Page 76 of Reluctant Chemistry

Even now, he could hardly believe it had happened.

Standing there, alone with his thoughts,Luka reflected on how privileged and straightforward his life had been since leaving Tulloch Point. He’d passed his helicopter license, had purchased land, and recently, his own chopper. The home he’d dreamed of building for years was well on the way, and he had a close circle of friends. What more could he want?

CeCe.

But would she be prepared to give him a second chance?

His head throbbing, he refilled his glass and gulped it down.

“Hey, there you are. You okay?”

Her voice sending a shiver directly to Luka’s groin, he turned to look at her. “Yeah, fine. Can’t sleep though.”

Wide hazel eyes communicated her concern in dawn’s luminescent light. He’d miss those eyes, the compassionate way she looked at him when he was troubled. “How come? Is it work?”

“No.” He pulled her close, his arms encircling her waist, that sixth sense of his playing havoc with his usually rational mind. “It’s not work.”

“What is it then? Do you want to talk about it?”

Luka took a deep breath, released it. Her words reminded him of the younger CeCe. She cared about other’s hurt, even then, and it was something he’d never forgotten about her. “It’s you.”

She brushed a kiss against his lips. “Me? Why would you be troubled over me?”

“Because life’s complicated, and I feel like you’re out of reach.”

CeCe stilled before offering no counter to his comment except, “Would you like me to leave?”

Luka shook his head. He didn’t want to be alone, not after the night they’d spent together. He’d been alone for too long and too often since their Tulloch Point days, even when with Annabelle. “Not yet.”

36

An Urgent Kiss

CeCe didn’t stay for breakfast, and for Luka, their parting was one of the most awkward morning afters he’d ever experienced. And that was saying a lot. Dressed in one of his T-shirts, tied in a knot at the center, and a pair of leggings she’d found in her swim bag on the back seat of her car, she left around eight. And as he stood and watched her drive down the hill toward Seaview Road, he wanted to pull out his phone and call her. To suggest they go surfing or head up to the falls for a walk.

But no matter how much he longed for her to brighten up his otherwise dulled-off day, as he turned and headed back inside for breakfast, his phone remained in his pocket.

The day failed to improve until he hit the water later that afternoon. After a few mediocre runs, it was close to dusk when Luka looked across Petrie Bay to where the rumble of rain clouds touched the horizon. The wind had dropped around six, and as he took his last wave, thoughts of CeCe finally evaporated.

However, as he drove along the coastal highway toward town, past Lime Tree Hill and her home above the packing shed, he couldn’t stop thinking about her in that black dress and silver stilettos. Her nervous smile as she’d stood on his doorstep with only one thing on her mind.

Pulling into his driveway, Luka half expected to see her car parked outside, but the space remained empty. He cut the engine and sat in the garage, running his fingers over the stubble on his chin as she invaded his thoughts once again. He wanted to call her to say hi. To ask if she was okay, and later, to hold her in his arms as she slept and miss her as soon as she left.

As Luka walked down the hallway and into his bedroom, he imagined her lying on the bed, naked under the top sheet, her eyes wide with anticipation.

But CeCe hadn’t texted as promised, not that it surprised him. She didn’t want commitment or promises or text exchanges where they asked about each other’s day. And maybe, just maybe, there was an element of revenge going on.

But one thing he did know. He no longer wanted the fleeting excitement of a fling. After his split with Annabelle, he’d balked at the suggestion of another long-term relationship, but with CeCe now living in Clifton Falls, he’d found himself reevaluating his lifestyle choices more and more.

Not that this was some opportunistic thing. Even though she now lived in the same city and was more geographically available, lately he’d learned to focus more on what he wanted out of life rather than what he didn’t.

And he wanted CeCe.

After a quick hot shower, Luka dressed, grabbed his keys off the hall table, and found himself driving back along the highway toward Lime Tree Hill before he’d even considered the consequences.

The loft lay in darkness when he pulled up outside, so he strolled across the driveway and knocked on the open laboratory door. CeCe turned from her desktop screen in fright, one hand to her chest.

“Luka! You scared me half to death.”

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