“It is going to be an amazing day.” She breathed. “It already feels perfect.”
***
I don’t know how much time had passed between Hadley asking me to be a bridesmaid, three more glasses of wine, and the dancing, but us ladies were definitely going to pay for this the next morning.
I was spinning around with Kami on the deck when I heard a loud male voice ask. “Is this seriously what happens when we leave them alone?”
I looked up to see the four men and their father, John, staring at us with lopsided funny grins plastered on their faces. The man that had spoken had been Collin, Hadley’s fiancé. His green eyes were focused on Hadley with an intensity that made me blush deeply. Jeez, that was a look that should be reserved for the bedroom.
“I think we should leave them alone more often.” Luke winked at me and the blush Collin had started deepened.
“I think they’re intoxicated.” Kyle stated. “But at least I know mine can hold her own when it comes to liquor.”
I nodded. “Kami’s a tank, Kyle.”
Kyle chuckled as he looked to Luke. “Yours is definitely drunk.”
“Hey!” I slurred as I wobbled slightly now that I was no longer spinning around and around in dance. “I’m not his. I’m mine.”
“Whoa!” Kami slid her arm around my waist as Luke moved quickly forward.
I heard his voice sound deep and low beside me. “I’ve got her.” And then his arm had replaced Kami’s. It was so warm and strong, I didn’t protest. Instead, I leaned against the hard expanse of his chest, inhaling the crisp clean scent of him. Lowering his head, he asked against my hair. “Are you smelling me, pretty girl?”
I nodded, inhaling once again. When I spoke, I slurred. “You smell ssssooo good.”
Kyle chuckled as he moved closer to Kami, sliding his arm around her waist. “Yeah, yours is definitely past intoxicated.”
Luke nodded. “I’ll take her home and get her settled in bed.”
I straightened, but I couldn’t find the will to push away from his warm hold. “Kyle and Kami are supposed to drive me.” I swung my face up to Luke’s. “Didn’t you drink? You can’t drive if you drank either.”
He shook his head. “Didn’t drink, pretty girl.”
“Oh.” I sighed, resting my face against his firm chest. “You’re boring.”
Hadley asked, “What did you guys do all night?”
“We had pizza and played poker.” Collin replied.
Kyle spoke again. “Kami made us pizza we had to throw in the oven before she left. The woman is a pizza Goddess.”
Logan piped up, “Damn, Reese’s nachos are world class too.”
“You know Hadley makes the best lasagna.” Collin stated matter of fact, ever the competitive type.
I wasn’t paying much attention to the conversation until Kami spoke. “If you think you know world class, just wait until you’ve tried Ember’s enchiladas. They are to die for.”
“Really?” Kyle raised a brow and I nodded.
“Yep! They’re good.” I smiled. “My mom taught me.”
Collin chuckled. “Well the next man night will be at Luke’s. How about you make us a platter of those legendary enchiladas?”
“Um,” I thought for a moment. “Okay.”
Luke tightened his arm around me and then I felt his thumb move over my side as he caressed me gently. I sighed, loving the feel of his hands on my body like this. It was so easy, so comfortable to be in Luke’s arms. I didn’t know how I’d spent an entire month and a half without experiencing this - the feeling of his embrace - his caress. It was extraordinary.
And I was intoxicated.
I tried to tilt my face up to look into Luke’s rich dark chocolate eyes, but I wobbled forward instead, entirely off balance. His caressing hand caught me quickly, gathering me into his arms as I heard his voice announce. “Alright, I better take her home before she passes out.”
“You’ve got her?” I heard Kyle ask with a seriousness that surprised me. Kami had told me of his protective side, but this was my first time to witness it.
Luke nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got her.”
“Drive safe, Luke. Don’t let her take any stairs on her own - it’s better to just carry her.” Collin called as though speaking from experience.
Luke chuckled as Hadley scoffed. “Night.”
When we arrived at Luke’s big black truck, I startled. I couldn’t remember walking through the house. As he opened the passenger door and picked me up into his arms, I protested. “I can get in myself.”
“I don’t think you can, Ember.” Luke’s voice wasn’t one to question, but I did anyway.
“Luke?”
“What?” He paused, holding me against him. God, it felt so good - the world felt right, balanced, when I was against Luke.
I forced my words to sound in the charged space between us. “Why are you still here?”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t understand why you’re still here, with me?”
“I don’t know what you’re trying to ask me, Ember?” He lifted me into the seat, reaching over my lap to buckle me in.
“I’m trying to ask why you still hang out with me when I told you I wasn’t interested in anything more. Why do you care like you do? Why don’t you just leave me?”
His eyes darkened, but for the life of me, I couldn’t look away. “Do you want me to leave you?”
Silence beat between us, and as I thought about him leaving me, I could have sworn my heart had started breaking. When I spoke, sadness echoed through my words. “No. I never want to have to live through that.”
“Then you’ll never have to.” He promised and I watched in awe as the man I had crushed on for a decade closed the door to round to the driver’s side of the vehicle.
He didn’t say anything as he climbed into the truck beside me to start the rumbling engine and I didn’t have anything else to say either - so we fell into silence as he drove. When my cabin was finally in view, I heard his low voice in the silence.
“So, you make a mean enchilada?”
“It’s really mean.”
“You should make it for me tomorrow.”
“But I’m going to make it for you on Wednesday.”
He shrugged. “I should probably test it out and make sure its worthy.”
I gasped. “I’ll show you worthy!” I dropped my head against the headrest. “My enchiladas will totally - my enchiladas are the best!”
He chuckled. “So you’ll make them tomorrow for me then?”
“Yes!” I nodded firmly, resolute in my drunken decision. “I’ll show you how good they are.”
He grinned and I felt my heart melt. “Good. Should I take out chicken?”
“Yeah, you need chicken and cheese and sauce.” I mumbled as I closed my eyes. “I’ll make them.”
“Great.” I heard a smile in his voice. “I’ll hold you to your word.”
“I never break my word.” I vowed, as darkness set in and sleep overtook me.
***
The world - my world - was moving.
Although I was more than aware I had been drinking and was more than likely excessively intoxicated. I knew it was more than just my mind spinning - my actual world was moving.
“Shit.” I heard a male voice grunt in the darkness as the sleep I’d been captive to released its hold and I realized that I was being carried - by Luke. As much as I longed to snuggle deeper into his arms and pretend the world outside of this moment didn’t exist, I knew I couldn’t.
“Luke?” I whispered his name and he stilled.
“You’re awake?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Can I turn on a light? I don’t remember the last time I was in one of these cabins.”
Again, I nodded. “Yeah.”
I felt him use his shoulder to flick on a light and the living area illuminated with in an amber glow. Looking up into his handsome face,
I felt my heart squeeze nervously in my chest. Never before had I longed to kiss another human being the way I longed to kiss Luke now. Shaking my head, I forced my eyes to break the hold his held on mine as I wiggled in his arms.
“You can put me down now.”
“Are you sure?” He asked with a half-grin. “You keep falling in and out of sleep. I’m afraid if I put you down, you’ll fall over and hurt yourself.” He paused before adding. “And then I’ll have to face the wrath of my brothers when their wives sick them on me for letting you get hurt.”
I don’t know what it was about his words - maybe it was the fact that I was envisioning his brother’s as wolves - but I couldn’t stop the laughter from bubbling up in my throat. It sounded loud, and without abandon into the small space of my cabin. Soon, Luke had joined my laughter with his own.
“You’re funny.” I stated. “But I’m fine. You can put me down.”
“Alright.” He sighed as he lowered my feet to the floor. Holding onto his arm, I found my center before releasing him. “You good?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m good.”
“You want some water?”
Suddenly, my mouth felt dry. “That’s probably a good idea.”
I watched as Luke moved quickly to the kitchen. He filled me a glass of water from the jug I’d placed in the fridge and brought it back to me. I took it from him without words, downing the water. When I was done, I looked up at him and grinned.
“What are you up to, pretty girl?” Luke asked warily.
“Can you build a fire?” I asked.
He raised a brow. “You want me to build you a fire?”
I nodded. “Yes, please.”
“Alright.” He sighed. “Are you sleeping on the couch?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Ember,” Luke sounded reprimanding now, but I could see the formations of a smile on his lips. “You should go to bed. It’s already late and we work in the morning.”
“I’m not tired.” I announced. “Please, can you make a fire?”
He sighed. “I’ll make a fire.” He pointed to the hall. “Go get yourself ready for bed.”
“Okay.” I replied with an obedience that surprised me. I moved to the entrance to the hall before pausing. “You won’t leave, will you?”
Luke swung his head around to look at me from where he was bending down to the fireplace. Then he straightened. There was a shadow in his eyes as he shook his head. “I’ll be right here, pretty girl.”
I nodded. “Kay.”
“Go get ready for bed.” He said again, but this time his tone was gentle. As I walked, I couldn’t help but think it sounded almost soothing.
Moving along the short stretch of hall to the bathroom, I brushed my teeth and scrubbed my makeup from my face. I’d never been one to sleep with my makeup on. I seriously didn’t know how women did that.
I brushed my hair and by the time I was standing in my cream-colored pajama pants with the small pastel green spruce trees patterned into the fabric and a pastel green tank top, I was feeling the expected exhaustion building within me. But I also knew that I didn’t want to be alone. I didn’t want Luke to leave, so I placed a smile on my face as I moved back out to the living room, shoving my arms into a cream colored cardigan as I went.
Luke was standing over the fireplace and the only light in the room was the glow of the flickering flames of the fire. His hands were in the pockets of his dark jeans and his black button down shirt was stretched tight over the firmness of his shoulders.
“Luke?” I spoke his name softly and he turned to face me. His eyes moved from the top of my head to the tip of my toes, then back up to my eyes.
“Feeling tired yet?” He asked and the sound of his gravelly voice moved through me in a way no voice had ever done before. I felt the sound of him in my veins, moving through the entirety of my body - warming me.
I shook my head. As much as I knew he should leave - I just didn’t want to face the night alone. “Do you dance?”
Luke raised a brow. “Dance?”
“Do you?” I stepped closer to him - and I didn’t stop until there was only a breath of space between us. “Will you?”
“You want to dance?” He cocked his head. “Didn’t you dance enough tonight, already?”
I shook my head. “No.”
I watched with a nervously beating heart as the corner of his lips lifted in a slow grin. Then I felt his hands move against my waist - and then I felt my body connect with his as he pulled me into his arms. “I dance, pretty girl.” His voice was so deep. “Put your feet on mine.” I followed his command, stepping onto the tops of his feet with my fuzzy white slipper-socks.
I reached up to circle my hands around his neck, for the very first time, I loved my lacking height. For the first time, I felt so safe in the circle of another’s arms. Luke’s largeness didn’t intimidate me. Instead, I felt so protected and cherished - encased within his strong embrace.
I didn’t think about my next actions. I didn’t allow my mind to convince me this was wrong - or that I was walking on dangerous ground with this friend I had gained. Instead, I pressed my cheek against his chest and closed my eyes. I allowed my breathing to even and my mind to relax as Luke moved us to the melody of the crackling fire.
I don’t know how long he held me like that for, but when I was certain I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer, Luke lifted me into his arms bridal style, as though he knew I was a mere moment away from slipping into the peace of sleep.
He carried me down the hall to my bedroom, and he placed me into my bed, pulling the blankets up around me. I wanted to ask him to stay, but for the life of me, I could not form the words. I wasn’t coherent enough to understand the repercussions of those words, so I remained silent as he moved from the room, leaving the door cracked open behind him.
And then I settled into sleep.
Chapter 8
I woke up way too early the next morning, but my mouth was dry as sandpaper and the inside of my head felt fuzzy. Squinting, I pressed the small round button on the face of my iPhone and watched the screen illuminate. It was 5:26 a.m. and the sun was beginning to peek through the darkness of the night sky. I loved the early sun both spring and summer offered. In the winter months, I missed the sun with a fierceness I couldn’t explain - but right now, this morning, I dreaded its glow.
Flopping back against my pillow, I replayed the evening’s events. I remembered coming home with Luke - and how he had been a perfect gentleman. Not once had he taken advantage of my intoxicated, needy state. Instead, he’d done all I’d asked with a kind gentleness I would forever remember and never take for granted.
As I recalled the feel of his arms holding me close as we danced, I couldn’t banish the heat that formed in my lower belly and the emotion in my chest. Never had I felt so safe and secure in the presence of a man - never. Even in the days before my father’s abandonment, I’d never known the security I’d felt only last night in Luke’s arms.
Shaking the thought from my mind, I pushed the blankets from my body and padded to the bathroom. Finishing my morning business, I brushed my teeth and swished mouthwash around my mouth as I struggled to kill the dryness left in my mouth from the wine I had consumed the night before.
As I moved from the hall, into the kitchen, I paused in place as my heart began to pound unsteadily in my chest. The sight of Luke’s big body lying across the too short length of the couch stopped me dead in my tracks.
He’d stayed the night?
I took a moment to debate what to do from here. I knew he worked long days at the barn, but I didn’t know what time he normally went to the barn. Was he late? Should I wake him?
Decidedly, I moved quietly to the pantry where I pulled the coffee pot and coffee from the back of the shelf where Kami had stored it when she’d put away my groceries the first time. I hadn’t opened the canister of coffee because I don’t drink the stuff, and Kami hadn’t been here early enough in the mo
rning for me to bother making it for her.
I set the pot to brewing and poured myself a glass of orange juice. After downing half the cup, I set it on the counter and moved to the living room where a large sleeping Luke was lying on my little couch.
“Luke?” I spoke his name quietly, not wanting to startle him. I’d never woken a man and hadn’t been planning on doing so today. When he didn’t stir, I reached out to touch his shoulder. “Luke, wake up.”
His eyes fluttered and he groaned. “What time is it?”
“Almost six.”
“Shit.” He pushed himself into a sitting position. “How are you awake?”
“I don’t like to sleep in.” I replied honestly. The truth was that I’d never had the time to sleep in. If I didn’t have to sleep to keep a healthy mind and body, I would forego the action entirely. In my mind, sleeping was a waste of valuable time.
“You’re the weirdest person I know.” He rubbed his brow. “You were up until almost one in the morning.” He peeked up at me through sleepy chocolate eyes and I didn’t bother expending any amount of energy in fighting my smile. “Do I smell coffee?”
I nodded. “Would you like me to pour you a cup?”
“That’d be great.” He leaned back against the couch. “I’m normally at the barn already.”
I raised my brow as I poured the black liquid into a cup. “Is everything going to be alright if you’re not there?”
“Yeah, the guys know what they’re doing.” He shrugged. “I’m always there, but they know it was guys night last night so they probably think I’m hugging the toilet.”
I snorted. “That would be a sight.”
“Speaking of...” He took the mug I handed him. “How are you feeling?”
I grinned. “I’m fine. I’m rarely ever hung over. I don’t drink often and I may not handle it well, but I’ve never had one of those toilet hugging hangovers.”
“Lucky girl.” He smirked as he sipped his coffee.
I lowered myself onto the coffee table across from Luke. He was stretched out on the couch the way boys so often sit with their legs spread and their body slouched. I positioned my knees between his and sighed. “Thanks for last night.”
A Tender Touch: A Donnelley Brother's Novel (Logan Point Book 4) Page 6