Anything but Love

TWENTY-ONE

Luke hadn’t realized how uptight he’d been about subjecting Rae to the Sunday family dinner until he was driving her back to the Pine and Periwinkle. “I’m almost afraid to ask,” he said. “But did you enjoy yourself?”

“I did. Your family’s lovely, Luke. I thought so before and now…” She rubbed her chest. “I don’t remember the last time I felt that happy. Great food, great company. Everyone went out of their way to make me feel welcome. Even Dev, who can be pretty intimidating.”

“Yeah, well…”

“Jayce is on the quiet side, but he’s sweet.”

Luke grunted. “Not sure he’d appreciate that description.”

“I’ve always been crazy about Daisy. She’s a hoot.”

“That’s one way of describing her.”

“Vince is so reserved in comparison. Yet they seem like the perfect couple. Very happy.”

“It’s a mystery. Vince is the exact opposite of my Grandpa Jessup, who I thought Daisy adored, but maybe not.”

“My mom adored all four of her husbands and they were all very different—personalitywise anyway. They were all as rich as God.”

“So she married for money.”

“Absolutely.”

“That’s one thing you’ll never have to do,” Luke said. “You’re set for life.”

“I wouldn’t marry for money even if I was dirt poor.”

Luke winced at her sharp tone. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Sorry. It’s just…”

She angled then and, even though the moonlight was muted by snow clouds, Luke got a pretty clear view of her troubled expression. “It’s just what?”

“When you first learned that I was an heiress, when you saw me over Christmas at Olivia and Geoffrey’s mansion, you assumed the worst. That I was a spoiled, conniving rich bitch.”

“I’ll cop to that and I apologize. I jumped to conclusions.”

“We haven’t talked about it, but is my bank account an issue with you?”

“I haven’t given that a lot of thought.” Or rather he tried not to think about it.

“Well, you should because, unless I give all or most of it away, I’m almost as rich as God.”

“That rich, huh?”

“Do you know how many relationships have fallen apart because the man resents the fact the woman makes more money than him?’

“You plan on flaunting your fortune in my face on a daily or weekly basis?

“Of course not.”

“I didn’t think so.” Driving into a snow flurry now, he flicked on the windshield wipers. “Anything else?”

“The media. Reporters. Photographers. I’m planning to use my association with Olivia—the Hollywood connection—along with my heiress status to create buzz around the Cupcake Lovers and their cause.”

“As a way of pushing the book deal forward. I know.”

“They can be a little intrusive,” she said. “The media, that is.”

“Are you preparing me for an invasion of paparazzi?”

“I’m not sure what to expect. Precisely. But it’s possible. I’m not keen on unwanted attention, but I can handle it. Can you?”

Was she testing him? Luke flexed his fingers on the wheel. “I guess we’ll find out.”

“It’s just … I’m thinking about the way you reacted when that college kid grabbed me. Punching a member of the paparazzi wouldn’t exactly advance my cause for the Cupcake Lovers.”

“If you think I’m going to stand by while someone, anyone, disrespects or God forbid threatens you, forget it.”

She surprised him with a smile. “Just promise me you’ll exercise some restraint.”

“I promise I’ll try.”

Her smile widened and Luke’s heart did a funny jerk. She was looking at him with something akin to hero worship. It made him feel good and wary at the same time. He kicked up the wipers as the snowfall intensified. Adjusted the defroster then blurted his mind. “Why are you attracted to me, Rae?” He’d never asked that question of any other woman. He’d never wondered. But this was Rae. Reagan Deveraux. Rich. Smart.

“There’s a shallow answer and a deep answer,” she said. “Which do you want?”

Luke flexed his hands on the wheel as he pulled into the parking lot of the inn. “Both.”

Rae shifted in her seat. “Shallow answer: You’re hot. Your body. Your face. Although I’m sure you’ve heard that a thousand times.”

“First time I’ve heard it from you.” First time he’d taken the compliment to heart. “What’s the deep answer?”

“You’re the kindest man I’ve ever known.”

He was afraid of that. Chest tight, Luke keyed off the ignition. “Now that’s troubling.”

“Why?”

“Because it means you mostly have been exposed to a lot of dickheads. Excuse my language.”

She didn’t elaborate or counter. She dodged. “Why are you attracted to me?”

“Shallow answer or deep?”

“Both.”

“You’re hot. Your face, your body.”

“I’ve heard that before. I don’t care. What else?”

He reached over and palmed her cheek. “You move me.”

She blinked.

“You touch my heart like no woman I’ve ever known. As Rachel. As Rae. You inspire me to be a better man.”

“I’m not sure that’s possible.”

“Trust me, it is.” Her faith in him stoked his already burning lust. He’d been hot for Rae all night. Most especially from the moment she’d challenged Nash on the importance of a college education. Not that Luke fully agreed with her viewpoint, but it was impossible not to respect her opinion. Every time she got hopped up on kids and education, he got a freaking hard-on.

He cupped the back of her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. His pulse went into overdrive the moment their lips met. She tasted like the lemon cake they’d had for dessert. He’d loved that she’d had two slices. He wasn’t sure if it was because she was eating for two or because she enjoyed sweets as much as him. He didn’t care. He liked her curves. The feel of her, the look of her. Sexy. Classy. He suckled her tongue, feasted on her lush lips. Slow. Deep. He couldn’t remember when he’d been so keen on kissing.

His Android went off and he ignored it. The damn thing started ringing again almost as soon as it had gone to voice mail.

Rae eased away, her eyes glazed, her lips puffy. “Must be important,” she rasped.

He wanted to take her—here, now—in the front seat of his car. Classy, Monroe. Groaning, Luke glanced at the profile pic of the caller. “It’s Jayce.” Since Rae had already retreated to her side, he took the damn call. “This better be good.”

“Rocky got a call from your mom. Your dad’s had a setback. He needs to go in for important testing but he refused because it interferes with our wedding date. I sent Rocky up to pack. The only way to reason with your dad is one-on-one. We’re flying down to Florida tomorrow. I told Dev. I’m telling you.”

“I’ll book a flight.”

“That’s what Dev said.”

Luke disconnected then looked across the moonlit car at Rae. “Something’s up with my dad. I need to fly to Florida tomorrow. Dev and Rocky are going, too.”

“How bad is it?”

“I don’t know. Jayce called it a setback. The thing is my dad was going to postpone a crucial test because it clashed with Rocky’s wedding date.”

“Sweet, but foolish.”

“I swear Dad thinks he’s Superman. Who messes with frickin’ cancer?”

Rae reached over and grasped his hand. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Come with me.”

“Why?”

Luke faltered. He couldn’t think of anything beyond not wanting to leave her behind. Which in essence meant he didn’t trust her to take care of herself. Instinctively he knew she wouldn’t appreciate that stance.

“You need to focus on your dad and mom, Luke. I’d just be in the way. Fly south, be with your family. Meanwhile I’ll wage some battles of my own.”

“Such as?”

“Tomorrow, I’ve set up a call with our editor at Highlife Publishing regarding the CL book deal. Later, I have a meeting at the bank regarding ownership of Sugar Tots. Also I thought, well, maybe I should look for a long-term rental. I’ve only been in this suite for three days and I’m already longing for my own kitchen. Tonight made me realize how much I miss cooking, and especially baking.”

Luke had a vivid vision of Rae, barefoot, pregnant, and baking cupcakes in his kitchen. A week ago the thought of any woman in that condition going all domestic in his home would have sent Luke running for the hills. He kissed the back of Rae’s hand. “I’ll walk you to your room.

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to.”

Rae’s brain churned like mad during the walk from the icy parking lot to her fourth-floor suite. Today had been close to perfect.

Luke had made sweet love to her, he’d asked her to be his girl, he’d included her in his family’s traditional weekly dinner. Her random anxiety attacks aside, she’d started to believe they were a real couple with a real future. Especially when he held her hand or when they kissed. He’d kissed her a lot today. He’d kissed her in front of his family. A sweet brush to her cheek. Still.

She’d practically floated through the latter half of dinner. There’d been thirteen of them in all, fourteen if you counted the furry guy, Brewster. Daisy and Vince, Dev and Chloe, Jayce and Rocky, Monica and Leo, Daisy’s sister Rose and her husband Spike, Luke and Rae, and Nash, who didn’t seem to care a whit about being the only loner.

Rae had found herself sucked into animated discussions and debates and a bit of town gossip. She’d smiled more in that hour at the lively dining room table than she’d smiled in ages. She’d laughed, too. She couldn’t believe Luke had actually asked her if she’d had a good time. Did he think she’d faked it to be polite? At one point she’d pinched herself. Somewhere around when dessert had been served, a split second where she’d felt so comfortable, she felt like one of them. The family she’d always dreamed of. The kind of family featured in Hallmark movies.

Not one dinner ever with her own “family” could compare. Conversation hadn’t revolved around one person—Olivia. It had involved everyone, including Rae. It was the exact atmosphere she wanted for her child and now, more than ever, she wanted things to work out between her and Luke. Rae wanted it so bad, surely something would spoil it.

That phone call about Luke’s dad had reminded her that life has a way of kicking you around. There was never one challenge in a day, but many. Tomorrow Luke would be miles away dealing with a family crisis. He’d have to leave the Shack in someone else’s care. He’d probably worry about his staff and patrons and general business the entire time he was away. One thing she admired about Luke was how hard he worked and how much time and care he put into making the Sugar Shack one of Sugar Creek’s hot spots.

While Luke was juggling balls and hashing things out with his dad, Rae would be tackling important business matters and pushing herself past deeply ingrained personal issues—like her intense dislike of superficial attention. Tomorrow marked the return to reality. In her mind, she heard the first rip of her and Luke being torn apart. It made her ache all the more to prolong the illusion of this day.

Heart racing, Rae slid her key card into the locking mechanism. Click. “I suppose you need to get home to pack.”

“I can throw a few things into a duffle tomorrow.”

“You’ll need to talk to Anna or someone about maintaining the Shack.”

“I can call later tonight.”

With the door partially cracked opened, Rae turned. “Would you like to come inside?” She yanked him in by his jacket collar before he had a chance to answer. They kissed with the same intensity of the kiss that had launched the fated shag against the wall, peeling off their coats, their scarves, without breaking contact.

Rae came up for air. “I thought about this, you, all day.”

“Same here.”

“Why are we wearing so many layers?” she asked as they continued to peel away clothing.

“Ten below out there with the windchill factor.”

“Hot as hell in here with the horny factor.”

Luke smiled at that. “Come here.” He swept her off her feet, whisked her across the room, and gently tossed her on the bed.

“I’m going to miss you,” she said as he unlaced her boots.

“I’ll have to give you something to look forward to for when I get back. A sampling of things to come.”

“Like what?”

“Like this.” After peeling off her jeans, he flipped her over on her stomach.

She expected an erotic entry from behind, she was primed, but instead she felt the dizzying assault of feather-light fingertips trailing down her bare back. Tickling. Teasing. He skimmed lower, to the small of her back. Circling. Soothing. Then she felt a tug on her thong, felt the fabric sliding over her skin, down her legs, past her ankles.

Naked. She was naked.

Luke was naked, too. Straddling her now, tracing his fingertips over her shoulders, down her arms.

“Want to see you,” she said.

“Not yet.”

He repeated his initial path down her back, over her butt. Goose bumps prickled every inch of her skin as she shivered with erotic delight. Blissful torture.

Then it got worse.

He shifted down, parted her legs, trailed his fingers over the back of her thighs then—oh, God—over her inner thighs. Skimming up and down. So close to the part of her that ached most to be touched. But he didn’t touch her there. Not for the next ten minutes. Or maybe it was only ten seconds. She had no concept of time, let alone rational thought. Her vocabulary had trickled down to four words.

Touch me. Take me.

Wait. That was only three words.

Then she felt him flick her nub. Once. Twice.

Rae exploded. She actually screamed into the thick comforter as Luke fingered her to a blinding orgasm.

“Ah, Reagan,” he said in a husky voice as he rolled her onto her back and rained kisses over her belly. “That was too easy.”

“Easy?” She was supposed to hold out longer? Was he mad? She was still catching her breath when she felt him push off the bed. She knew his mind. “No condom. I want to feel you. The real you.”

“I thought you’d be concerned.”

“About what?”

“I’ve been with a lot of women.”

“Oh, that.” She forced herself up on her elbows and drank her fill of his stark naked body. She ached to explore every plane, every ridge. “Are you clean?” she asked bluntly. She didn’t know how else to handle this and she wanted to move the conversation along. Actually, she didn’t want to talk at all. Especially not about the other women in his life. She knew they existed, but she didn’t want them in their bed.

“I’m clean.”

“Come here.” She reached out and grabbed Luke’s arm, yanked him down on the bed. She pushed him onto his back. “I’ll have to give you a sampling of something to look forward to for when you get back.”

“Like what?”

“Like this.” She kissed her way down his magnificent torso—every plane, every ridge. She teased him with feather-light brushes of her lips and an occasional hot flick of her tongue. She wondered if the ritual was working magic on him the way it was on her. The more she savored and dominated the greater her desire to be taken.

He groaned when she took his hard shaft in her hand, tensed as she stroked, gasped when she took him in her mouth. She didn’t have a lot of experience, but that didn’t mean she was inexperienced. She knew what to do and by Luke’s reactions she knew she was doing it right. The crazier she made him, the greater her excitement.

Then he shifted, and in a heartbeat, he had her on her back. “Keep that up,” he said, “and we’ll be done too soon. I need to be inside you, Reagan.”

She parted her legs and crooked what she hoped was a teasing smile. “Who’s stopping you?”

The tip of his shaft grazed her slick folds as he gazed into her eyes. “I think I need to spend the night.”

The man was mesmerizing, but she somehow found her voice. “Have some other things to share, samplings to hold me over until you get back?”

“Got a dozen or so tricks in my repertoire. You?”

“Not so many. But I could make some up.”

He arched one brow. “I’m definitely spending the night.”

And with that he plunged deep—the first stroke of heaven.