding back all her pent-up desires had suddenly burst under the pressure, she moaned loudly, glad to finally let the sound out. Both hands went to the back of his neck, holding him close. The tiny hairs at his nape tickled, bringing home the reality that he really was here—kissing her like he couldn’t get enough. She wanted to be closer. Wanted him right now.
“What the hell were you playing at back there?” The low words muttered against her mouth made her see stars.
She bit his lip then sucked it into her mouth, her breath coming in shallow gusts. “I didn’t start that particular game. But I was certainly willing to finish it.”
He swore softly. “So you’re saying if I’d thrown you on top of that dining room table in front of Nick and Tiggy...”
“I’m saying I wouldn’t have stopped you.”
He moved in for another breath-stealing kiss. “Hell, woman, you’re impossible. No wonder that guy back at the hotel didn’t want to give up.”
“He didn’t have a chance.”
His fingers tunneled in her hair. “And I do?”
“What do you think?”
“I think if this garage didn’t have a whole slew of cameras...”
He’d actually thought of taking her right here? Oh,
man. Damn those cameras, anyway!
“There’s always my hotel room.” She’d think about the repercussions later.
“No. I think I want you in my bed this time. Where I can do as I please.”
Kate shivered in reaction. How on earth did he make everything sound like a sensual promise?
Because he himself was temptation incarnate.
“This time you’re doing all the work, then.” Not that she wanted him to. She just couldn’t think of a single witty thing to say that was as bold as he was.
“Oh, Kate, I wouldn’t have it any other way. You won’t have to lift a finger. I promise.”
* * *
She couldn’t lift a finger.
Literally.
Luke had gone from holding her wrists over her head on the bed as he kissed her to pressing a finger to her lips and walking to his closet, coming back with a brown leather belt wrapped around his hand.
Uh, if he was into whipping or something, she was out of there.
“Wha—?”
“Shh. I’m not going to hurt you. It’s my turn to do all the work, remember?”
He placed her hands on either side of a metal rung on the bed’s headboard and then wrapped the flexible leather around her hands and the post, sliding the loop through the buckle, tightening it enough to hold her there, but not enough to cut off her circulation. He then repeated the act a couple of times until she had several layers around her wrists in a way that wouldn’t come undone on their own. Her hands were now trapped.
She’d never been tied up before, and wasn’t sure she’d like it, but his lips were on her cheek as he spoke softly to her. That, along with the feeling of helplessness, added another layer of sensuality. Luke had already proved he wouldn’t hurt her. She was pretty sure if she started panicking, he’d release her immediately.
She didn’t want to be released. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Luke got off the bed and the lights clicked off, throwing the room into complete darkness. Kate frowned. She wanted to see him this time. “Luke, can’t we—?”
“No. My turn to do all the work, remember? That means I make the decisions.”
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