Tearing his eyes away from the perfect lips Mike promised himself he would kiss sooner rather than later, he turned to the carousel, searching out Luke’s luggage and not seeing it anywhere.
“Which one?” he asked.
“The orange one with the stickers on it,” Luke said, pointing out some luggage that looked like it had been imported from the 1950s. When Mike sent Luke a confused look, he added, “It’s Rori’s, not mine.”
It’s Rori’s, not mine? Luke knew this woman well enough to recognize her luggage? To grab it from the carousel without consulting her?
Mike must have hesitated too long, because his dream woman stepped forward. “Don’t worry,” she said in a smooth, accented voice that left him blinking. “I’ve got it.”
“No, no,” Mike said quickly, bumping into her as they both reached at the same time. He wasn’t sure if it was hair product or perfume, but she smelled amazing. Like cinnamon, vanilla, and citrus. “Glad to help. I’ve got it.”
She pulled back from their impact, studying him as she silently agreed to let him pull the bag. Mike felt her eyes on him and wanted to look back to try to see what she might be thinking. Instead, he played it cool and just grabbed her suitcase. It was lighter than he imagined. Definitely lighter than any bag his sister or mom had packed in their lives.
“Rori, this is my best friend, Mike,” Luke said from behind them. “As friends come, there’s none better.”
Reminding himself to keep things casual, Mike turned and stuck out his hand. “Good to meet you, Rori.”
Her eyes dipped to her suitcase in his hand and a curious expression crossed her face before she reached out and gripped his hand. Firmly. “You, too. Luke’s told me a lot about you.”
Man, that voice. It was like a drug designed to lower all defensive mechanisms. But even the siren sound of it couldn’t fully distract Mike from what she’d said. She’d heard a lot about him? When? On the flight? And if it was just on the flight, why were she and Luke smiling like they had a secret?
Again, Mike felt a kick of panic as he found his voice. “Really? I have yet to hear about you.”
“Oh, that will change,” Luke said. Then Mike watched, in seeming slow motion, as Luke’s arm snaked around Rori’s waist. Intimately, in a way that said that it had been there before. As a wild, irrational wave of anger made a quick trip through his body, Mike watched Luke look down at Rori with an expression of complete adoration, as Rori tilted her head up to Luke.
There was only one reason a woman tilted her head like that. It was the universal invitation of a woman for a guy to lay one on her.
In that moment of realization, Mike went from angry to ill.
These two knew each other. Well. They’d kissed before. And Mike knew Luke well enough to know that his friend had never looked at anyone the way he’d just gazed at Rori.
New feelings filled Mike’s chest. Feelings he didn’t have words for as he forced himself to smile and say, “I look forward to it,” as his friend’s smiling, slightly chapped lips connected with Rori’s.
When Luke pulled away and beamed at him, Mike had to look away before he punched the smug look off his friend’s face. He had no right to punch Luke and he certainly didn’t know Rori well enough to know if she was worth fighting over.
At least that’s what his mind said, even as a primal part of him roared something completely different.
Mike had no choice. He had to look away.
“Any more bags?” he asked, trying to distract himself.
“That’s it for Rori,” Luke said. “I’ve got two more.”
Mike nodded, knowing exactly what they’d look like from his many trips with Luke. And while he stood looking, Rori stepped forward and reached for her bag.
“I can take that,” she offered again. Her eyes were unreadable, as if she were feeling him out in some way he couldn’t comprehend. If Kris had been there she would have understand the look and explained it to him.
“Nah, I got it,” Mike said with a shrug. “Might as well be useful.”
“Let him take it,” Luke said to her. “Mike’s mom trained him to be helpful. Well, more like brainwashed, actually. He can’t be stopped, so don’t try.”
Mike grunted in acknowledgment, even though neither of his companions probably heard it. True, Luke should be showing his manliness by taking the bags himself, but Mike could follow his friend’s logic on this one. Why shouldn’t Mike take care of the luggage so Luke and the girl of his dreams could have their hands free to roam on each other?
That’s exactly what Luke was thinking.
Stone faced, Mike reached out and yanked one of Luke’s bags from the carousel. It was either that or punch his friend for meeting Rori first.
Chapter 5
Rori Townsend was looking at a problem. A sun-kissed, blue-eyed problem.
Although why exactly Mike Cannon was a problem she hadn’t quite put her finger on. After all, Rori was attracted to olive-skinned men with dark eyes. Mike was the opposite of that. In fact, his coloring was very similar to Luke’s, except for the eyes. But all in all, there was absolutely nothing exotic about Mike Cannon.
Mike did, however, have that pretty boy look that Americans always went coo-coo over. Rori had no doubt that the muscles peeking out from under his shirt had nothing to do with any kind of labor he performed. American males built unnecessary muscles as part of the pathology that allowed them to think that they were entitled to the woman of their choosing.
Rori hated—truly hated—guys like that. Perpetual children posing as men for the sole purpose of luring women into believing they’re something they’re not before using and dropping them.
Yes, Rori had experienced his type before. These days she was immune to this particular breed of asshole. And yet, Rori’s instincts told her run. Fast. Now. To find the nearest ticket agent and buy the first ticket heading east.
Which would be silly, of course.
Rori would only be staying for just over seventy-two hours before flying to New York for the summer. She could ignore the fact that Mike Cannon was the kind of guy who checked out a woman who was with his “best” friend for that long. The fact that some hidden part of her had responded to the look was neither here nor there. Nor was the fact that Rori had resorted to kissing Luke in an effort to break the impossibly magnetic look that Mike was leveling at her.
Rori had felt the pull of that kind of look before. Once upon a time she’d been young and arrogantly confident about what such a primal connection must mean.
Marriage. Kids. Soul mates.
Yeah, right. It had turned out more like a shit storm.
The onset had been tropical whirlwind of ecstasy, but the aftermath had been a wreckage she was still recovering from. And the mere thought of what coulda, woulda, shoulda been ten years in the past and her string of lovers since was more than enough ammo for her to confidently tell her Luke’s best friend exactly where he could shove his steely, primal gaze.
Not here in the airport, obviously. She’d wait until Mike made a move. Which he would. Guys like him always made their move eventually, since they had the loyalty of a jackrabbit.
Leaning into Luke as they walked side-by-side to the parking garage, Rori eyed the backside of Mike Cannon as he toted their luggage a few steps ahead of them. Even with his back to her, Rori could have sworn he was somehow calling out to her. It was probably just her mind playing tricks on her, though. She’d gotten about four hours of sleep in the past forty-eight hours. Whatever vibe she and Mike had was probably nothing that a few hours of sleep wouldn’t fix.
“Normally he’s more social,” Luke said, making Rori wonder if he’d noticed her studying Mike. “But trust me, you’ll like him. The Cannon’s are all awesome.”
“I’m sure they are,” she agreed, tilting her head up for another kiss just to make a point to herself. When they pulled away Rori realized she was exhausted. It hit her in one blow as they finished the short trek to Mike’s SUV
in complete silence. Cars are so much bigger in America, she thought in a daze.
Mike unlocked the doors and started loading up the back of the SUV with their luggage while Luke moved and opened the rear door for her. “You and me get the back seat, babe,” he teased and she smiled.
“I might fall asleep on you,” she warned, stepping up.
Luke beamed that effortless smile that was uniquely his and Rori marveled for a second that no girl had fallen in love with that smile. Rori liked it. She found it comforting, but surely there had to be a few girls he already knew who had swooned over it.
“I’m ready to take that chance,” he said, and followed in after her, quickly pulling her close.
Settling in and closing her eyes, Rori noted that Mike was on the phone when he got into the driver’s seat.
“Yeah, Luke came home, plus one. Think she can use the guest room?” he said into the phone before adding. “Yes, I said she,” to the voice on the other side. “They both look ready to crash right now, so I think I’ll just take them back to our place since you’re setting up there. It’ll be quiet at our place for now, but can we set up the guest room for her tonight?” A brief pause. “I’ll do it. Don’t worry about it.” Another pause. “Okay. Love you. See you in a bit.” Then he hung up and fired up the engine.
“See?” Luke said in her ear, his voice sounding as drowsy as she felt. “I told you the Cannons would welcome you with open arms.”
For the moment, it seemed Luke was right. Rori was too tired to care either way, so she just leaned in, inhaled Luke’s scent and let go.
Chapter 6
Since the smell of Luke’s travel-worn shirt was the last thing Rori remembered, the fact that his scent had been replaced with a new aroma was the first thing she noticed upon waking. Rori turned her face to the mattress beneath her, inhaling deeply and trying to place the aroma. A mix of fresh-cut grass, cologne, and clean laundry. Strangely enough, she liked it.
Opening her eyes, Rori had the moment of disorientation as she realized she was in a new environment. The faded light coming in the window told her the sun was on its way down for the day, but far from gone. The sparse furnishings and framed posters around the room told her that she was in a guy’s space, but not Luke’s. She’d been around him enough to know he was a slob, and this room looked like it was kept up by a maid.
Or by a guy who had a mom that had raised him to be helpful.
Rori sat up abruptly, knowing for certain this was Mike’s room and Mike’s bed, although she had no idea why she would be in it. Confusion ebbed into annoyance when she heard two male voices talking in another room.
Raking her fingers through her unruly hair, Rori stood and took a few sleep-drunk steps in the direction of the voices. They led her down a short hall and to a living room that opened into kitchen, where Luke and Mike stood talking.
She noted Luke before focusing in on Mike. Tall, muscular, and… doing the dishes?
Mike noticed her first, tapping Luke and pointing her way without greeting her himself. Luke turned and immediately smiled from ear to ear. “Hey, there! Hope we didn’t wake you.”
“No,” she said, as Luke came over and wrapped his arms around her.
“I’ve only been up for about an hour,” he said, making her wonder what time it was. “That flight totally wiped me.”
“Me, too.”
“Sorry about the sleeping arrangements,” Mike said from the sink, keeping his back to her. “You’ll have your own bed tonight. It’s just crazy at my parents place for the moment and our couch…well, just trust me on that you’re better keeping you distance.”
She did trust him, but had Rori heard that first part right? Parents’ place? Had Rori heard him correctly? They were expecting her to stay with the Cannons and not with Luke?
“Anyway, I’m glad you’re up,” Luke agreed. “Because we have a party being held in our honor.”
Turning off the water, Mike grabbed his keys from his pocket. “Gazpacho is in the pot. Put it in the fridge when you’re done and don’t eat too much. There will be a lot of food tonight.”
Rori blinked, wondering if she’d heard him correctly. Gazpacho is in the pot?
Luke turned, clearly not expecting Mike’s exit. “Where you headed?”
“Errands,” Mike said. “Last minute stuff. See you in an hour.”
Then he started for the door.
Luke turned to Rori, his smile turning a little wolfish. “Well, isn’t that nice of him to give us some alone time.” But instead of kissing her, he stepped toward the pot. “You’ve gotta try this. No one makes gazpacho like the Cannons. It’s a secret family recipe. Hungry?”
“Starving,” she realized, even as her eyes moved to Mike as he exited the kitchen. “Will we have time to make a trip to the store before going to party? I need a gift for the hosts.”
Luke laughed. “Don’t worry about it. Things aren’t formal like that around here.”
“It’s polite,” Rori said, trying not to channel her mother as she said so.
“Luke’s right,” Mike said, his hand on the door. “You’ll basically be the guest of honor next to Luke. No one will be expecting you to bring anything.”
Mike was being polite—saying what Rori would have said if she were in his position.
“Are you bringing something?” she challenged.
“Well, yes,” he said. “But that—”
“And are other members of your family bringing items?”
“Of course, but—”
Rori turned to Luke. “Then we can bring something. Do we have time to go to the store?”
Luke glanced forlornly at the gazpacho. “Can we eat first?”
“I can wait an hour to eat,” she said. “Let’s get a gift first.”
That got an outright frown out of Luke, until the expression abruptly flipped. “How about you just go with Mike to wherever he’s going? You two can get to know each other a little bit and he can help you find a good gift. He’s good at stuff like that.”
She watched Mike stiffen at the suggestion which was one of the reasons she knew she hadn’t misunderstood her fiancé. Luke wanted her to go with Mike? Alone?
There was a laundry list of reasons the suggestion was completely inappropriate, but in true Luke style, he seemed completely clueless of that fact. It was as if he had no awareness that he best friend was a sculpted, beautiful specimen of a man, or that delegating couple-like activities to another man wasn’t a good way to win points with a woman.
“Luke, I’m pretty sure she’d rather go with you,” Mike said before she could respond. “She doesn’t even know me.”
“All the more reason for you two to go together—so you can get to know each other,” Luke said, this time sending Rori a little wink.
What the hell did he mean by that?
Mike’s slight frown told her he was about as keen on the idea of taking her shopping as she was on going with him, but again his manners had him doing what she would have done in his position.
“You’re welcome to come with me,” he said. “Although we do need to leave now to get back in time.”
“Of course,” Rori said. “Let me just grab my purse…” Mid-sentence she realized she had no idea where it was, and was about to ask when Mike walked over to the couch and picked it up.
“Anything else?” he asked, handing it to her.
She glanced over at Luke, who was happily spooning soup into a bowl. “Are you sure you don’t want to come?”
“Nah,” he said. “Good bonding time for you two.”
Bonding time. With Mike. Did the man not even hear himself speak? But at least Luke did something half right when he set the bowl down, crossed the kitchen and dropped a quick kiss on her. “You’ll have fun and he’ll fill you in on all the ways to impress his family way better than I can.”
“Sure,” she said, looking to Mike hesitantly and wondering if she dared check the state of her hair before they left. Probably best
to just stick with a pony tail holder from her purse. “Ready if you are.”
He nodded. “Right this way.”
The awkwardness emanating from Mike was palpable, but Luke had already moved back to the gazpacho in a state of utter oblivion. Rori almost backed out of going. Almost. But the fact was that her breeding would never allow her to attend a party without presenting a gift to the host—guest of honor or not.
The short walk to the SUV parked in the garage was silent. And once they got there, Mike surprised her by opening the door for her—his manners once again allowing for something awkward.
Luke should be opening the door for her. Not Mike.
“Thank you,” she said without making eye contact, and stepped in.
All he did was nod and shut the door behind her before walking around to his side of the car and getting in. It wasn’t until after they had pulled out of the driveway that he spoke.
“You’ll get used to it.”
That surprised her. “Used to what?”
“How Luke is. Laid back—sometimes to the extreme. He’s just a nice, trusting guy who assumes everyone is as guileless as him.” He sent her a sidelong glance. “I can tell you’re having trouble reading him at the moment, but you’ll get the hang of it.”
“Good to know,” Rori said, not quite sure what else there was to say until Mike spoke up again.
“Where do you want to go for a gift?”
“Wherever you’re headed,” she said. “I don’t want you to go out of your way.”
“Oh, I’m going to a grocery store. My mom’s out of vanilla and food coloring, so I can go any which way depending on what you need.”
How accommodating. At every turn the guy just seemed nice. Too nice. “I’m not sure. What would your mother like? Flowers? A nice wine? You’re not religious, right? I know Utah is known for…”
When she hesitated in picking her words, Mike stepped in and answered. “No, we’re not. And she would like either of those.”
“Good to know. What would she want? What would make her smile?”
“Smile?” he said, his bright blue eyes locking on hers with a bit of mischief under the surface. It was just a look, and his eyes were just eyes, but something inside Rori stirred in a way it most definitely should not have. “High-end baked goods. They’re my mom’s guilty pleasure. She normally only lets herself have them on birthdays, but she might make an exception if you bring them. And she’ll love them.”
Mr Imperfect Page 2