Page 68 of Summer on Sunshine Bay

“I didn’t know you two were dating.”

“We’re not. We’re just good friends. I help out with the boys every once in a while, and Heather takes photos for me. She took the ones on the charter boat’s website.”

“She really is an excellent photographer.”

“She is.” He crouched down by her door, trying to buff out the scratches with the hem of his T-shirt. “So the shower, how did it really go?”

“It was a disaster.”

“So is this door. I’ll need more than my T-shirt to buff the scratches out.” He lifted his chin at the house. “Do you want to come inside?”

“Are you sure you’re not busy? I don’t want to keep you from whatever you’re doing.”

“I wouldn’t invite you in if I was. I was just going to grab something to eat before I head back to the shop.” He stepped back as she opened the car door. “Behave, doofus, or you’ll scare Lila away.”

She closed the car door, patting Admiral’s big head as she followed Luke to the house. “I stopped by the shop. I met Bodhi. He seems like a nice guy.”

“He is. Talented too. I’m afraid I might lose him if I can’t give him more hours,” Luke said, holding the front door open for her.

“He mentioned he has a baby on the way,” she said as she stepped into the house and looked around. “Wow, this place is great, Luke.” It wasn’t a showplace like the beach house or a tricked-out bachelor pad. It was all warm woods and big, comfortable-looking furniture in shades of blue, a little messy, but that only added to the charm.

He snorted. “I’ve seen your house. This place would fit in your main floor.” He snagged a couple of magazines off the scuffed hardwood and tossed them onto a coffee table. “Ignore the mess. I’d like to blame it on the twins and doofus, but I can’t.”

“Okay, if you tell my dad I said this, I’ll deny it. But I’d rather live in a house like this. It’s warm and cozy. I can see myself curling up on that chair by the fire with a book or out on your deck, which is amazing. Did you build it?”

“Thanks. I did.” He walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. “What can I get you to drink?”

“I’d have a soda if you have any.” She could use a sugar rush. She hadn’t realized how tired she was until she’d walked into Luke’s house. She supposed it was no wonder with the drama of the past week, but she had a feeling it had more to do with her pregnancy. Which reminded her, she had to call the health center and set up an appointment for this week.

She walked to the patio door. “Great view.” The woods butted up to the back of Luke’s property. “How long have you owned this place?”

He came to stand beside her, handing her a glass of soda. “A couple of years.”

“Thank you.” She glanced at him. His jaw was tight, a muscle flexing in his cheek. She had a feeling he hadn’t bought the home for himself. It was a home you bought when you were starting a family. She was tempted to ask him what had happened. Who’d hurt him and put the shadow in his eyes. But she didn’t think he’d appreciate her asking.

“You want to sit inside or out?”

“Inside, if you don’t mind. It’s a little muggy out.”

“Yeah. There’s a storm coming in tonight.” He gestured to the couch. “Admiral’s called dibs on the chair, and I can tell you, from past experience, he won’t give it up, but you’re welcome to try.”

“I wouldn’t want to disturb him,” she said, taking a seat on the couch. “Are you sure about the storm? According to Willow, there’s no rain in the forecast.”

He laughed and joined her on the couch, seeming more like himself. “She needs to look up at the sky once in a while. You can tell by the clouds. When they start moving fast, the weather’s going to change.” He pointed out the window. “You see how thin they are? We’ll get rain in a few hours.”

“I bet this place is even cozier in the rain.”

“You really do like it,” he said, shaking his head as if he couldn’t understand why.

“I love it. As soon as I walked in, I felt like I’d come home.” Her cheeks heated. “That didn’t come out right.” Except it was exactly how she’d felt. “Don’t mind me. I’ve had a crappy day. And when I walked into your house, the tension seemed to ebb away.”

“What happened?” he asked, his arm resting along the back of the couch.

“Let’s just say I’m never going into another restaurant’s restroom for the rest of my life.”

“That’s all you’re going to give me?”

“Please, you have to be sick of listening to me complain. It’s all I ever do when I’m with you.”

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