Page 124 of The Rebound
“A bigger sign.”
He smiles into the pillow, closing his eyes again as the noise stops. “See?” he murmurs. “Gone.”
“They’ve collapsed from a lack of caffeine.”
“Coffee. Coffee sounds good.”
I give him a look. “If only we knew a place that had some.”
“Not it.”
“Nuh-uh,” I say. “This is your place and you’re the host. I will take a double espresso and— Hey!”
His hand shoots out to tug me down and I land with a thump on the mattress as he moves over me.
“What are you doing?”
“Catering to my guests.”
“I thought you wanted coffee.”
“Now I want something else.” He nips my shoulder before kissing it as his fingers find mine, drawing my hand down between us.
The knocking starts again.
I try not to laugh as Luke drops his forehead to mine before rolling off me, grabbing a pair of sweatpants as he slips out of bed. “Someone better be dying,” he grumbles, stomping down the stairs.
I stretch languidly, burying myself in the covers as I hear him unlock the door below. I wonder if I have enough time to brush my teeth before he gets back.
“I’ve seen her naked before, Luke. Get out of my way.”
I tense at the familiar voice.Louise?
My mind is not awake enough to process the fact that she’s here, so I’m too slow to reach for my clothes when I hear footsteps on the stairs. Too slow to do anything but tuck the sheet around me as I scramble out of the bed. At least I manage to do that much as a moment later she bursts into the loft, wearing what looks like her pajamas with Luke hot on her heels.
“Louise!”
“Get dressed.”
“Get out!” I scream.
Tomasz steps in behind Luke, his fingers over his eyes. “Hi,” he calls into the room.
“Don’t come in here,” I snap.
“Okay.” He turns immediately to face the staircase.
“Can I just say that for the majority of time I have been staying with you I haverespected your boundaries,” I hiss, tugging the sheet tighter around me.
“I got a call from the office,” Louise says, her face pale. “The developers are starting on the Castlebay site today.”
Oh.
Luke brushes past her to get a T-shirt.
“I thought that wasn’t happening for months,” I say.
“They lied. We need to get everyone down there before the diggers arrive. I need your help.”
