Page 61 of The Hookup
The lack of enthusiasm in his voice, prompted her to question him. “You don’t sound too excited about it. Are you sure you want me to come along?”
“I asked you, didn’t I?”
She had no idea why he was getting so worked up, but given that he’d made such a commotion out of dinner, should she be surprised?
“You don’t sound too excited about going, and you don’t have to ask me to come if it bothers you. I’m not even sure why you asked me in the first place.”
“Because I’d assumed it might be fucking nice for you to come along.”
“OK. I’ll come. At least I get to meet your family, huh?” The idea secretly thrilled her. Perhaps it would help shed some light on this man who was still a closed box to her, but he didn’t reply.
Whatever happened, Luke obviously felt something for her—enough to ask her to a family wedding.
These things couldn’t be dismissed as easily. She sensed he had a difficult time with his family, and that this would be an eye-opening event, but at least he felt close enough to her to ask her to accompany him.
Nothing could take that away from her.
Chapter 21
The Oasis and The Vault were bursting at the seams. With only a few days to go until Christmas, people were getting together for a final drink before going home for Christmas. There were also the usual last-minute get-togethers with friends. Luke liked seeing his bars packed to overflowing.
It made for good business. This time next year the new Canal Street site would be up and running. He’d put in a successful bid for the place, and it was now his. Workmen were ready to go in and start working on it towards the end of January. His life was going to get pretty busy soon, and thrown into the mix was Amanda’s wedding. Still, with Kay on his arm, things would be bearable.
She’d come to the bar with her work colleagues earlier. Theirs was a large group and they took up two tables. She hadn’t yet come over to him, and looked busy in conversation. Adrenaline gushed through his veins at the sight of her, because seeing her always made him want to claim her.
It was going to be a good night. Again. Things between them were good, and he preferred that they stayed that way.
He disappeared into his office, in order to tend to some business and when he returned, almost half an hour later, he saw her standing near the bar with someone.
And the guy had his hand on Kay’s arm.
The breath stopped in his throat. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like it at all. Kay’s back was to him as he walked up to her, just in time to hear the man next to her ask, “Why don’t you come over and say ‘hi?’ You know everyone.”
He wasn’t the type of man to indulge in public displays of affection, but he slid his arm around Kay’s waist so that she was forced to turn and look at him. When she did, he hugged her closer, their lips barely touching. “Hi,” he said, in what was probably his first daring public show of affection.
She looked flustered, and surprised, as she should, for they both knew this wasn’t him. This wasn’t how their relationship rolled. “Hey.”
“Did I interrupt something?” he asked, moving his head back, and even though he could see the man’s face over Kay’s shoulder, he kept his eyes trained on her shocked face.
“Are you feeling okay?” she asked, as his other hand held firm against her hip.
“Now that I’ve seen you, yes.”
She angled her head, not understanding. He had to admit, this show of affection was confusing. “Am I interrupting something?” he asked again.
“I think you did,” the other guy said, in a snarky tone. “We were talking.” Luke momentarily afforded him a nano second of his attention.
He turned to Kay. “He says I did,” he echoed, looking directly into her eyes, needing to read her reaction. Had she been flirting with this loser? Or had she just been talking to him?
“You didn’t interrupt anything,” she said, resting her hand over his hand that lay around her waist.
“Good.”
That guy, whoever the fuck he was, vanished. “I need to talk to you about something,” he said, talking directly into her ear, and catching a dash of her perfume. Bottled musk and flowers. A rush of blood surged through his veins, speeding up his heart beat, his pulse, and turning him steel hard. “In my office.”
“In your office?” she cooed, her lips moist and seductive. She could be a real tease without even trying. Seizing her hand, he tugged her away from the bar, through the doors and down the hallway to his office.
“Where are we going?” she asked, as he pulled her up a small flight of steps.
