by Kay Lyons
“Fair? You’re getting along? Having sex?”
“Alex!”
“Welllll? I don’t want details, just reassurance that you’re both okay. You know Gram is going to ask me since she knows I came here first.”
Just what she needed. Luke’s grandmother involved in their sex life. “Things are progressing as well as can be expected.”
“Uh-oh. That sounds ominous.”
“We need time to get used to things.”
Alex set her glass aside and grabbed her purse and keys. “Do you miss him?”
Shelby paused by the refrigerator and fingered the stainless steel front. Luke’s words to her last weekend and her lack of response could have been awkward afterward, but he’d acted like he hadn’t basically said he loved her.
But now he wasn’t coming home. Bruised ego?
You think? You know it’s what he meant. Some guys might say that as often as they belch because they think it’s expected, but Luke? He wouldn’t say it unless he meant it and why did that give her the warm fuzzies? Could he really love her?
“Sometimes.” Like at night when the house grew chilly and too quiet. Or when she hung up the phone after one of their many talks in the dark and she wanted him to be there instead. She even liked the stupid songs he sang in the shower. Air Supply. Get real. But it was sweet and sexy in a really weird way.
“You know, my parents are counting on you to be the one to bring Luke home.”
She turned to face Alex. “What do you mean?”
Alex frowned. “Remember when Nick was really getting into trouble a lot in school? Skipping classes and flunking out?”
“Vaguely. I remember it happening but that was around the lead-up to divorce number four.”
“Yeah. Well, Luke would blow off classes and tests, too, to share the punishment. Anyway, long story short, Nick began to resent Luke dumbing himself down because of him and they started fighting, too. I remember once Nick said something along the lines of he hated looking at Luke because he saw himself without the brains.”
“That’s awful.”
“Yeah. Luke took it hard. They were really, really close until Nick began to struggle. Luke already felt bad enough because the schoolwork always came easy to him, but to hear Nick say he hated looking at him.” Alex grabbed a piece of Bubble Wrap and began popping the tiny bubbles.
“I thought everything was fine now.”
Alex shrugged. “It is on the surface, but deep down? I think it’s why Luke stays away.”
And why wouldn’t he? Shelby pulled the strips of tape off the drawers and containers that went into the fridge, needing something to do so that Alex wouldn’t notice how Luke’s story was affecting her. She knew drama and upset, and even though she knew Marilyn and Alan would do anything for their children, how could they not have seen the impact Nick’s problems had had on Luke? Did they even know? This was the first she was hearing about it and she’d practically lived there.
You’re not a parent yet, don’t be judgmental.
“Luke’s always felt guilty, I think. Wouldn’t you, knowing the person you shared a womb with couldn’t keep up? Anyway, that’s why everyone thinks you and the baby will bring him home. Thank God Jenn figured out what Nick’s problem was and he’s one of us again, but now we have to get Luke back.”
That was a lot of pressure. “I don’t know what you think I can do about it.”
“You can make him want to be here. If he spends more time with us and sees that things are okay now, Luke will know he can come home. You can convince him for us.”
Did she want Luke to be here? Getting along on weekends was a lot different than spending every day with someone. And it definitely put a more permanent spin on things. Still thinking short-term? Luke’s chiding voice sounded in her head.
“You’ve got the weekend off, don’t you?”
Shelby knew where this was headed. “Yeah, but I’m working here. I’m not spending my weekend off on a plane.”
“Luke does it for you.”
With the container free of tape and padding and ready to slide into place, Shelby gripped the pull bar on the fridge, her palm sweaty. “You’d better go before Rosetta sends out a search party. You’re never late.”
Alex sighed and jingled the keys in her hand. “Okay, okay, I get the hint. Think about what I said? Wouldn’t it be great if you and Luke could have a real marriage like everyone else?”
Wouldn’t it? After Alex had driven away Shelby was still asking herself that question. She locked up the mill house and set the newly wired alarm system, taking no chances that her expensive kitchen equipment would disappear. Inside her house, she seated herself at her computer and checked her e-mail, not finding anything more interesting than the usual spam. She moved the cursor to exit out and decided to check flights to California. Just to see what was available. She wasn’t going to book one but it wouldn’t hurt to know how much one would cost.
Seconds later she stared at the discount airfare listings page. “Crap.” Airlines didn’t like flying with empty seats, as was evident by the price listed in front of her. One she could afford if she wanted to go. It wasn’t a declaration of love, but it was something that might show Luke that she liked his brains and wanted him to be himself with her. She nibbled her lower lip, her hand hovering over the mouse. To go or not to go, that was the question.
Chapter 17
LUKE COULDN’T BELIEVE his eyes when he saw Shelby sitting propped up against his apartment door sound asleep. Pleasure filled him as he set his messenger bag aside and squatted down in front of her. “Shelby? Sweetheart, wake up.”
She mumbled something like, “Too tired.”
She had to be exhausted. The baby, the flight and time difference, a hard day’s work. But she was here and he couldn’t stop grinning because of it. “Let’s get inside. Come on, up you go.”
He scooped her up in his arms, carried her inside and laid her on the bed before he went back to the door to get her overnight bag and his computer.
Luke locked up, stripped and then set to work on making her more comfortable, hating the dark shadows he saw beneath her eyes, the way she never fully awoke because she was so drained.
He couldn’t stop kissing her, though. She’d flown to California and he knew what a concession it was on her part to come to him. Luke dropped another kiss to the soft, sensitive skin of her neck and shoulder, chuckling softly at the chill bumps that arose on her skin. Pure, soft skin. Her hives were gone?
That more than anything had him squeezing her close and burying his nose in her hair. Her hives were gone. Maybe she was getting used to him. Their marriage. The idea of being pregnant.
Snuffling softly in her sleep, Shelby rolled to face him, snuggling close to his chest. She inhaled and released a contented sigh.
Tired though he was, he loved the feel of her in his bed. His hands began to roam and before long Shelby’s head rose, her thick lashes lifting to reveal the glimmer of her eyes. “I thought I was dreaming,” she complained. “I didn’t think you were ever coming home.”
“If I had known you were here, nothing would’ve kept me away. Why didn’t you call me?”
“Knew you were busy.” She yawned and pressed her nose to his shoulder, her eyes closed. “Don’t know why I came.”
His arms tightened and drew her closer, hoping he knew why. “I’m glad you did.”
Shelby fell asleep on his chest, her breath flowing evenly over his skin.
Luke stared up at the ceiling, completely and totally exhausted but unwilling to miss the pleasure of holding her in his arms, praying he was one step closer to her heart.
SO,” SHELBY SAID around a mouthful of Chinese greens, “I get that your job is great and you like it here, but why does it seem like there’s more to the story?” Propped against the footboard of his bed, she tilted her head to the side and waited for him to respond.
Luke stiffened slightly and swallowed the food in his mouth. “You fishin
g for my parents, Alex, Gram or for yourself?”
Shelby shrugged. “Just me. That day at the country club I felt…tension. And since you know all my embarrassing, humiliating stuff about my mother and my paternity, I think it’s only fair I get some insight to you.”
“Insight? Or dirt?” One corner of his mouth curled and brought out a rarely seen dimple. She leaned forward over the boxes of takeout to kiss it, drawing back in surprise when she realized what she’d done. “You, um, had some sauce there.” She lifted her hand and used her thumb to wipe the imaginary spot. “Got it.” Shelby had to force herself to look away. Oh, those eyes of his. And the way he looked at her. Was her mother right?
“Thanks.”
She cleared her throat and tried to remember what they were discussing. “Sure. Um…so?”
He shifted his position on the bed and poked at the contents inside the box he held. “I get tired of being the kid who never grew up. When I go home, an awful lot of people look at me and shake their heads because they think I’m bumming in California, surfing and playing video games.”
“Does it matter what they think?” She knew Luke valued his parents’ opinions, but she’d heard Alan state more than once that Luke needed to get a real job. That had to hurt.
“No. But I don’t like constantly defending what I love to do.”
Or the way it probably made him feel, she mused. “You’re not playing, you’re designing. There’s a big difference.”
“Shelby, my own father doesn’t get what I do. Why should I spend so much time explaining myself when here, I can do, think, act and be who I want to be?”
Shelby snagged a pillow, lying on her side as she regarded him. “That sounds like it’s about more than your dad. Like maybe you’re not comfortable with someone else?”
“You’re not subtle.” He stretched out one of his long legs and set their food aside, lacing his fingers over his lean stomach. “Where are the questions coming from?”
“Alex.”
“Ah.”
“I didn’t know you had a thing about Nick.”
“I don’t have a thing.”
“Yeah, well, Alex said to make sure you knew things are better now, and you shouldn’t feel like you couldn’t come home.”
“Maybe they are from Alex’s point of view. Is that why you came?”
“No. Luke, no. I came because…” She bit her lip, shoved her hair out of her face and tried to figure that out herself. “Because I wanted to.”
“Because?” His eyes dared her to be brutally honest.
“Because,” she drawled as she crept up the bed to lay her head on his shoulder, “I might have missed you. Just a tad.”
“Is that right?” His arms wrapped around her and tightened, his mouth finding hers as he rolled on top of her. “Let’s see if I can make you miss me more.”
SHELBY WENT TO WORK on Monday morning feeling more hopeful about the future. For the first time since they’d said their vows, she felt a stronger connection with Luke, one not based on sex but actual communication. Her confession about missing him had set off a five-alarm fire in him. He’d pressed a kiss to her lips and the next thing she knew, she was naked. What a way to spend the weekend.
Lying in bed and watching the apartment complex’s pool reflect moonlight onto Luke’s bedroom ceiling, they’d talked about everything. Their childhood dreams, favorite things. When she’d mentioned their playtime in the attic, Luke had started laughing and the movement of his chest bounced her head until she’d lifted it to see his smile. He’d immediately rolled with her, kissing her, making his way down to her stomach and acting silly by talking to the baby. According to him, the baby was going to be called Gigabyte. He said Garret had referred to Darcy’s baby girl as Spike so their baby needed a nickname, too.
It had been a great weekend, one that made her think that maybe she and Luke might have a chance. Maybe they could split their time between California and Tennessee. Lots of people had two residences; maybe they could, too? It was definitely something to think about—after she got rid of the headache plaguing her.
“Jeez, stop already,” she muttered to her aching brain. Her head had begun to pound like a teenager with a new drum set and her lower back felt tight and achy, her legs weak. You’re probably sick from breathing in the recycled air on the plane and sore from being stuck in those tiny little seats.
Heaven knows it wasn’t from anything else. She’d flown all the way to California and all she’d seen was the airport, the city lights and the inside of Luke’s apartment. Not that she would have changed a thing. This weekend had been surreal. Perfect, just the way it was.
Shelby rubbed her back as she walked down the clubhouse hall toward the dining room. Along the way her stomach cramped and she made a detour to the bathroom, only to shake her head at herself and whatever was causing the tremor in her hands. Her stress level had risen but why? A panic attack? She’d had them before, mostly in childhood, though. Shelby stared at herself in the mirror and searched for signs of those stupid hives. Yup, there they were. What was going on?
Luke’s presentation. She inhaled and sighed in relief. That was it. Sheesh, of course that was it. Luke was scheduled to step before Sony’s purchasing team in an hour or so, and he’d told her about his boss’s underhanded deal with the mature game. When she’d asked Luke about the reasoning behind it, he’d shrugged it off, but she could tell that his employer’s actions had undermined Luke’s confidence. Stupid woman. “He’ll be fine. You just need to—”
Her stomach cramped again and she bit her lip. Had she eaten something bad? The cramps sort of indicated that, like she had an upset stomach.
“Ms. Brookes, are you okay?”
She forced a smile at the club’s secretary. “I’m fine, Wendy. Just a stomachache.”
“Oh, I hope you don’t have that virus that’s going around. I was down all last weekend with it. Nasty stuff.”
Sweat broke out on her forehead. “Do you, um, know if Mr. Long is going to be in today?”
“It’s early yet, but I doubt it. He mentioned something about a movie with his grandson. If you’re not feeling well and need to leave, I’d be happy to keep an eye on things for you. I can call you at home if there are any problems.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Not at all,” the forty-something woman said with a concerned expression. “Nothing’s on the books and it’s raining so it’ll be a slow day. You go on home and take care of yourself. Would you like me to call someone to drive you?”
Shelby shook her head and shoved herself upright from where she’d stood gripping the sink. “No, thank you. I’ll be fine.”
Minutes later Shelby was on her way home, her windshield wipers and air conditioner both on high. She felt so hot. How ironic would it be to get the flu now?
She made the twists and turns toward home on autopilot. Her heart pulsed in her ears and nausea threatened to overwhelm her more than once. Almost home.
She rounded the curve in the road before her house when a particularly hard cramp stabbed her from deep within. Shelby gasped, barely able to breathe for the pain, then something seemed to pop within her before hot fluid gushed between her legs. Dizzy, Shelby looked down, shocked at the bright red slowly spreading through her white linen slacks. She stared at the growing stain, uncomprehending.
Her hands on the wheel, she looked up, belatedly realizing the car was still moving and she’d gone left of center, the curve mere feet ahead. She jerked the wheel and hit the brakes, tires squealing, but it was too late. The car kept sliding out of control on the water-and-leaf-covered asphalt, spinning two full circles before she hit the deep ditch just short of her driveway.
LUKE ENTERED Galaxy Games’s conference room and wished he could remove the suit coat he wasn’t used to wearing. Jeans and T-shirts were standard attire at the company, except when the bigwigs came to visit. And Sony definitely qualified as big.
On the far end of the rectangula
r room, a sixty-five-inch LCD screen took up most of the wall, the cover of Mystic Magi in full detail. He stared into the summer-green eyes of Aiya and smiled. This was it.
“You ready for this?”
He gave John a confident nod. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
The team from Sony entered the room and Luke stepped forward to shake hands with the men who would decide his future, noting that Anne-Marie’s boy toy was late to the show. Luke made small talk, aware that Anne-Marie was growing more nervous by the second. Why she pushed this, he didn’t know.
“Well, gentlemen, shall we get started?” Luke indicated the chairs with a wave of his hand. “I think you’re going to like what we have to show you.”
The door burst open and Tony hurried inside, looking like the too-young but cocky wannabe he was. He flashed a cool smile and nodded, but didn’t offer an apology.
Anne-Marie glared at Tony and made the introductions. Luke graciously offered to let Tony show his creation first. He wanted to know what he was up against.
Luke’s version of Mystic Magi disappeared from the screen, replaced by a raven-haired vamp in thigh-high boots, a bikini top and boy shorts. The presentation consisted of loud rock and Tony’s version of Aiya sashaying through the forest. The game teaser showed the kid’s immaturity and lack of finesse, and Luke watched the Sony reps glance at each other and their watches. Only one seemed mildly interested. The rest were not even curious.
Then it was his turn. Luke gave his pitch, quoting the higher sales stats for games rated more family friendly. He was deep into his spiel, pointing out all the ways Mystic Magi surpassed old-school techniques, when his iPhone vibrated in his jacket pocket. He ignored it and kept going, not about to lose momentum.
While the screen clearly depicted the higher quality graphics and details of the game versus the dark, S and M dungeon look Tony had tried to evoke, he had begun to cover the specs of the game when the door opened again.
“Lu—uh, Mr. Tulane, you have a call.”