Page 103 of Whispers and Wildfire

Luke stood behind the front desk, an angry expression on his face. “Where were you?”

“I went to the store,” I said, confused. “Why are you snapping at me? I was gone for like fifteen minutes and I forwarded the phone. Since when do I have to check in with you every time I move? Should I ask permission to go to the bathroom too?”

“No, I just… I didn’t know where you were.”

“I got a snack.” I walked around the desk, but he was in my way. I couldn’t sit down. “If you wanted to know where I was, you could have just called me.”

“I did. You didn’t answer.”

“Oh. Sorry, I didn’t hear my phone.”

He raked his hands through his hair. “Damn it, Mel, you scared the crap out of me.”

“Why? Because I walked to the store to get a snack? I know it’s hot out there, but I drink plenty of water. It’s not like I’m a heat stroke risk.”

He let out an exasperated breath. “Never mind.”

Not quite sure what had just happened, I watched him leave. The sound of power tools in the garage carried through the door until it swung shut behind him.

Wait.

He was upset because he didn’t know where I’d gone, and that was all he was going to say about it? The big fat jerk was worried about me, and he wasn’t even going to admit it?

Oh hell no.

I marched to his office and burst through the door. “Why don’t you just say what you’re thinking?”

He was standing next to his desk and whirled around to face me. “What?”

“You told me to stop shutting you out, so I did. And now you’re doing the same thing to me. So just say it. Tell me why you were mad when you didn’t know where I was.”

“I wasn’t mad. I was concerned.”

“You looked mad.”

“I wasn’t.”

“Damn it, Luke. Stop. What are we doing? Why don’t you just tell me what’s in your head?”

His expression changed, anger and frustration replaced with heat. His eyes narrowed and he stalked toward me.

Leaning close, he lowered his voice. “Do you really want to know what’s in my head?”

He moved closer, so I stepped back. “Yes.”

Another step put my back against the wall. He didn’t give me an inch, caging me in with his arms, his palms pressed against the wall behind me.

“You’re in my head, Mel. Every part of you. And you’re driving me fucking insane.”

“I—”

His lips crashed against mine in a hard kiss, but only for a second. He pulled away, leaving me gasping.

“Shut your mouth,” he growled. “I wasn’t supposed to care about you. Not like this.”

“I’m sorry?”

He stopped me with another kiss, as brief and aggressive as the first. “I really wanted to keep hating you, but I just can’t. Even though you drive me nuts. I can’t get enough of you.”

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