Page 26 of The Hookup
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said, and wished he would do or say something so that they could stop beating around things. She hated the chasing game, hated the will-he-won’t he? Does-he-or-doesn’t-he-like-me drama of romance.
“I’ll take that compliment.”
“You should,” she said. “That’s what it was.”
He seemed to hesitate before answering. What was wrong with him? Everything he did, or said, was measured, and he never seemed to respond in the way she hoped. “It hasn’t been an easy day,” he said, finally, surprising her with his words.
“No?” she asked, her hopes rising that he had shared some slight part of himself with her. “Let me buy you a drink,” she offered, “And you can tell me all about it.”
She held her breath and waited for his answer, waited to see what this man, this Luke Hunter, the son of an oil billionaire, New York's number four, owner of bars and clubs, and the guy who ticked all the boxes, would say to that.
Chapter 9
Should he let her buy him a drink he didn’t need?
Luke resisted the urge to scrub his forehead, the way he often did when he was thinking a problem through. And as tempting as she looked in that bare-backed top of hers, he knew the sensible thing to do was to decline politely.
“That’s not necessary,” he said, trying to find a way to let her down gently. “I’m a grown-up, I can handle bad days.”
“Sometimes it’s nicer to talk things over. You helped me when I was on the island.”
“I made you a cocktail.”
“It helped.”
The woman was persistent, if nothing else. The way she looked at him with those big, round eyes filled with longing, pure and simple, it reminded him of his mother. He would see her looking with that same yearning at his father. He had been fifteen years old when his father moved a pretty college intern into the family home. A month later, the dirty bastard moved her into the bedroom he shared with Luke’s mother, and moved his mother to another room.
It was obvious what was going on. His poor mother had been powerless, and she could do no nothing but stand by and helplessly watch. And accept. He had only been a teenager then, but that wistful look on his mother’s face was one he never forgot.
Kay had the same look about her.
“Thanks, but no,” he said, shaking himself out of that dark memory. As hard as it was, he had to decline.
“I’d better get back to my friends, before they start wondering where I’ve disappeared to.”
“Enjoy the club,” he told her. “You’re right. You should be on commission.” He couldn’t help but give her the once-over again. She definitely looked so much more attractive in her sexy after-work outfit. So much more appealing than the short, skimpy dresses she’d worn on the island. He preferred subtle sexiness as opposed to in-your-face blatant nakedness.
“I’m happy to spread the word. We’re having a great time.”
“We?” He wasn’t sure why he’d asked that.
“My friends, from work. Have you listened to anything I’ve said?”
“I’ve listened to everything you’ve said. You made it sound as if you’d come here with your boyfriend.”
Her tongue flicked over her lower lip, as she seemed to weigh up her answer. “I don’t have a boyfriend, remember?”
“That was then,” he replied, slowly, giving her the once-over. “I can’t imagine a woman like you staying single for too long.” Later on, he would wonder why he had played the devil’s advocate, why he had made that remark, knowing full well that it would only lead the way to temptation.
“Savannah has me on a man-free diet.”
“Aman-free diet?” He chuckled, because it sounded ridiculous. “What the hell is that?”
“Men are bad for me, apparently.”
“Says who? Savannah?”
“Says me. She’s always there to pick up the pieces.”
