The Wells Brothers: Luke

by Angela Verdenius

  Aaron arched one eyebrow in query.

  “We also went to the graveyards the other night,” Mikki added. “I felt something watching me. I’m telling you, Aaron, something is out there.”

  Aaron’s gaze slid to Luke, but his brother just looked steadily back at him.

  It hit Mikki suddenly. Geez, just a couple of days ago Luke would have been teasing her mercilessly about her belief, and in private he still would, but right now he was giving her his unwavering support regardless of his own viewpoint. Luke was emphatically letting his older brother know that whatever she believed he’d back her up. Not necessarily share her convictions, but support her decisions to investigate.

  Man, he was sweet. Made her want to kiss him, but no way was she going to do that with his brother looking on, so she smiled up at him instead.

  Apparently Luke had no reservations. He dropped a light kiss on her nose before turning her around and steering her towards the steps. “Come on inside, check out this place. It’s going to need a lot of work, but Dad no doubt has that covered.”

  “Dad’s been on the phone contacting a lot of subbies. You should see his office, he has papers, plans, photos, the whole she-bang.” Aaron followed them up the steps onto the veranda. “The experts he’s hooked in will restore this old girl to her former glory.”

  “And I just bet you checked out the backgrounds of these experts,” Luke said.

  Aaron just smiled.

  Once inside, Mikki watched his reaction to the mansion. Expecting at least a bit of awe, she was disappointed. He only looked around with quiet appreciation and murmured, “What a grand old dame.”

  “When did you become so eloquent?” Luke queried.

  “When your vocabulary improved.”

  “Oohh, who’s been reading the dictionary before bed?”

  “You, apparently.”

  Mikki looked up at Luke with big, innocent eyes. “Is that what you do at bedtime?”

  He rewarded her with a smart tap to the bum. “Woman, go and get your man a cup of coffee and mind your manners.”

  “Up yours, Lukey-boy.”

  “You’re embarrassing me in front of family.”

  “Are you kidding me? They already know what you’re like.” She danced out of the way of another light smack.

  “There’s always later,” he threatened, eyes dancing with laughter.

  “I had no idea you were into pain,” she replied pertly. “I’ll bring the hearth brush with me and give it to you good.”

  That had his eyes gleaming. “The only one getting it good will be y-”

  “Aaron! Sweetie!” Elspeth chose that moment to bounce down the stairs in heels so high it had Luke and Aaron hurrying forward in expectation of her going bum over turkey.

  Used to Elspeth’s amazing agility, Mikki watched in amusement.

  Reaching the bottom, Elspeth patted Luke’s shoulder before taking Aaron’s arm and swivelling around to fling her hand out. “So what do you think of this gorgeous house, Aaron?”

  Luke ducked just in time, straightening to shake his head as Mikki chuckled. “Lady.” He stabbed a finger in her direction. “You’ll be snickering on the other side of your face tonight.”

  “Tonight? Oh my.” She fluttered her eyelashes coyly. “I’ll be busy tonight.”

  “Yeah.” He bared his teeth in a wicked grin. “You will be.”

  “I’ve the camcorders in the graveyards and chapel to turn on, plus I’m going to do a little stake-out, too.”

  “It’s a long night.”

  “It will be, I’ll have to take a flask.”

  “I thought the whole point was to get the camcorders rolling and go back in the morning to see what they captured?”

  “So you have been listening to our lectures. I’m impressed.”

  Luke looked at Aaron. “Some women need gags.”

  His brother just winked at her and let Elspeth lead him up the stairs, chattering the whole time about her plans.

  Mikki moved to stand beside Luke. “Wait for it.”

  Luke looked up to where Elspeth and Aaron had stopped at the top. “You think?”

  “Has to be. I remember your face only too well.”

  “Just my face?” he teased.

  “Hush. Watch.”

  Elspeth turned, her frilly skirt swishing around her knees, her silk blouse topped with an elegant silk scarf, her hair swept up in a messy bun. Then, right before their eyes, she transformed from chatty woman to business woman. The flighty air vanished and her expression grew serious. The chatter stopped, and definite speech started as she outlined what she envisioned, what she wanted and what she expected Aaron to provide. There was nothing of the eccentric woman now, it was pure business.

  Mikki had been dying to see Aaron get gob-smacked by her change, but he simply nodded, his gaze moving around the huge main room, taking it all in as he listened to Elspeth. He replied quietly, discussing things logically, taking her opinion into account while giving her his expert point of view in return.

  “Damn.” Mikki’s shoulders drooped in disappointment.

  “Never mind.” Luke patted her back.

  “I really wanted to see him surprised, even just a teeny-tiny bit.”

  “I don’t think even a nuclear bomb going off in his backyard would do more than produce a ‘huh’ from him.”

  “Did he ever get surprised as a kid?”

  Luke grinned. “His expression did change when he found that snake I’d placed in his wardrobe. He wasn’t very calm for several seconds.”

  “Then what happened?’

  “He picked up the snake, took it outside, came in and stuck my head under the shower.”

  “Wow, strong measures.”

  “He never said a word, just dragged me there by my ear.” Luke rubbed his ear in memory. “The water was bloody cold, too.”

  “Poor baby,” she mocked.

  “He was way older than me. You’d think he’d have some mercy.”

  Mikki cast him a wry look.

  Luke eyed her. “You’re taking his side, aren’t you?”

  “He’s scarier.”

  “Yeah?” Luke sprang at her.

  With a shriek Mikki took off, Luke in pursuit. He caught her in the servants’ hallway and kissed the ever-loving crap out of her, pinning her back against the wall as he devoured her mouth.

  Torn between rising desire and hilarity, Mikki could only laugh in-between getting her breath and being kissed again.

  Finally, still keeping her pinned against the wall by simply holding her wrists each side of her head, Luke grinned down at her. “So, you set the camcorders up, huh?”

  “I certainly did,” she managed to reply with breathless dignity. “So?”

  Carnal delight glittered in his eyes. “That means you’ll be free tonight.”

  “Do you think of anything else but sex?”

  “Sure. Iced coffee, Dog, that silly little kitten, car magazines, landscaping of course, my business, and now…” Leaning down, he nuzzled her neck, making her duck her head at the warm tickle. “You.”

  That made her go all mushy inside, producing a purred, “Mmmm. You’re so romantic at times.”

  “And sex.” He nipped her ear. “Lots of sex.”

  “Sex maniac.”

  “With you.”

  “That changes things a little.”

  “Yeah, I thought it would.” Laughter sparkled in his eyes. “Later, Red.” With that he gave her a smacking kiss on the side of her neck that made her shiver, pushed up and winked at her before walking away, pulling his sunglasses out of his pocket.

  At the doorway leading into the kitchen he slipped the sunglasses on, adjusting them as he did a last, slow perusal of her leaning back against the wall, his mouth quirking in wicked amusement, then he was gone, stepping out to leave the doorway empty.

  With a blissful sigh, Mikki just stayed where she was, basking in the warm afterglow of a truly sumptuous kissing.

  Real
ly, she’d had no idea Luke could be such a hot, romantic, funny bloke. Okay, well maybe she kind of knew, but experiencing it personally? Totally blew her mind.

  ~*~

  Man, Mikki could kiss. Every time her mouth was on his, her taste filling him, her scent seeping into him, his toes almost curled in his sneakers. Not to mention he sported half a stiffy just from that fun little romp with her in the hallway. The woman had the power to bring him to his knees. Sure as hell brought his jolly roger to attention every time she walked past with a sway of those curvy hips.

  Feeling completely content, his mind partially on the night to come which he fully intended to enjoy with her, Luke strolled into the kitchen on his way outside to investigate the potential of an orangerie at the back of the mansion as Elspeth wanted. Planning the gardens around that without detracting from an historical-looking building was something he looked forward to investigating further.

  In the kitchen, Dog was lying on his back looking from an upside-down viewpoint through the cage at Duchess sleeping. As soon as he heard Luke enter, he rolled to his feet, sitting up to look inquiringly at him.

  Luke peeked in at the kitten. She was fast asleep on the fleecy cushion lining her basket, a small bowl of water and another half full of kitten biscuits to one side, a litter tray with clean litter on the other side of the cage. Several small toys lay scattered around.

  He had to admit it wasn’t only Dog who had a soft spot for her. How anyone could throw a defenceless little animal on the side of the road, he’d never know.

  “Bastard deserves to be strung up, then drawn and quartered,” he informed Dog.

  Dog cocked his head to one side.

  “Take my word for it.” He gave Dog a pat. “Come on, we’ve got work to do.”

  The afternoon sun shone down, insects hummed and chirped in the bushes, and several birds wheeled through the sky. It really was a tranquil setting, he looked forward to seeing the mansion and grounds when it was completed. He’d already taken photos of the old garden areas and surroundings. Once back home he’d pin up these photos and the plans he and Elspeth had discussed on his work wall board for inspiration and reference. Once home he’d have his work cut-out because it didn’t stop with ideas, he had to get the subbies sorted, priced, the building equipment, plants, gardeners, earth moving equipment, tanks, soil, plans of the water pipes and electricity lines - so much to do, and he loved every minute of it, watching an idea come to fruitation, creating beauty out of ruins, or creating gardens and landscapes in areas where nothing had previously grown, bringing order to wilderness. He’d even created wilderness in areas of order when clients had requested it.

  But this mansion and the extensive grounds to be restored, this was the high-light of his career so far. He’d have to be sure to pack his camera and take before, during and after shots of the landscaping as he progressed to add to his portfolio.

  Going around to the back of the mansion, he immersed himself in the dimensions of an orangerie, checking the area against the photocopies he’d taken at the library. Time passed as he added items to the growing list in the pad he carried in his back pocket. Hasty notes which he could elaborate on later in the evening, sitting at the kitchen table after dinner while Mikki and Elspeth chatted, and Dog and Duchess played on the floor.

  Yep, he did enjoy those times.

  He really enjoyed having Mikki to himself.

  Focus, Luke. You’ve still got a job to do.

  Dog wandered around, sniffing at things, having a leak against several bushes that would now cark it having been peed on, and generally doing his doggie thing while keeping Luke in view at all times.

  Suddenly he lifted his head, looking towards the bushes on the other side of the gravel road. Alertly, he tracked something that Luke couldn’t see.

  Peering at the bushes through his sunglasses, Luke tucked the pad into his back pocket, sticking the pen behind his ear as he observed the man striding out of the bushes from the direction of the old chapel and graveyards.

  Ryan.

  Man, his brother did hire some dubious-looking blokes. Ryan looked like he could run a man over and keep on going without even cracking a sweat. He moved silently, seeming to blend in easily with the surroundings, his eyes hidden behind the aviator shades.

  Now why was he over at the graveyards? Not like that place needed security, was it?

  Luke waited, watching as Ryan approached, the man’s stride anything but easy. He rolled on the balls of his feet, almost prowling. That wasn’t subtle at all. Where did Aaron find this bloke? Wait, better not to know. Aaron could be freaky, this bloke was of the same kind only a little deadlier. Kind of like a snake.

  Not sure how he felt about the man yet, Luke nodded as Ryan came to a halt several feet from him. “G’day again.”

  “G’day.” Ryan’s gaze dropped to Dog as the animal approached. Slowly he held his palm out for Dog to sniff, patiently waiting as Dog had a good snuffle then started wagging his tail. Only then did Ryan stroke his head. “Nice dog.”

  “That he is.”

  Ryan studied him, those aviator glasses throwing Luke’s reflection back at him. “Your girlfriend saw lights.”

  Hooking his thumbs in his back pockets, Luke nodded.

  Ryan stood still, only the faint breeze ruffling his dark hair.

  “You’ve been to the graveyard,” Luke stated.

  “And the chapel.”

  “Did you find what you were looking for?”

  “Your girlfriend’s set up camcorders with night vision.”

  “She thinks she can catch ghostly apparitions.” Shit, had he really said ‘apparitions’? Maybe subconsciously he had been taking in the girls’ conversations in the kitchen after dinner.

  “Do you believe she’s seen these lights?”

  “I believe she believes it.”

  “But you don’t believe in ghosts.”

  “Haven’t seen one yet. When and if I do, I’ll consider changing my mind.”

  Ryan looked around slowly, his gaze drifting over the landscape before he returned his attention to Luke. “You’re going to let her go to the graveyards alone tonight?”

  “Hell no.” Seriously, the man thought Luke would let his Red go into the bushes alone? Not happening. “I’m going with her.”

  “Why don’t you just stop her from going if you think it’s dangerous?”

  “I never said I thought it was dangerous.” Shifting his hips, Luke rested his weight on one leg. “I know bugger all about ghosts or anything supernatural, the sheilas are full-bottle on it. I’m just going with her because I don’t like the idea of her wandering the bushes at night on her own. It’s why I went out with them the other night.”

  Ryan’s expression didn’t change, but Luke felt his approval nevertheless. “Nice to know that you’ll protect them even if you don’t share the same beliefs.”

  “It’s what you do, right?” Luke shrugged. “Besides, everyone has a right to believe what they want.”

  “Yes.” Ryan looked down at Dog, whose head he was still stroking.

  Still uncertain what to make of him, Luke regarded him steadily. “Is Aaron going to put security cameras in the chapel as well?”

  Ryan stopped patting Dog, slipping his hands into his pockets. Seeing as the pats had stopped, Dog walked back to sit beside Luke, leaning his head against Luke’s leg.

  “Guests come with their own issues,” Ryan replied. “Also, once the mansion starts to gain notice all kinds of people might be incited to check out the graveyards and chapel.”

  “Elspeth has ideas of encouraging ghost hunts and sightings, she thinks it’ll be good business.”

  “And that brings its own set of issues. It can attract vandals, satanic worshippers, witches, thrill seekers-” At Luke’s startled expression, Ryan seemed amused.

  Man didn’t crack a smile nor a twitch of his lips, but the amusement was somehow evident.

  “Satanic worshippers?” Luke shook his head. “Ar
e you serious? Witches?”

  “Never said they would come, I just said it can attract people with those kinds of interests. Aaron will discuss the needs and possibilities with Elspeth, decide with her what is needed.” Ryan started walking. “Catch you later, Luke.”

  As Ryan headed back to the mansion, Luke looked at Dog, who whined.

  “Witches, Dog. Can you believe it? Vandals maybe, but really? Satanic worshippers? You have got to be shitting me.”

  Dog ducked his head, pawed the side of his nose and then panted happily up at Luke, his tongue lolling out of his mouth.

  Luke scowled over his shoulder towards the mansion. “If Mikki ever comes out here for a holiday or to visit, no way in hell is she coming alone. I am on her arse like a burr to a blanket.”

  Dog barked.

  “Yeah, you can come, too.”

  Dog barked again.

  “No, Duchess stays home. Dad or one of Mikki’s rellies will feed her while we’re away.”

  It struck Luke immediately what he’d just said. Cripes, he’d just insinuated that he and Mikki would be together together. He, her, Dog and Duchess. Like a little family. In one house.

  Ooohhhh. He sucked in a breath, stared out towards the bushes. Jesus, had he really just presumed that? He rubbed his jaw. Well, yeah. He shook his head. Seriously, it was early days, way too early to be thinking of sharing a house.

  Though they were sharing a bed at times. Well, not a bed yet, but they’d shared a sleeping bag. But moving in together? That was a whole other ball game.

  And there was another game changer. Luke had never moved in with a woman, never been prepared to make that final leap because for him moving in together was a final leap. Moving in meant a ring and a wedding. Together forever and ever, for better or worse, sickness and health, and all that shit that he did believe in.

  “Oohh boy.” He sucked in a deep breath, ripped his pad out from his back pocket, yanked the pen from behind his ear, flipped to the page on which he’d last been writing. “Okay, gardenia bushes, gonna need about twenty to go down that boundary.”

  Chapter 9

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Sitting out here late at night.”