by Nina Levine
I sit next to her and drape my arm along the couch behind her. “No. He’s been having these nightmares for a long time now. He always wakes up screaming for Jolene. I don’t know what to tell him except that I don’t know when she’ll be back.”
She places her hand on my knee. “That’s all you can tell him, Luke. It’s the truth, right?”
I suck in a breath at her contact. “Yeah, and that’s all we’ve got.”
Nodding, she agrees. “More people should stick to the truth. Life would make a lot more sense I think.”
She’s emphatic, and while I don’t completely agree with her that life would make a lot more sense if everyone was always completely honest, I love the way she believes in things and will fight to argue her point. I want to kiss her right now. My eyes drop to her lips, and my gaze lingers there until she stands.
“Oh no you don’t,” she mutters, running her fingers through her long, blonde hair. “You can’t look at my lips that way.”
She’s right. And my dick would agree because her lips are dangerous territory.
I stand and meet her gaze. “It’s hard not to look at them that way, baby.”
Her eyes widen, and she presses her hands against my chest. “No, no, no! Stop talking.”
I chuckle and raise my hands in surrender. “I won’t look at your lips anymore.”
She picks up her bag. “Good.”
I eye her bag slung over her shoulder. “Are you leaving?”
“Yeah, I have an article to write for work, and it’s my first real article, so I want it to be perfect.”
I frown. “Aren’t all your articles real?”
“I mean, it’s not just a story about local events. My boss asked if anyone wanted to write a piece about putting a sugar tax on soft drinks. It’s not due until the end of the week, but I want to put some time into research so I can back up my point of view.”
“Where do you stand on it?”
“I’m for it.”
I whistle low. “I look forward to reading it.”
She cocks her head. “You don’t believe in it?”
“I haven’t researched it or anything, but I wonder if there’s a hell of a lot more to be done in society to tackle this problem rather than simply taxing sugar consumption.”
“Oh, I’m sure there is, but surely every little part helps.”
“I don’t really think the parents who happily feed their children sugar-laden food will really blink at a slight increase in food. And adults happily throw cash at their addictions. They’ll yell and scream for a while, and it will possibly stop some, but overall, what does it teach people? I think it’s a bandage for a deeper wound in society.”
“Mmmm, I’m going to think about that a lot more,” she says with a smile. “You’re a smart man, Mr Hardy.”
I surprise her when I pull her close so our bodies press hard against each other. Her eyes widen as my face comes close, but I don’t kiss her. I rest my forehead against hers for a beat. “My lips are staying firmly over here, but I needed one last touch.” With a smack on her butt, I mutter, “Now go, before I lose the tiny speck of self-control I have left.”
After she leaves, I sit on the couch and rest my elbows on my knees. Dropping my face into my hands, I exhale my frustration. When I told her I had a tiny amount of self-control left, I was lying. Callie has no clue how much I want her. How could she when I’m only fully grasping the depth of it myself?
17
Callie
Luke: Come straight to the bar after work today.
Me: I see bossy Luke is in full swing.
Luke: Is argumentative Callie in full swing?
Me: Depends.
Luke: On what?
Me: What do I get out of coming to the bar?
Luke: Me.
Me: Oh how I wish that were true.
Luke: You might be surprised.
Me: Your lips are moving, but all I’m hearing is you can’t touch this. I’m not good at playing this game.
Luke: Let me introduce you to a new game, baby. Be here.
“Callie, have you finished that article yet? I need it within the next hour if it’s going to make the weekend edition.”
“Yes, give me about forty minutes,” I say with a quick glance up at my boss.
He nods. “Thank Christ, because I didn’t have anything else. Promise me what you’ve got is good because we’re running low on time to fix it if it isn’t.”
Fridays seem to be a stressful time for this office. Today has been one mad rush of “get me this” and “do that”. I give him a tight smile. “It’s good. Promise.”
He leaves me once he’s satisfied I’ve got the goods, and I go back to thinking about what Luke meant by his text. The next six hours can’t go by fast enough.
“Thank you, Callie,” Mrs Harper says as I hand her the groceries I picked up for her after work.
I smile. “No worries. I’m always here to help when you need it.” Even when I’m desperate to get to Luke because I promised I’d come over straight after work.
Mrs Harper called me half an hour before I was due to finish work, asking if I’d collect some groceries for her. As much as I wanted to tell her I had new games to go and start playing, I couldn’t say no. I would never do that to her. She relies on me because she has no family who live close.
“If you’ve got a moment to spare, would you mind coming in and changing some light bulbs, dear?”
I stare at her, wondering if there are any polite ways to say no, but nothing is forthcoming. Instead, I nod. “Sure.”
She leads me inside and shows me which lights need new bulbs—the bathroom one and the light in her bedroom. God, I would have been a bitch if I’d said no. Those two lights are necessary. I bet she’s been waiting to ask me, too. She’s probably already gone some time without them.
I fix the bathroom light easily, but the new light I install in her bedroom doesn’t work. When she informs me she doesn’t have any more spare bulbs, I mentally curse. I don’t have any at my place either.
“I’ll head down to the shop and buy some more bulbs,” I say, ignoring the text message that just arrived.
She gives me a grateful look. “Thank you, dear.”
I head downstairs to my car and check my text message as soon as I slide into my front seat.
Luke: Where are you?
Me: I just have a quick errand to do on the way.
Luke: You’re killing me here, Callie.
Me: Buddy, you killed me a long time ago.
I shove the car into reverse and scream out of the car park. The journey to the corner store is the quickest trip I’ve ever made there. Fifteen minutes later, I’m back at Mrs Harpers.
After I finally get her lights all working, I’m almost out her front door when she says, “How did your roast go last week, dear? I’ve meant to ask you if your friend liked it.”
I grimace. I just wanna go play games with Luke. But I turn to face her. “I burnt it, but he fixed it. Thank goodness I found a man who can cook.”
“I hope this man is nicer than your last boyfriend.”
Something I love about Mrs Harper is her no-bullshit approach to life. She doesn’t fuss with details or bother with niceties for the sake of sparing feelings. It makes communicating with her much easier because one always knows where they stand. I nod. “Yes ma’am, he is.” My voice grows softer when I add, “I think this one’s a keeper.”
“How long have you been dating?”
“Only a few weeks.”
She shrugs. “Well, I never did believe time meant very much when love was involved. I knew within a week that I was going to marry my husband. Six months later, we were married, and we enjoyed sixty-one years of marriage. It wasn’t always easy, but nothing worth having is, my dear.”
I pause and process what she’s just said. Nothing worth having comes easy. It’s such a throwaway line these days, but it’s probably one of the most important notions in life. Our so
ciety is so caught up in the fast, the easy, and the immediate. There’s a sense of entitlement among so many that I don’t subscribe to. I’ve never shied away from hard work, but it’s always good to be reminded that working towards something you want takes effort.
I reach for her hand. “Thank you for telling me that. What we have is good, but you’re right. We’re going to have to work hard for it. And it’s going to be so worth it.”
On the way to Luke’s bar, I mentally resolve to be more patient with our relationship. I’ll play whatever game he wants to play while we count down the days until we can be together.
The minute I enter Elixir, Luke’s eyes meet mine, and I shiver at what I see there. I might not be close to him yet, but I can read desire when I see it. As I move closer, my core clenches as I see how intensely he’s watching me.
Oh, God, why are you letting me down now?
I was psyched to play along, but this is too much.
He comes out from behind the bar and grips my hand. Hard. Without a word, he drags me into his office. His body is as tense as I’ve ever seen it, and I wonder what he’s going to tell me. He’s worked up about something.
“Luke, wha—”
He cuts me off when he closes the door and pushes me up against the back of it. His hungry eyes search mine for only a split second before his mouth descends on mine. Then he forces my lips apart to take possession. And when Luke Hardy takes possession, I know there’s no coming back from it. If I thought he’d already staked his claim, I was wrong. This kiss screams his ownership in ways he’s never announced it.
His hands are in my hair.
His body is pressed hard against mine.
His growl of dominance fills the room.
When he finally ends the kiss, I’m panting.
“It’s over, baby. And you’re mine now,” he rasps.
I blink, unsure what this all means. “What?”
He takes hold of my face with both hands and kisses me again. I lose myself to his kiss, helpless to stop him. He tastes so damn good, and I never want this kiss to end.
“The cops don’t need me anymore. Turns out someone else committed that murder, so I’m free. The divorce will go through in about ten months or so,” he announces when he takes a break from my lips.
A steady buzz of joy floats through my body. I slip my arms around his waist, needing to touch him more desperately than I’ve ever needed to touch anyone. “So that means we can be together,” I say softly.
His eyes flash with lust, and he grinds against me. “That depends on where you stand on this phase of a marriage. It’s definitely over, and my lawyer has been to see Jolene today to tell her. Does that mean we can progress past friend zone?”
Jesus, how can anyone say no to Luke Hardy? If I thought he was irresistible before, he’s just upped his game.
I loop my arms around his neck and catch his lips in a kiss. We drown in this kiss, and I silently give him my answer. Now that he’s told his wife it’s over for sure, and his divorce is proceeding, I’m 100 percent all for this. No doubts linger. “Consider friend zone dead and buried. I’m ready for you to show me how you really play. Introduce me to your new game, Luke,” I say after I end the kiss.
He exhales a breath as if he’d been holding it in, unsure how I’d respond. “Thank fuck,” he says, and my belly flutters at his obvious need.
A loud knock on the office door interrupts us. “Luke? We kinda need you, dude. It’s getting real busy out here,” Avery says on the other side.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” he says.
“Sorry, Callie,” she says.
“All good, babe,” I reply.
Luke’s gaze settles on mine. “Tomorrow night you’re mine,” he orders. “Unless I can make shit happen tomorrow morning.”
I don’t want to wait that long, but we’re up against his work and family commitments here, so I know I’m going to have to wait.
“I’ll clear my schedule for you tomorrow.”
His hands slide under my ass, and he lifts me up, balancing me against the door. After he kisses me again, he says, “I’d appreciate that.” God, I love that deep voice of his.
I leave the bar ten minutes later and commence the countdown to sex with Luke.
Sex.
Finally.
Oh, God, I need to prepare for this.
Thank goodness I have the whole night ahead.
18
Callie
I smooth a mask over my face later that night. The bottle assured me it would help clear my pores, and I need those pores cleared. I’m beginning to feel a little anxious. Since I arrived home from the bar, I’ve had problem after problem get in the way of my primping for tomorrow. I need everything to be perfect for when Luke and I finally sleep together again.
First, Jasper was ill, so I had to take care of him. Then after I got him sorted, Mrs Harper’s sink blocked, so I took care of that for her. And then, my car alarm sounded. When I went to check on it, one of my neighbours engaged me in a conversation about neighbourhood security that lasted a good half hour. I’ve only just managed to extricate myself.
As soon as I returned from that conversation, I dyed my hair. It’s currently wrapped in cling wrap, sitting on top of my head. And the black pore mask I applied is beginning to set on my face. Next up, a bikini wax. And then my legs need to be waxed, too. After that I’ll do a pedicure and then a manicure. To finish off, I’m going to take a long bath and exfoliate my entire body before slathering on body lotion.
I decide wine is in order while I wait for my mask and hair, so I traipse to the fridge and retrieve the Riesling I bought on the way home. I’ve just poured myself a glass when there’s a knock on the front door. I ignore it because I’m dressed only in my sexy red silk robe that barely covers my ass. I love this robe so much that I’ve got the heating cranked up just so I can wear it. Tonight is all about me feeling sexy, and this robe does that. Winter won’t stop me from feeling sexy.
The banging doesn’t stop—it only grows louder until Luke calls out, “Callie.”
I freeze.
Shit.
Oh, God, no.
No, no, no.
He can’t be here tonight. Not when I look like this.
I peer in the kitchen window to see my reflection in the glass.
He bangs on the door again.
My face is black, and my hair is an ungodly mess.
My phone rings.
Oh, hell.
Shit.
Mothereffer.
I swipe my phone off the counter. “Luke, what’s up?” I attempt to sound normal, but even I don’t recognise the voice that squeaks out of my mouth. It screams guilt.
“Why aren’t you letting me in?”
“Oh… Are you at my place? Sorry, I’m not home.”
He’s silent for a moment. “Callie, I can see your car from where I’m standing. I know you’re home.”
Fuck, fuckity, fuck.
Double fuck.
You have let me down big time, God. You owe me now, buddy.
“Ummm…” I’m lost for words.
“Callie, what’s going on?” He’s beginning to sound frustrated with me.
“Can you go away and come back tomorrow?” God, I’m turning down sex here, I just know it.
“I’m not leaving. And you need to tell me what’s wrong.”
I just want good sex, God.
That’s all.
Is that too much for a girl to ask?
Sex with a perfectly waxed bikini line. Sex with waxed legs. Sex with beautiful blonde hair. Sex without a black, freaking mask stretched across my face making me look like God-knows-what.
I sigh. “Hang on.”
I yank the door open and stare at him. His eyes flick to my hair before landing on my face, and then travelling the length of me. He seems to get stuck on my legs. Well, pretty much every inch of my legs is on display in my short, sexy robe. At least I’m not wearing my old panties or a
shirt riddled with holes. There is that. There is only that.
“See why I wanted you to go away,” I say while waiting for his gaze to return to mine.
He doesn’t lift his eyes. Just continues giving his full attention to my legs. I have no issue with this, because the longer he stares at them, the less time he gives my face and hair. “I’m looking at a pretty fucking good reason not to leave,” he says, low and deep. Husky as hell.
“Well, maybe we could strike a deal,” I suggest.
His eyes find mine again. “And what would that be?”
When his gaze begins to wander up, I click my fingers. “Eyes on my legs. The deal is you can come in if you just keep looking at them until I fix my face and hair. Yeah?”
Amusement crosses his face, and his lips twitch. “No deal, baby. If you think I can wait for all that to happen, you’re dreaming.”
He enters my apartment and closes the door behind him. When his hand reaches for the sash on my robe, I quickly snap my hand over his, halting his progress. “No!”
His eyes narrow. “Why?”
“Because I’m not ready for you, Luke.”
“Baby, you were born ready for me. You were fucking made ready for me.” While he’s killing me with words, he somehow manages to wrangle my hand from his, and he undoes my robe.
His gaze shifts to my breasts and lust hits me in my core. When his hands glide over my shoulders to shrug my robe off, my skin burns with need. And when he backs me up against the wall and lifts me, I wrap my legs around him and let go of any worry I have that I’m not ready for him.
To hell with it, Luke will just have to take me as I come.
“Fuck, you’re beautiful, Callie,” he rasps as he bends his face to my breast.
He sucks my nipple into his mouth, and I claw at his back, grasping his shirt with both hands. He’s wearing one of those cottony shirts that drive me wild. I only vaguely realise this because his mouth is very distracting and I’m fairly sure my brain is about to stop functioning.
After treating both my breasts to his mouth, he begins kissing a trail up my chest to my collarbone and then to my neck.