Page 69 of Reluctant Chemistry

Of course, it shouldn’t have surprised her to see him. The day had already started badly when she’d slept late and nearly missed the pickup. Now Luka, in all his sex-on-legs glory, was almost close enough to touch. Their gazes met. Offering no smile, he didn’t look away until he’d had his fill.

When they ushered their group across the tarmac toward the men, he stepped forward to greet her with a kiss on each cheek and a husky, “CeCe, it’s good to see you again.”

Then, just to add to the confusion of an already stressful day, Luka turned his attention to the others without another word. She studied him from behind, those coveralls molding his butt to perfection, and before she could censor her thoughts, the memory of a naked Luka stretched out on her bed after the last time they’d had sex flashed through her mind.

The man really did have the most perfect bare butt she’d ever seen.

Jaz nudged her with her elbow and whispered, “What was that all about?”

“Nothing,” CeCe whispered back while trying to usher her thoughts into line. “I told you—he’s a friend of my brother’s.”

“Well, he didn’t share any of his particular brand of nothing with me.”

“Or me,” Tracy said. “And none of my ex-teachers ever looked at me like that.”

“You say that as if it’s a bad thing,” Jaz said. She turned to CeCe. “Don’t tell me you guys have a history.”

CeCe grinned. “Stop it.”

Twelve women had opted into that day’s ‘escapade,’ as Jaz called it, eight who loved to fly and four who didn’t. Being a bona fide member of the latter group, CeCe dreaded the thought of Luka being her pilot. She’d only been in a chopper once before—ten years ago when she and her father took a joyride as part of a school fundraiser. After that, she’d vowed to never again sit her butt in a helicopter seat.

The group had activities such as abseiling, white water rafting, and Japanese cooking classes planned, and CeCe was keen to be involved in every single one. So when they’d mentioned the sightseeing trip, she knew it was time to face her fear.

CeCe dug her fingernails into her palms and glanced toward the main doors, plotting her exit strategy. If she told everyone she had an upset stomach and made a dash for it, no one would question her.

As if sensing her unease, Luka looked her way. Aviators in hand, he strolled back over to talk to her. “You okay?”

CeCe assumed her confident face. “Fine.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t be nervous. You couldn’t have picked a better day. Or a better pilot.”

“Very funny.” She shook her head at his ego talking. “Anyway, what are you doing here? Surely you have people you need to rescue.”

He chuckled. “Returning a favor. It’s a charity gig, so what could I say?”

“Am I with you?”

Luka gave her a private smile, one she’d once been so familiar with, and leaned closer. “Yes. Is that a problem?”

CeCe looked away, wishing she could still make a run for it. Until now, their recent meetings had been on her terms. But not today. “No. It’s fine.”

“Good. And if you ask nicely, I might even let you ride shotgun.”

Spellbound and embarrassed in equal measure, CeCe held her breath as Luka walked away, her breasts tight under her T-shirt and her cheeks impossibly hot.

Jaz smiled in amusement. “Okay, now Iknowsomething’s going on. Are you going to tell me what you guys were whispering about, or do I have to drag it out of you?”

“There’s nothing to drag out.” CeCe followed Jaz across the lawn to the three waiting choppers. “That man is a walking contradiction.”

“Most men are, but damn, he does contradiction with a capital C.”

While waiting to board, CeCe introduced her new friends to Luka. He shook their hands with his usual charm, making small talk as he flashed that sexy smile. Climbing on board last meant being seated next to him, and as she put on her headset and watched him do the same, she tried to calm her nerves with several deep breaths.

She found the flight exhilarating, no doubt about that, but while she loved being so close to the Pacific as they zipped along the coastline, CeCe couldn’t get used to the motion. Every time he dipped to show them a point of interest, her stomach dropped.

Luka, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease in the pilot’s seat. And as she watched him chat with the other women through his headset, she felt a pang of envy at how relaxed they all appeared. However, she quickly pushed aside the emotion when he addressed her. “How’s it going, CeCe? Hanging in there?”

“Only just.”

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