The Wells Brothers: Luke

by Angela Verdenius

  Luke stared towards her. “Cripes, she can be a bit bossy.”

  “You’re not the first one to be fooled,” Mikki said. ‘Don’t feel bad.”

  Squaring his shoulders, he strode off towards the chapel. “Don’t start yelling, Elspeth, I’m just going to quickly check inside the chapel before you go in.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “No arguments. I promise to be quick.”

  Leaving them squabbling, Mikki picked her way carefully to the family plot, shining her torch around the grave stones and statues. In the darkening gloom they appeared lonely, yet sinister, as though at any moment a grave would yawn open, the soil dropping away to reveal something buried for years suddenly clawing its way out of the dirt to seek the living.

  A shiver of dreaded delight went through her. Man, these things creeped her out, scared her spitless sometimes, definitely made her skin crawl at other times, but she loved the thrill, the unexplained, the plain out crazy fun of this kind of thing. It was one of the reasons she and Elspeth got on so well - their love of the supernatural.

  Turning off the light, she watched the graveyard, her gaze slowly shifting over the headstones as she relaxed, yet keeping alert.

  Elspeth and Luke’s voices sounded from inside the chapel before he finally left to make his way through the gloom to the servants’ graveyard. The torchlight bobbed around, his tall, broad-shouldered body clearly visible as he finally stood still.

  Mikki couldn’t help but feel comfort steal through her when she noted where he stood - right where he could keep both her and the chapel in his vision.

  His torch flicked off and darkening dusk enveloped the clearing. Slowly, as darkness crept in and night descended, the day wildlife went to sleep and the night creatures took over the land. Grass whispered as something unseen moved through the undergrowth, night birds called out, and from far away a dingo howled - at least, she liked to think it was a dingo, but who knew? Could be a dog from a nearby farm or rural house. Dog barked once and was immediately shushed by Luke.

  Time ticked past, Mikki keeping her gaze moving continuously over the gravestones, constantly drifting, on the lookout for any movement or shadow, any sound that would indicate an otherworldly presence.

  Unfortunately, the only thing she saw was Elspeth’s torchlight suddenly bobbing along the chapel porch, signalling that the vigil was over.

  No sooner had her torch started approaching them than Luke walked over, his light cutting through the darkness. He veered to Elspeth, seemed to take her into his presence simply by looming behind her as they both met Mikki at the family graveyard. Then he was behind them both, his warmth invading Mikki’s slightly chilled body.

  “Is that it?” he asked.

  “No ghosts.” Elspeth was disappointed.

  “Nothing,” Mikki agreed.

  “Not a vapour,” Luke said. “Are we done?”

  “For now.” Elspeth started walking away.

  Luke immediately ushered Mikki right along behind her by simply using his body to crowd her forward. “Don’t tell me you two are coming back out here?”

  “Midnight run,” Elspeth informed him.

  Mikki could feel Luke’s gaze cutting into her, but when his hand unexpectedly settled on her back she was reminded of the fact that that same hand had been clapped on her bum when she’d dragged him down to kiss. Her cheeks flared but thank God the night hid it.

  “Are you serious?” he asked incredulously.

  “Yep,” Mikki mumbled. “Midnight. Ideal time to look for ghosts.”

  “I don’t think they have wristwatches,” he said ironically while his hand slipped lower to nestle into the small of her back.

  Right at that moment Dog bounded between them, almost knocking Mikki arse over tit. He barked and skipped away.

  Luke’s arm wrapped around her waist in a steadying grip, pulling her back against him. God, she felt every bit of him pressed against her back - those strong thighs, lean hips, ribbed abdomen and muscled chest. Delicious. Tantalizing.

  Definitely disturbing.

  “Um…thanks.” Blushing bright red - God, her face was going to go on fire in a minute! - Mikki quickly tugged out of his hold and sped up.

  He didn’t stop her or object - no reason for him to, right? - but as the first of the heavy undergrowth appeared, he strode past the women to again clear the way.

  By the time they arrived back in the mansion’s kitchen, Mikki was relieved to be able to slip out of the room with the excuse of putting the torches away.

  In the room she shared with Elspeth, she placed the torches on the old, sagging, wooden dresser and sighed. Cripes, this night was dragging. Was she ever going to be able to look Luke in the eye again? She really needed to get over that kiss. Anyway, it probably meant more to her than him.

  Her mobile started beeping and she picked it up, noting the name on the screen. “Hey, Karen.”

  “How’s life in the creepy old house?” her older sister greeted her.

  “Uneventful so far.” Apart from me kissing Luke like I wanted to suck his life force out.

  “I hear you’re there with that dishy Wells boy.”

  “Aunt hired him.”

  “Escort?”

  “What? No! Landscaper!”

  “Oohh, that’s a touchy reply. Why so reactive?”

  “Sorry.” Mikki sucked in a breath.

  “Annoying the crap out of you, huh? Man, I don’t know how you two will be in each other’s presence for a week without killing each other.”

  Relieved that her sister hadn’t a clue as to Mikki’s real emotions, Mikki managed a snort. “Hasn’t happened so far.”

  “Early days yet. Me, I’d be all over him like a rash.”

  “And just as irritating.”

  “He can scratch my itch any day.”

  “You’re married, Karen.”

  “So? My mind is free.”

  “Does Leo know that you’re saying all this?”

  “He’s right here beside me watching TV and nursing the kid.”

  “Hi, Mikki,” Leo’s voice came through the phone. “I’m watching the Logies, and you know those beautiful actresses? Man, I’d scratch their itches any day.”

  “See?” Karen said cheerfully. “He has a dirty mind, too.”

  “You two are sick.”

  “It’s why we get along so well.”

  “Each to their own.”

  “How’d Aunt Elspeth go with the antique dealer?”

  Mikki sat down on the edge of the stretcher. “He came out today to check out the furniture and paintings. Tomorrow he’s coming back to pack the paintings himself to take back to the store and ship off somewhere to have them cleaned and repaired. The furniture he’s having removed and repaired as well.”

  “Hope she’s getting a full listing of everything.”

  “Photos of everything, plus a detailed listing and whatever else she requires.” Mikki picked at the Doona. “Luke was right there making sure she got everything sorted.”

  “Aunt let him oversee it?” Karen was surprised. “I never thought I’d see the day she’d let that happen.”

  “He tried to do it subtly, lurking in the background listening. Hovering in doorways. Thinks no one noticed but the man isn’t very good at being sneaky.” She’d certainly noticed because she’d spent the afternoon trying to avoid him.

  “Aw, that’s so sweet of him.” Leo said something in the background and Karen said hurriedly, “Oh, my favourite TV series are being listed for the awards! Gotta Go! Be safe! Have fun! Bye!” She hung up.

  Tossing the mobile onto the stretcher, Mikki rubbed her face and let out a long, slow breath. Okay, she had to get a grip. Elspeth would be serving the evening meal soon which meant facing Luke. Still, they had the antics of Dog and Duchess to entertain and divert them, so she was sure she’d get though it.

  Why he was having such an effect on her, she had no idea. Maybe it was the old house screwing with her emot
ions. Or maybe she just needed a good sleep to put it all into perspective.

  Retrieving the book from where she’d stashed it under the pillow, she sat and read, waiting to be called to the kitchen for the meal. Good time to catch up on reading.

  Coward.

  Yeah, so what?

  An hour later Elspeth called out and Mikki went to the kitchen to find the door closed, which could only mean that Duchess was loose. Cautiously opening the door, she peeked in to find Luke sitting at the table with a steaming plate of food before him, an equally full plate in front of the chair across from him, and Elspeth sitting at the head of the table already eating. Duchess was exploring the kitchen, little tail straight up in the air, while Dog laid on his stomach and inched forward bit by bit in a commando crawl behind her.

  Slipping into the seat opposite Luke, Mikki picked up the knife and fork. “Looks yummy.”

  “Where have you been?” Elspeth asked curiously.

  “Karen called.” Mikki cut into the chop.

  “For an hour? I know that girl can talk but an hour is a bit excessive.”

  Mikki carefully speared some mashed potato over the bite of chop. “I got caught up in that book I was reading.”

  “Luke’s come up with some plans for the gardens.”

  “That’s great.”

  “He can show them to you after tea.”

  That’d mean being close to him. Oh geez. “Wouldn’t it be better to see them after you and he have decided on what you want?” Feeling his gaze on her, she managed to raise her eyes enough to look at his jaw. “You know, that way I can see what the finished product looks like.”

  “Nonsense. I’d like your opinion as well.”

  Crap. “I don’t know that I’m that much of an expert. Like I said, I kill plastic plants.”

  “But you know what looks nice, sweetie.”

  Luke’s jaw was moving methodically as he ate, not one word passing his lips, but hells bells, she could feel his steady regard. “Okay. Maybe…um…tomorrow or something.” Or next year. Next year sounded good.

  “Are you feeling okay?” Elspeth asked, concerned.

  Mikki shot her a look to find Elspeth frowning. “I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

  “We can put the midnight graveyard visit off until tomorrow night, then.”

  Horrified that she was changing Elspeth’s plans, Mikki protested, “Not that tired.”

  Luke just kept chewing. A quick glance up at him revealed a knowing glint in his eyes. Damn it, the man knew she was avoiding him.

  “Midnight ghost hunt,” Mikki said determinedly. “Tonight. I’m all for it.”

  “Hmmm.” Elspeth didn’t look appeased. “Well, if you’re sure.”

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  “Let me know when you’re ready to go,” Luke said.

  Oh boy, he was planning on going with them, not that she should be surprised.

  Before Mikki could object, Elspeth shook her head. “Really, there’s no need. We’ve done this kind of thing before and been perfectly fine.”

  “No offence, Elspeth, but I’m not letting two women go out there alone.”

  Mikki snuck a peek at Elspeth. Rather than look annoyed, she was pleased. “That’s really nice of you, Luke, if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t,” he replied.

  Mikki speared some broccoli. “You’re here to do the landscaping, we don’t expect you to baby-sit us.”

  “Not babysitting,” he answered easily. “Just keeping you both company.”

  “You don’t even believe in ghosts.”

  “But you two do, and since you’re hunting them in the dark I’ll come.”

  Discomfort or not, Mikki couldn’t resist looking him in the eye while arching an eyebrow. “What are you going to do if a ghost appears, throw yourself in front of us?”

  Little laughter lines fanned out from the corners of his eyes. “I’ll let Elspeth take the lead on that.”

  “You mean you’d actually let a woman tell you what to do?”

  “I mean I’d let a woman with more knowledge of ghosts than I tell me what to do.”

  Yeah, right. Mikki had no doubt that if Luke thought things were dangerous, he’d drag her and Elspeth back to the mansion so fast their heads would be whirling. Her eyes narrowed.

  Luke scooped up a mouthful of potato and chop and regarded her with amusement.

  Elspeth beamed. “Well, aren’t you sweet. Isn’t he sweet, Mikki?”

  “He’s something all right.”

  Swallowing, Luke drawled, “You’d know.”

  “Huh?”

  “We’re all unexpectedly a little sweet, aren’t we, Red?”

  Her cheeks flared. There was no mistaking the gleam in his eyes now, that knowing smirk.

  “Everyone has unexpected qualities.” Elspeth leaned over to check the kitten.

  “Oh yeah,” he agreed. “It’s amazing what the country air will bring out in a person. Right, Red?”

  He was referring to their kiss. Her cheeks went hotter but she kept her chin up. “Shame some unexpected actions don’t meet expectation.” Biggest lie ever but she wasn’t about to give the smug drongo more fuel for his ego.

  Elspeth moved across to where Duchess was trying to get behind the stove. “Now, sweet pea, come out from there.”

  While her back was turned, Luke pointed the fork at Mikki, a dangerous gleam in his eyes as he said low enough for only her to hear, “Those are fighting words, Red.”

  Afraid Elspeth would hear, Mikki shrugged disdainfully.

  He glanced to where Elspeth was on her hands and knees playing with the kitten before looking back at Mikki. “You need some sorting.”

  Ignoring the little thrill that raced down her spine, she tossed her head, whispering back, “Show me a man good enough to do that.”

  “Oh, Red.” His grin was definitely turning wicked, his eyes a bright blue against his tanned face. “That’d be me.”

  Oh God, that had her stomach dipping. Keep calm. Keep calm! “You just keep believing that.”

  Leaning back in the chair, Luke ran one hand through his hair, pushing back the thick, black strands as his gaze ran over her from the top of her head, over her face to linger on her lips, down to her throat and lower, lingering quite brazenly on her breasts before sliding back up again to meet her eyes. “Honey,” he purred, his tone sin itself, “I know it.”

  Crap on a stick, she had a bad feeling he was right. No man had ever made her insides a quivering mess before, but no way on God’s green Earth was she going to admit it to him. “Whatever makes you sleep at night, Lukey-boy.”

  Okay, maybe she did prod him a bit. Okay, maybe she did want to see how far he’d go. Okay, maybe she did dare him just a little with her raised chin.

  Elspeth started to get up.

  “Later, Red,” Luke said softly, his voice so dangerously low, so deep and almost…

  She swallowed. Okay, she was definitely an idiot. Prodding someone like Luke too much just wasn’t going to end well. Or maybe end really well. Or maybe end… Mikki sucked in a breath.

  He winked knowingly.

  “Isn’t she just the sweetest little thing?” Sitting down, Elspeth picked up her fork. “And look at Dog, I swear he’s falling in love with her.”

  Duchess chose that moment to approach Dog. Back arched, head down, she moved sideways across the floor, trying to appear big and menacing but simply looking adorable.

  Relieved to turn her attention on something else other than the sexy, wickedly handsome man watching her from across the table, Mikki burst out laughing.

  Dog froze, watching Duchess with a combination of eagerness, curiosity and happiness.

  Duchess stopped not far from him, falling once as she stumbled before righting herself to give him menacing, yet playful looks. Inching closer, she suddenly straightened and leaned forward, sniffing.

  The two touched noses cautiously. Duchess raised a paw and Mikki wondered if
she was going to hit Dog, only to go all gooey inside when the kitten instead just touched his muzzle.

  Dog gave her a big, slurping lick, knocking the kitten over. Duchess was back up, arching her back and approaching him in delighted hunt.

  As they all watched the friendship forming between the animals, Dog gently laying his paw across her at one stage to pin her to the floor while he gave her head a good snuffle and she twisted beneath his paw to bat out at him.

  “Aw,” said Elspeth. “They’re buddies.” She glanced at Luke. “Be a shame to separate them.”

  “It’s always the ones you least expect,” he replied.

  Was that a dig at her? Sitting sideways in the chair to watch the kitten and dog, Mikki peeked at Luke over her shoulder. He was smiling at Elspeth while shaking his head, but then his eyes cut to her and narrowed slightly, that glint reappearing.

  No maybe about it, she’d prodded him a bit too much. Talk about poking the angry hornet’s nest - or in this case, one sexy man with a wicked streak a mile wide who was now focussed on her.

  Just how far was he going to take this? Or maybe he was just messing with her, making her believe he could really be interested in…um...sorting her out. Her heart bumped unevenly, a tingle sliding with delicious decadence through her even as she tried to reassure herself that yeah, he was just messing with her.

  Another glance over her shoulder only to meet his slow, wicked grin, a flash of white teeth, the glint in his eyes.

  Oh boy.

  ~*~

  Papers in hand, Luke circled the ruined garden. Yep, this was the garden that had featured a pond, the remains were beneath the choked weeds. Once upon a time it had held goldfish, right now it held a hell of a lot of weeds, dirt and not much else. It had been years since the pond existed for the purpose it had been built.

  Tapping the pencil thoughtfully against his chin, he narrowed his eyes as he looked into the distance, his thoughts running around inside his head. Would Elspeth still want a pond? If so, how big? What would the law require in regards to safety? If she was going to want a pond, it’d be better to have one similar to the original to be more authentic and match the photo she’d decided she wanted blown-up and put on the wall of the entrance. Having everything looking as authentic as possible would be a big draw card for guests.