Anything but Love

EIGHT

Luke had lingered in his office a good ten minutes after Rae left. It had taken him that long to catch his breath, to slow his bucking heart. For a minute he thought he might be having a panic attack. He’d never had one of those before but he’d heard it resembled a heart attack. At thirty-two, he was too young for a coronary, right?

Pregnant.

Rae was pregnant.

With his baby.

Unless she was lying about the paternity part, although why would she? Like she said, there were tests.

Two hours later, Adam and Kane were long gone—thank God—and Luke was still tending bar while absorbing the mind-blowing news. Rae had been eerily calm. It had forced Luke to keep his own cool. God forbid he come off like an immature ass. She’d already pegged him a judgmental jerk. He’d unwittingly pissed off some women in his time but, in lashing back, they’d never struck a sore spot. Not like Rae.

Rae pressed Luke’s buttons regarding self-esteem. No one had pressed those buttons for years. Not since he was in grade school and some kids made fun of him for not being able to read a comic book. Rae had gone to all the best schools. She had bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She’d traveled abroad. She was freaking independently wealthy, as in filthy rich. And she was only twenty-five!

All the background info Jayce had dug up on Reagan Devereaux had played out in Luke’s mind as she’d sat across from him in her stylish skinny jeans and classy, soft clingy sweater. She was unlike any woman he’d ever slept with. Completely out of his league.

Of course she wasn’t expecting Luke to do the right thing by stepping up and offering marriage or at the very least financial support. She didn’t need his money and why the hell would she want to marry a bartender who was only half owner of a business. Half owner because Luke didn’t have a head for numbers and finances, unlike his smart and savvy older brother, Dev. Plus, she didn’t even seem to like Luke much. It had just been sex … not even great sex at that.

Damn.

He couldn’t get over how unemotional she’d been.

“I thought you’d want to know.”

Hell, yes. The thought of having a kid in the world and not knowing about it rubbed Luke every way wrong.

“I know you don’t like me.”

Not exactly true. To be fair, he didn’t know Rae enough not to like her. He was pissed because she’d roused his interest as shy, vulnerable Rachel Lacey. Frustrated because he’d felt something special when they’d kissed—both times. He resented that she’d bailed on him and everyone in Sugar Creek who cared about her, leaving them clueless and worried. He resented being manipulated then sent away on Christmas Eve. And he damn well hated the fact that Rae was a tangled mess of secrets, evasiveness, and lies. Although she’d been pretty freaking straight forward today.

“I’m going to have your baby.”

He’d always been so careful. Always prepared. Always covered. Even if the woman was on birth control, Luke used a condom. Always! He still couldn’t believe how he’d lost his wits and control with Rae. One screw up and bam! Luke had never thought about being a dad now; maybe when he was in his forties. Now it was all he could think about.

“Um. Luke?”

Luke blinked up at Willa. “What?”

She slid a full cocktail glass back across the bar. “I asked for a gin and tonic. Customer said this tastes like vodka.”

Damn. His third mistake of the afternoon. When it came to mixing drinks, Luke never made mistakes.

“You okay?” Willa asked as he poured a new drink. “You seem a little, um, distracted.”

Willa was new in town. She was sweet and pretty and she’d needed a job. In the past, Luke would have flirted with her and probably dated her within the first couple of weeks that he’d hired her. She’d been employed at the Shack for two months now and he hadn’t even made a casual pass.

Chloe had nailed it. Luke was off his game. And now because of one spontaneous, bonehead hookup, he wasn’t sure he’d ever get back in the game. Yes, he wanted to play some part in his child’s life. But how the hell could he go on with his own life—casually dating a string of women, hanging out with his sports buddies, working long and late hours at the Shack—with his son or daughter, and Rae, for Christ’s sake, living right here in Sugar Creek? Like he wanted his kid to think he was a skirt-sniffing, absentee dad! On the other hand he didn’t like the thought of them living in another state or, God forbid, overseas—out of sight, out of reach.

“Luke?”

He blinked back to Willa. “Yeah.” He garnished the glass with a wedge of lime. “Here you go, hon. Sorry. Tell your guy it’s on the house.”

She nodded and moved away.

It wasn’t even Happy Hour yet and the Shack was already crowded. Though a small town, Sugar Creek had a bustling tourist contingent. Especially in the summer and winter. When Luke had invested in the Sugar Shack he’d wanted to offer more than greasy burgers and wings. He’d hired a gourmet chef, which had proven a brilliant move. A cozy atmosphere, stellar menu, widely stocked bar, and friendly personnel made the Sugar Shack a local hot spot.

Luke loved this pub. But right now he could feel the walls closing in.

Since his longtime, number two bartender had just showed up, Luke considered stepping out. Maybe a brisk walk would clear his head. But then one of his several cousins came strolling in, shaking off a dusting of fresh snow and heading straight for Luke.

Sam.

Well, hell.

“Talk to you a minute?” he asked while nodding toward Luke’s office.

Privacy. Right. “Sure.” Yeah, boy. Why did he get the feeling his day was about to go from bad to worse?

“Given the way this town works,” Sam said as soon as they were behind closed doors. “I’m guessing you’ve heard Rae’s in town.”

Luke dropped into his worn desk chair feigning nonchalance. “She stopped by a while ago. Wanted to clear the air.”

“How’d that go?”

“Fine.”

“Did she tell you why she’s in town?”

Luke bit the inside of his cheek, shrugged. “Something about saving Sugar Tots and the Cupcake Lover book deal.”

Instead of sitting, Sam leaned back against the door and folded his arms over his chest. It was a dominant stance, not that Luke was intimidated. Although maybe he should be. Sam had six years on him, some bulk, and several years of combat duty. Luke had been on the business end of Sam’s fist back in October and, hell yes, he’d seen stars. Still, the fact that his older cousin seemed to be settling in for some sort of lecture chafed.

“Depending on what all’s involved,” Sam went on, “Rae could be in town for a while.”

“So?”

“I think you should drop out of the Cupcake Lovers.”

Luke frowned. “Why?”

“Because Rae plans to get involved with the club again.”

“So?”

Sam raised one brow looking at Luke like he was dense. “You don’t think it might prove awkward, the three of us being in on those meetings?”

“What, because of that kiss you walked in on?” Luke stood now and rounded his desk, perched on the corner and matched Sam’s stance. “I explained about that.”

“So you don’t have any feelings for Rae.”

Luke didn’t know how he felt about Rae, but he was getting pretty ticked at Sam. “This your way of telling me you’re going to pursue her?”

Sam angled his head, a contrary gleam in his eye. “You’re the one who told me not to give up.”

“That was before—”

“Before what?”

Before she was carrying my baby. Except he couldn’t say that. He’d promised Rae. Well, technically he hadn’t promised. But she’d asked him not to tell yet for reasons that were sound. Plus, he hadn’t worked out in his head how he wanted to handle things between them. Dammit.

“Before when she was Rachel,” Luke backpedaled. “She’s not who you fell for, Sam.”

“Money doesn’t change who she is on the inside.”

“She’s the most secretive woman I’ve ever known,” Luke said. “How could you possibly know…” Rae had mentioned recent phone calls with Sam. Luke burned wondering if she’d struck up an intimate relationship with the man. Sam was grounded, successful. An experienced and kick-ass dad. “Did Rae confide in you? Offer details explaining why she lied to us for a freaking year?”

Sam pushed off the door. “Quit the Cupcake Lovers, Luke.”

“You’re the one who told me to get a hobby.”

“Your baking skills suck.”

“Maybe they’ll get better.”

“Maybe you should take up bowling.”

It was the exact wrong thing to say.

Luke sat stone silent as Sam left the room. He knew two things in the wake of his cousin’s hit-and-run throwdown. He had no intention of quitting the Cupcake Lovers and he’d be damned if he’d sit still while Sam initiated some strategic attack aimed at winning Rae’s heart. Not that Luke wanted to win her heart, although maybe he did. It would help if he knew her a better. Hell, it would help if he knew her at all.

Luke shoved off his desk and nabbed his jacket. Knowing Sam, he’d take things slow, which allowed Luke plenty of time to get a jump start. He still didn’t have a handle on his feelings or a clue as to how to approach the future, but he damn well wanted a chance to get to know the mother of his child before some other man swept her off her feet.