“He told me he visits you in his down time. I wouldn’t have been able to find you without him.”
I stared at him, my mind churning. “How’d you find us?”
He tapped his nose. “Our secret.”
Hmm, I had my suspicions, but Kingsville wasn’t huge, so I guess they could have just searched all the bars and restaurants.
“Van and I have always been close.” He didn’t judge. Not even when I’d gone on some stupid diet as a teenager to fit in with the cool kids. “He’s a good listener.”
I closed my eyes, pinching my nose.
“Stay there. I’ll be back in a minute with some painkillers.”
Yeah, I wasn’t going anywhere.
Luke
I strode through the small apartment, feeling better than I had in a long time. This felt right. Ariana was supposed to be mine. Although I had no doubt we’d have some things to iron out. I was set in my ways, and I’d probably piss her off. But nothing had felt this right before.
As I walked into the open-plan living area, I saw Van leaning against the breakfast bar. Lola moved around the kitchen, banging pots and pans. I winced. Didn’t she have a headache this morning?
“I don’t know why you’re hovering,” Lola said to Van. “Don’t you have to go save the world or something, superman?”
“Do I look like I enjoy wearing my underwear over my clothes?” Van asked.
She snorted. “Who knows what you SEAL boys like getting up to? If you’re expecting me to make breakfast, you can think again.” She continued to pull things out of the kitchen cabinets, obviously searching for something.
“I’m not expecting anything from you, sweetheart.” Van turned to give me a nod. Trust him to have heard me approach, even though I attempted to be quiet.
“Because I don’t do breakfast. You want food, you’ll have to find it yourself.” Her voice was snarky, but the wary looks she sent Van told another story.
“Really? What if I swapped you food for these?”
Lola moved forward as Van held up a small bottle and shook it.
“Damn it, where did you find those?” She snatched the bottle out of his hand and dry-swallowed a couple of pills.
“They were down the back of the sofa for some reason,” Van drawled.
“Weird.” She glanced over at me, her eyes widening. “You must be Luke.”
I nodded. “Nice to meet you. Ariana needs some pain killers.”
She handed over the bottle. “She got a bad hangover?”
“She doesn’t feel well. Some of these and a nap and she’ll feel better.”
“I’ll make her some breakfast,” Van offered. “Best hangover cure.”
“How would you know? You’re too controlled to ever let yourself get drunk,” Lola said. “And there’s no food here.”
“That’s okay, I know where the market is. I’ll be back soon. Need anything?” he asked me.
I shook my head. “No, thanks, bro. I’ll just get back to Ariana.” And away from the tension between those two.
Ariana
I felt completely exhausted as I dragged my leaden body into my cottage that night. Van and Luke walked in behind me. “I’ll grab my stuff,” Van said.
“Where will you sleep?” I asked.
He leaned over and tapped my nose. “I’ll be fine, little bit. I’m a big boy. I’ll bunk in with the hands, no bother.”
I frowned, not liking that idea. But having him here might not be the best idea. Not when Luke and I had some stuff to talk about. And didn't that just have nerves butterflying through my stomach?
“Okay, t-talk to you tomorrow.”
“You bet.” He kissed me on my cheek then left.
“You hungry?” I asked Luke, nervous now that it was just the two of us. “I could cook us some steaks.”
Luke shook his head and strode towards me. I nervously stood my ground. But it was like playing chicken on train tracks. And I was a complete and utter chicken.
He cupped my cheeks, looking down into my face. “You know I’d never do anything to hurt you, right, Ari?”
“Physically,” I whispered.
“Hmm.” He turned his gaze away from mine. “Well, when it comes to that I think we both have the power to hurt the other emotionally.”
I had that power over him? Seriously?
He smiled. “You look shocked. You don’t think you could hurt me?”
“You always seem so together. S-so confident. You can have any woman you w-want.”
“Not quite sure about that.” He brushed a strand of hair from my face.
“I-I don’t understand why you’d want me,” I blurted out what had been worrying me.
“What? Why wouldn’t I want you?”
“Um, look at me.” I held my hands out. “I’m not s-sophisticated or beautiful. I don’t have any f-fashion sense. I stutter. I’m socially inept. P-painfully shy. And most of Bear Ridge hates me.”
“First, I don’t give a shit what those narrow-minded idiots think. Second, I think you’re beautiful. You have long, silky hair, wide eyes, creamy skin, and the cutest nose. You’re loyal, honest, sweet and kind. Maybe you’re not like other women I’ve dated, but that’s a good thing. None of my relationships with them have lasted. This will.”
I sucked in my breath, warmth filling me at his words.
“I’ve been with women. More than I’ll admit. But not one of them has come close to affecting me the way you have, Teeny. When I saw you on that dance floor, wearing the tiniest skirt I’ve ever laid eyes on, your ass cheeks nearly peeking out, I was filled with such need it nearly blinded me. That was quickly followed by possessiveness as I saw all the sharks circling you, undressing you with their eyes. I wanted to lay claim to you then and there.”
My breath quickened. I should probably have protested his words. After all, I wasn’t a piece of meat to be fought over. But being wanted and desired by Luke had been a dream for so long I was having trouble believing I didn't imagine all of it.
He leaned down and kissed me gently on the lips. I closed my eyes, expecting him to take things further, then he stepped back. I swayed, feeling disorientated. He grabbed hold of my shoulders as I swayed.
“Sorry, darlin’.” He let out a deep breath. “Having trouble holding onto my control here.”
I cleared my throat, wondering if I should have suggested we move to the bedroom. God, I hoped he didn’t expect me to be experienced.
Luke chuckled, his chest moving up and down. “I can feel how hard you are thinking. Ari, you’re exhausted. Nothing is going to happen tonight, so stop fretting. We’ve got some serious stuff to talk about. And when I make love to you, I want you to be completely rested and well. Because, believe me, you’re going to need some stamina.”
Oh, dear Lord, he hadn’t just said that, had he? Anticipation and dread warred inside me.
“Can’t we get the s-serious stuff over and done with? I feel fine.”
He slapped my ass, and I jumped. “First things first, there’ll be no lies in this relationship.”
Relationship? Oh, Christ.
I rubbed my stinging butt cheek. “Ow. You could have just told me that.”
He grinned. “Ah, but I think you’ll remember that little rule better now, right? You’re swaying on your feet. You have dark patches under your eyes, and you’ve barely eaten all day. Go, have a shower, get into bed, and I’ll make you some soup.”
“That’s like being sent to my room to w-wait for a spanking,” I complained, although, honestly, I wanted nothing more than a shower and bed. I really must have been tired.
He snorted. “Anticipation is half the punishment, darlin’.”
Crap. I didn’t like the sound of that.
Chapter Nine
Ariana
When I awoke the next morning, Luke was gone, and I really did wonder if I’d dreamt it all until I wandered out into the living room and found a note from him and a full coffee pot.
Teeny
,
Had to go help with the roundup.
I’ll see you later.
Be good,
Luke
Silly how just a few simple words could fill me with such happiness. But it hadn’t been a dream, and he hadn’t snuck away this morning, regretting his decision. Last night, he’d been the perfect gentleman. He’d made me soup. Well, he’d heated up some canned stuff. But it was the thought that counted. He’d tucked me into bed and held me until I fell asleep.
I wasn’t sure where he’d slept last night, but I had a vague recollection of waking in the night and feeling a warm arm surround me, drawing me back against a hard body. Damn, that made twice now I’d slept with Luke, and I could barely remember either time.
I stretched and glanced over at my laptop. I’d come up with some new ideas as I was falling asleep last night. Normally, when that happened, I’d immediately jump up and start writing. But that hadn’t been possible last night. Now, I just hoped I could remember everything.
Grabbing some coffee and still dressed in my pajamas, I settled on the sofa with my laptop and started to type.
Luke
I nearly whistled as I walked out of the main house and headed towards Ariana’s cottage. The sun was just starting to set. It had been a long day, but I felt good. Now that I didn’t have the old bastard screaming at me for doing a crap job, it was actually enjoyable.
After we’d finished up, I’d quickly showered and changed, ignoring the smirk Van had given me. Bastard thought he knew everything.
Joel hadn’t surfaced all day. He’d returned in the early hours with Caleb and Mac. Caleb had joined us about lunchtime. Apparently, Joel had drunk too much, tried to pick a few fights, and no doubt had the hangover from hell.
I got that it had been a hell of a punch to the gut for him. But he needed to get his shit together. Soon.
I stepped up onto Ariana’s small porch and knocked. Seemed a bit silly to knock after having spent the night there, but I didn’t want to walk in and surprise her. I frowned when she didn’t answer. The light was on. I moved to the side of the cottage, relief filling me at the sight of the beater car that had been her aunt’s. I’d driven it back to the ranch and nearly had a heart attack at how badly it drove. There was no power steering, the tires were bald, and the alignment was off. No wonder she was hitting parked cars.
I walked back to the door and knocked again. Then, worried she might be in trouble, I tested the door. Unlocked. Damn it, I’d needed to ensure she knew I was serious about keeping it locked. I opened the door and stepped inside. I frowned as I saw her sitting on the sofa, hunched over her laptop, wearing a pair of earphones.
She gasped and stood, grabbing hold of the laptop at the last minute. She set it on the sofa then pulled the earbuds out, placing a hand on her chest. “J-Jesus, Luke. Y-you scared me.”
“Why was the door unlocked?” I shut it behind me, turning the lock, no way did I want anyone walking in unannounced.
“No one locks their doors around here.”
“I meant what I said earlier. You’ll be locking your door from now on. Especially if you get so engrossed in what you’re doing, you don’t hear someone knocking.”
“Oh. Sorry. I tend to get that way when I work. I had a few ideas I wanted to get down, and one thing led to the other and . . .” she looked down at herself and laughed. “I ended up still in my pajamas at seven at night.”
Her stomach rumbled, and she blushed.
“Have you eaten today?” I asked.
“Of course.”
“What? And before you answer remember my rule about lying.”
She gave me an insulted look. “I wasn’t going to lie.”
“What did you eat?” Because if she’d been so involved in her work, she hadn’t showered or changed or heard me at the door I was willing to bet she hadn’t stopped to eat something acceptable.
She dug around in the sofa cushions and pulled up a couple of wrappers.
“Chocolate bars?” I asked disapprovingly.
“No. Protein bars. They’re much healthier than chocolate bars.”
“Oh, they’re so much better,” I said sarcastically. “Go take a shower. I’ll start on dinner. You need some proper food.”
“I can make dinner. I only need a few minutes to shower.”
I turned and gave her a look. “I can fry some steaks. Go.”
Ariana
Nerves strummed through me, and I cursed myself as I quickly showered and dressed in some soft pants and a T-shirt. Why hadn’t I noticed what time it was? I’d made a plan for tonight. I was going to do my hair, put on a little makeup, and have a big dinner waiting for Luke. Instead, he’d discovered what a slob I could be when I was engrossed in my work.
When I went back into the kitchen, the scent of cooking food made my stomach rumble and my mouth salivate. Okay, so maybe two protein bars weren’t enough to keep me going all day. As though he’d heard my rumbling stomach, Luke turned with a frown. I bit my lip, feeling nervous. I didn’t know how tonight was going to go. Was he just here for dinner? Did he want to sleep over? Did he expect more?
“Sit. I’ll bring it over. It’s just something simple.”
I nodded and sat. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had cooked for me. “This looks amazing.”
He just grunted, and I hid a smile as I placed some mashed potatoes, green beans, and steak on my plate. Luke immediately reached over and dished up more potatoes and beans for me.
“Luke, I can’t e-eat that much.”
“You haven’t eaten all day. You need more than that paltry amount.”
“You know; I’m not exactly f-fading away here. I think I’ll survive a day without eating much.”
He narrowed that bright gaze at me. “I don’t want you to simply survive. I want you as healthy and happy as possible. Now eat.”
Okay, when he put it that way. I knew I couldn’t finish everything on my plate, though. I was simply too nervous, my stomach in a giant knot.
I took a few bites as he spoke about his day.
“How was your day?” he asked.
“The words came easily today.” I put my knife and fork down, full. “I got a lot done.”
“So you going to let me read one of your books?” Luke asked suddenly.
“W-what?”
“Van’s read them, hasn’t he?”
Yeah, but he’d stolen them from Lola’s apartment. The sneak.
“Have y-you seen Joel?” I asked, desperately trying to change the subject.
He narrowed his gaze but didn’t press me further. “He got home in the early hours of the morning, apparently. He was in a bit of a state.”
I bit my lip. “I need to speak to him.”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “Don’t take this wrong, Ari, but I’m not certain that’s the best idea right now.”
“Because he h-hates me.” My shoulders hunched as I dropped my gaze to the small round table.
Luke reached over, grasped my chin, and raised my face. “Joel has a lot of shit he has to work through right now. But he doesn’t hate you. However, he’s not thinking properly, and I won’t have him saying anything that might hurt you.”
“But I have good news for him. I don’t want the ranch. I s-still have no idea what Jared was thinking leaving it to me. So I’ll just sign it over to Joel. Problem solved.”
Luke sighed and leaned back, stretching his arms over his head. I couldn’t help but stare, wondering what he’d look like without that shirt on.
“If only it were that simple, Teeny. Joel is hurting and not just over the ranch. Ashlynn was out last night as well.”
“Oh, God.”
“Yeah, and Joel decided to tell her about the ranch. According to Caleb, she threw a fit and told him that she was only ever with him for his money. Now that it seems he doesn’t have any, she wants a divorce.”
“God, she’s so dumb,” I muttered.
“He’s better off without her.”
Amen to that.
“That doesn’t mean he’s not hurting, though. Their relationship was half-over, but her words just pointed out that he’s spent the last ten years living a lie. He’s been running a ranch that was never to be his and married to a woman who was only with him for his money. So as generous as your gesture is, Teeny, I don’t think he’d be that receptive to it just yet.”
I nodded. “I just don’t want him to think that I want the r-ranch or intend to keep it. I don’t know what Jared was thinking.”
“Old bastard was probably just hoping to create problems between us, one last laugh at our expense.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d come home for the funeral.”
“I wasn’t sure I would either. Even though I told myself I needed to make certain he was dead, really, I wanted to see my brothers.”
I leaned over and bravely grabbed hold of his hand. “I’m s-sorry for all he put you through as a kid.”
“Nothing for you to be sorry about, darlin’. Jared Carlson was meaner than a junkyard dog and as stubborn as a mule. I still can’t believe he left me that damn chess set. He knew I hated playing it. He enjoyed forcing us to do things we hated then screaming at us when we failed.”
“I wonder why your mom ever married him.” Luke hadn’t spoken about this childhood much. It would do him some good to talk things through.
“According to my aunt, my mom’s dad owed my dad’s father money. In lieu of payment, he handed over his oldest daughter.”
I stared at him, shocked. “That can’t p-possibly be true.”
Luke shrugged. “All’s I know is my grandfather was even more of a bastard than my father. Guess it’s no wonder he turned out the way he did.”
“But you didn’t. N-none of you turned out like him.”
“No, not like him. But sometimes I worry I have that temper inside me.”
“You don’t. You would never treat your children like Jared did. You’d love and p-protect them. I know you would.”
“I don’t blame Mom for leaving us. Sometimes I wonder if her accident was truly an accident, though.”
I took in a sharp breath. “You think she d-drove off that bridge on purpose? But she had the f-five of you to look after.”
Luke (Bad Boys of WildeSide Book 3) Page 9
