Page 5 of Making the Call
Dani
“This can’t be happeningto me,” I moan aloud.This isn’t real. What else could it be? Not only do I crash and burn of epic proportions, but I must do it in front of Ian Somerhalder’s doppelganger? Of course, ‘just Luke’ is likely taller than Ian and much better built, if that’s even possible. He freaking picked me up as if I were a toddler and carried me all the way up his driveway. He’s lucky I was too injured to think about his sculpted hot body or the way his scent was masculine and uniquely him. Damn, even covered in sweat, the man’s smell could be bottled and sold on the black market for billions.
When my face cradled against his bare chest, I couldn’t help but notice the small tattoo across his right pec. It was an ornate balance scale. On the trays hanging from each side of the scale were the words ‘ability’ and ‘choice.” Choice was made to appear heavier.I wonder what it means?On his inner bicep on his right arm, he also had an amazing design of Mount Rainier with a few trees in the foreground. Both of his tattoos would have been completely hidden, if only he had put a shirt on.
He’s gone only seconds, or I’m just too distracted to notice his absence, when his deep voice pulls me out of my reverie. “You’re in luck. I found your phone about twenty feet away from your bike. It must have gone flying when you went airborne. Thankfully, no damage was done to it, that I can see.”
“Thanks again,” I offer as I reach out for my phone to tuck it into my shorts pocket.
He leans my now-dilapidated bike against the railing to the deck, then he comes to sit in the chair next to me. I start to stand, but Luke stops me when he says, “Why don’t you take it easy for a few minutes. I was just about to make breakfast. Would you care to join me? Or, if you’d rather, I’ll take you home.” He suddenly stops and looks everywhere but at me, then he stammers a little, “Uh. That’s if you want my help.” He looks toward the pocket I placed my phone inside.
“I might be persuaded to stay for breakfast,” I say with a teasing tone.
“Great. Want to stay out here while I whip something up?” His lips turn up like he wants to smile but is holding back. The gleam in his eyes gives it away, too.
“Um,” I hesitate. My manners say to get up and go inside, but my body protests otherwise. “Would you mind if I stayed out here? I’m onlyslightlystinging at the moment and if I don’t move, I might be able to imagine this never happened.”
Luke lets out a soft chuckle and shakes his head slightly. “Not at all. I have the makings for omelets. Would you like one?”
“Sure, sounds good.”
“Be right back.” He walks a few steps toward his door before stopping to ask, “Are you allergic to anything?”
“Nope. I’m good with anything.”
“Be right back.”
Wow! A man with his looks, that’s kind, helps those in need, and can cook? I must have woken up in an alternate reality.The last man who cooked for me was my college boyfriend… and that ended years ago. Since then, I’ve been so busy on my own, I haven’t made time for anything serious.
When was the last time I even had a meal with someone who wasn’t family or there for business? Hell. I have no idea. I need to get out of the worlds I create and live in the real one for a while. Though, if I’m being perfectly fair, Luke does seem like a character I’d write about, rather than someone I’d meet in real life. I could only be so lucky…
Iamlucky though, if I’m being honest. I’ve taken something I enjoy and found a way to make a living out of it. As an English major, I’ve always loved literature and everything about it. I’m an avid reader and nine times out of ten, can be found with my nose in a book. In fact, once as a child, I was on vacation and as a punishment, my parents threatened to take my books away if I didn’t come out and enjoy some time with my three brothers. I still laugh at the memory. But through the years, books are still a huge part of my life.
When I was struggling to make ends meet and wanted to prove I could do it on my own in college, a friend of mine suggested I self-publish a story I had written, “just for fun.” I didn’t think anything would ever come of it, but that one choice became the starting point to a career I thoroughly enjoy today.
When I published the first book in a romance trilogy, I was able to make enough money to cover the cost of publishing the entire trilogy, but not much else. It wasn’t until I had written my fourth book, that people took notice. To my surprise, my hard work paid off. It actually made some of the top sellers lists and paved the way for the career I have today. By the time I graduated from college, I no longer wanted to work for anyone else. I have a steady flow of income as long as I continue to keep up a rigorous schedule and publish books in a timely manner.
It’s not to say I’m all work and no play, but the last three years have kept me busy. My ex didn’t understand why writing was so important to me, so we parted ways long before graduation. Not wanting distractions or having to explain why when I’m “In the zone,” I might not be able to keep track of time or even shower regularly. I try to vacation or at least take a break a few times a year, so I can keep my mind fresh, but once the publishing cycle starts, I’m constantly working on one project or another. Speaking of which, what should I do about my characters in my current book…
Just as I begin to zone out, thinking about how to get my characters out of the predicament they’re currently in, Luke interrupts my thoughts with his sexy deep timbre, “Hey, Dani, what would you like to drink? I have orange juice, coffee, milk, or water.”
“Uh…”How long have I been spacing out?“I’ll have orange juice.Thanks.”
“Sure thing.” I hear from inside the house. “I’ll just grab it and come out.”
As Luke enters the deck, I attempt to stand and help him, but he stops me. “No need to get up. I got it.”
He flashes a brilliant smile as he hands me a tray with my entire meal resting on it. “Oh, you deliver, too. I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
Luke rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “Don’t be too impressed. This and barbeque are about all I enjoy cooking.”
The delicious aroma hits me before I can say anything. My stomach beats me to voicing my appreciation with an audible rumble.Great. I can’t catch any breaks when it comes to this man.I do manage to stifle my embarrassment by saying, “Thanks, it smells amazing.”
The crinkle around his deep-blue eyes and the twitch at the corners of his lips are the only hints he finds me amusing. I’m not sure if this is a good thing, but I make the best of it by taking a quick bite to occupy my mouth before I embarrass myself further.
Luke sits down in a chair next to me and takes a bite from his own plate. We spend the next few moments enjoying the food and the indescribable view of Puget Sound before us. I could spend days out here and never get enough.
“So,” Luke clears his throat then says as he points to my plate, “what do you think?”
