Page 95 of Reluctant Chemistry

Luka:OK. Can you spare a couple of hours after lunch? I’d like to take you somewhere.

CeCe dropped her phone on the bed, amused and curious at the same time. She’d verbally kicked and screamed at him the last time they saw one another, and now he wanted to ‘take her somewhere’? She decided to keep their interaction light.

CeCe:Like on a date?

Luka:Do I detect a good mood, or did I miss the sarcasm in cyber translation?

CeCe:The translation was just fine.

Luka:Great. I’ll pick you up at Mitch and Tayla’s @ 1. Bring a jacket.

CeCe:Why Mitch and Tayla’s?

Luka:It’s just more convenient.

As she worked through the morning, CeCe attempted to focus on packing orders and checking payments through her online store. Unable to concentrate, she stopped work at eleven thirty, ate some lunch, and changed for their Sunday drive or whatever it was Luka had planned. Maybe he wanted to talk some more about the space he was giving her.

Eye roll to that.

The stroll through the tree rows to her brother’s place helped her unwind, and as she approached the gate leading to the homestead, she knew what she had to do. Enjoy their friendship for what it was and embrace that ex-lovers truce they’d both committed to.

Tayla greeted her at the back door and joined her on the veranda to wait for Luka’s arrival. CeCe checked her watch and scratched her palms with her fingertips as nerves got the better of her.

“You seem a little on edge.” Tayla picked up her knitting needles and cast on several stitches from a soft pink skein of wool.

“I am bit. Luka has that effect on me. Crazy, isn’t it?” CeCe looked out over the orchard to gather her thoughts. Maybe it was time for her to learn how to knit. Something to take her mind off her work…and other things. “Before the disastrous hut sleepover, I worried that if I let him back into my life, I’d lose the essence of who I was. I thought we could have some fun with no commitment, but Luka decided that wasn’t his thing.”

“Did that surprise you?”

She shrugged. “It’s hard to know how much of yourself to give sometimes, and…how much to take from the other person. Does that make sense?”

“Sure. Maybe he wants more than you’re prepared to give.”

“He kind of said as much, but…who would know?”

CeCe glanced up at the noise of a helicopter overhead, and as it drew closer, she shielded her eyes with her hand to watch it fly over.

“He’s here,” Tayla said with a grin as it landed in the field adjacent to their house.

CeCe stood, her eyes round as she watched the blades slow. “What do you mean?”

“Luka.”

“What?” She turned to Tayla. “No way! He’s come to collect me in a chopper?”

“Looks like it. It’s not the first time he’s parked on our hay paddock. Anyway, off you go. And keep an open mind.”

“But—”

Tayla kept knitting and smiled. “Don’t overthink it. Just enjoy the afternoon.”

“What do you think you’re doing?” she yelled as Luka jumped the fence and strolled toward her, his aviators shielding his eyes against the sunlight.

He grinned. “I told you. I want to take you somewhere.”

“Yes, but…”

Luka offered his hand. “Come on.”

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