Anything but Love

THIRTY

Luke asked Len to wait with Rae while he jogged to the side parking lot and drove his car around to pick her up. He didn’t want to risk walking her a good distance in plain view. Aside from the yahoos waiting in the lobby, who knew how many lurked outside? Luke didn’t have any personal experience with the paparazzi, but he’d seen enough in the news to know they were aggressive and upon occasion dangerous.

He didn’t want to risk an ambush and he sure as hell didn’t want one of them asking for a response to her mother’s attack before Luke had a chance to give her a heads-up. Maybe he should’ve told Rae in the hotel room, but his gut said to get her the hell out of Dodge and away from the media first.

Luke pulled up to the back door of the inn and Len hustled Rae into his car. Two seconds later, he peeled out and away from the Pine and Periwinkle like a thief in the night. “I guess this would be considered a standard getaway in Hollywood.”

“Except we’re not in Hollywood and I’m not a celebrity.”

“You are, however, a person of interest.”

“What did Sam say?”

Rae’s tone was as fierce as her expression. In light of what he was about to tell her, Luke welcomed this side of the woman who torched his senses. The lion as opposed to the lamb. Her duality was perplexing and fascinating at the same time. Not just hormones, he thought. Rae was still finding herself. He thought back to when he was twenty-five. She was juggling a lot more responsibility than he had at that age. Not to mention her life was more complicated. Impending parenthood alone was a bitch.

“Harper called Sam because she got a tip from a colleague,” Luke said. “Unfortunately the tip came five minutes before the story broke.”

“What tip?”

Luke consciously split his mind. Half dealing with the icy road. Half dealing with Rae. It wasn’t easy, but he focused on both dicey slopes. “Olivia released a statement basically pegging you as a troubled soul. A warped child of a Hollywood star. A needy, pathological liar desperate for attention.”

When Rae didn’t respond, Luke glanced over. She was sitting ramrod straight in her seat. Staring out at the on-coming salt-and-snow covered cars, no expression. “Go on,” she said.

“Olivia focused on the fact that you told her you’d spent the last year struggling in a remote and repressed area in China, working with underprivileged children when in fact you’d been hiding in a quaint, thriving town in America.”

“I can’t argue that,” she said. “I misled her. But in my defense I wanted to retreat to somewhere unreachable. I needed to get away. Far away. I only made it as far as Sugar Creek. But I didn’t want to be accessible, so I lied. I said I was in a remote region of China. Olivia wouldn’t go to the trouble of trying to contact me, especially since I said there was little to no cell or Internet service. She wouldn’t have any interest in visiting a place like that or any interest in what I was doing. I know it was extreme, but the situation warranted it.”

“How so?” Luke said. “That’s what those reporters will want to know. How are you going to defend such an extravagant lie, Rae?”

She pinched the bridge of her nose as if warding off a headache. “I wanted to disappear. I was tired of dealing with Olivia’s BS. She looked down her nose at my career aspirations. Why would I want to waste my youth and beauty working long hours in what she perceived as a thankless job? Why did I want to work at all when I was financially set for life? I got tired of her trying to match me up with men I had nothing in common with. And I resented the way she and Geoffrey kept harping on my upcoming inheritance and trying to influence how I should manage those funds.

“I felt hounded and manipulated in every way possible,” she went on. “The pressure mounted on my twenty-fourth birthday and I knew it wouldn’t let up. Maybe I flipped a little, some sort of life crisis, but I suddenly wanted to be anyone other than me. One year clear of my name and ties. One year to prove that I could make it on my own, living by my wits and doing what I love—working with children. I don’t understand why that’s so horrible!”

“It’s not.” Luke flexed his fingers on the wheel, rolled tension from his shoulders. He couldn’t remember ever disliking anyone as much as he disliked Olivia and Geoffrey. “Why did you stay in those circumstances for so long to begin with? Why subject yourself to Olivia’s company at all? Hell, I would have flown the coop and severed the cord once I turned eighteen.”

“I just kept hoping things would change. I don’t have a big family like you, Luke. I have, had Olivia. It’s hard not to want to be adored or at least loved by your only parent. It took a long time, but I’m over it. I know now we’ll never have the relationship I always craved. If she thinks I’m going to allow her to taint the life I’m working toward.…”

Luke looked over and saw Rae turning on her phone. “What are you doing?”

“Surfing the Net. I want to see what she put out there.”

“I told you.”

“I need to see it for myself.”

Luke blew out a breath. He was no stranger to drama—between patron mishaps at the Shack, occasional flare-ups with former girlfriends, and assorted sagas within his only family—but this took the cake. Publicly trashing someone, a family member no less, via the media? “Why would Olivia want to hurt you like this?”

“I’m not sure. She’s always been insensitive, but never spiteful. Nothing like this.”

“What are you seeing?”

“Pretty much what you told me. Her tone … It suggests she feels sorry for me. But she spins it in a way that puts the spotlight on her. The suffering mother of the rich-kid-gone-wrong.” Rae made a disgusted sound. “The attention. She did it for the attention.”

“It can’t be as simple as that,” Luke said.

“There’s mention of her potentially starring in a new reality show. I’m telling you, Luke. She took advantage of the media’s interest in me, added fuel to the fire by introducing something scandalous, and then spun the attention on to her. I haven’t commented on anything. I haven’t given any interviews. She will!”

“Sam said Harper’s advice was not to respond in anger, so whatever you’re thinking—”

“I’m thinking I want to hire Harper.”

“What?”

“Olivia will milk this for all it’s worth. I’m out of my league. I can’t sit by and let her ruin my reputation. It will reflect badly on the Cupcake Lovers and how will the parents of Sugar Creek feel about their children being taught by a pathological liar?”

“Good point.”

“Sam gave me Harper’s number,” she said. “Just in case. I’m going to see if she can meet with me this evening. And I’m going to invite the Cupcake Lovers. I don’t want anyone blindsided by anything. I’ll call Rocky. See if she can arrange an emergency meeting. That way we can make sure we’re all on the same page regarding the self-publishing issue. They might want to bail on that idea now that I’ve been outted as ‘a troubled soul.’”

Luke didn’t think that would be the case, but he held silent since he hadn’t seen or heard Olivia’s rant for himself. While Rae made her phone calls, Luke concentrated on the slow moving traffic as he neared the edge of town. Given the heavy snowfall of late, Sugar Creek was more congested than normal with an influx of tourists. The surrounding fields and mountains were a haven for any sports lover with a snowmobile, sled, or a pair of skis. Hell, if it weren’t for Rae he’d be taking to the slopes himself with Adam and Kane.

“It’s settled,” Rae said. “Harper agreed to act on my behalf. She said this is nothing compared to what she’s been handling lately and that she’d put a Band-Aid on it until we decided on a course of action. Rocky’s calling all of the CL members, but since she won’t be back in Sugar Creek until after four, and since some people need to close up shop, the meeting’s at five thirty. Harper advised I lay low until then. I’m thinking we can still scope out some houses. If you’re still game, that is.”

“I’m game.” Luke spared Rae a surprised glance. “Considering how private you are, I thought you’d be more upset about being slammed in the media.”

“(A) What’s being said isn’t true. (B) Instead of being upset, I’m taking control.” She looked at him then, her heart in her eyes. “I just want this to be over, Luke. Olivia’s a negative force, and I’m itching to do a lot of good.”

In that moment, Luke put a name to the tender feelings he’d developed for Rae. It wasn’t like any love he’d experienced before. It was the big one. The real deal.

Luke loved Rae good and true.

Rae couldn’t believe how calm she felt in the face of Olivia’s betrayal. Taking control of the situation had been key. She was actually looking forward to the meeting this evening with Harper and the Cupcake Lovers. She was especially keen on setting everyone’s mind at ease regarding her mother’s exaggerated accusations.

Daisy had texted Rae asking if she’d seen the news. Rae had texted back: YES. NOT TRUE. WILL EXPLAIN 2NITE

Chloe had called right after, also voicing concern. Rae had asked her to please spread the word to rest of the club that she could and would explain at the meeting. After that, Rae had lowered the volume on her ringer, determined to enjoy the rest of her morning with Luke.

The roadways were slushy and slick, but he was an excellent driver. Before long the quaint snow-covered businesses had given way to snow-covered trees and houses and then, after crossing over Sugar Creek—the river, not the town—glistening slopes and valleys. She recognized the area. “Don’t you live out this way?”

“I do,” Luke said.

Rae smiled. He’d located a rental not far from his own home, which meant he wanted her and the baby near. How wonderful to be wanted after so many years of being pushed away.

A few minutes later they turned off the main road onto a side road and then into the next long driveway.

Rae leaned forward, peering closer at the two-story house ahead. “It’s bigger than I expected.”

“Not all that big. Nothing close to Olivia’s house in Bel Air.”

“You mean her mausoleum?”

“One large master bedroom with a bathroom and walk-in closets. Two smaller bedrooms. Living room with a fireplace and vaulted ceilings, decent-sized kitchen, den, laundry room. Sits on ten acres of land,” he said as he drove up to a two-car garage.

The rentals Rae had ticked off in her real estate booklet had been on the fringes of town, small saltbox houses on small lots of land. This house was lovely and the mountainous scenery breathtaking, but it seemed like a lot of living space and property for her and the baby. As Luke escorted her up a shoveled pathway, she noted his confidence and ease. He hadn’t mentioned meeting a real estate agent here, and when he slipped a key into the front door, she instantly knew. “This is your house.”

“Bought it a couple of years ago.”

“I thought you had a place in mind for me.”

“I do.” Hand at the small of her back, he urged her over the threshold. “This is it.”

Heart pounding, Rae slowly turned. Surely, he didn’t mean … “You want me to live with you?”

Luke held her gaze while unzipping his jacket. “If we’re going to do this, us, why not?”

“Because it’s a huge commitment. What if we’re not compatible? What if we drive each other crazy after a week or four?”

“Then we’ll reevaluate and if need be, find you a place of your own.”

Rae palmed her swimming head, trying to make sense of this unexpected turn. “Is this some sort of knee-jerk reaction to the media storm?”

“No.”

“Did your parents suggest—”

“No.” He gave her zipper a playful tug. “Take off your coat and stay awhile. I’ll give you the grand tour. If you hate something, we can change it. Except for my fitness room. That’s off-limits.”

While Luke took her scarf and gloves, Rae slipped off her coat and peeked into the living room. “I don’t know, Luke.”

“I know it’s rustic, but it’s comfortable. Rocky insisted on helping me furnish the place, so I know it’s not ugly. That said I’m not opposed to adding moderate frill. I’ll even let you crowd up the couch with a bunch of those useless little pillows.”

“Throw pillows,” Rae said with a small smile. “I’m not questioning the décor, Luke. I’m wary of the timing. Don’t you think we should let our relationship evolve more before moving in together?”

“Don’t take this the wrong way,” Luke said as he guided her into the heart of the living room, “but between all your impending projects and my work schedule, when will we have a chance to evolve? Sharing a living space makes sense. What better way to get to know every wonderful and irritating detail about one other?”

Rae laughed. “True. Still—”

“Here’s the thing.” Luke stopped as they entered the living room and turned her into his arms. “I like sleeping with you. I like being with you. The thought of coming home to you every night is appealing. Plus … as you get further along in the pregnancy, I want to be close in case you need me.” He shrugged. “For anything.”

His words were so kind they took her breath away. Rather than cry she made a joke. “Such as running out for pickles and ice cream when I have a mad craving in the middle of the night?”

“Couldn’t you at least crave something good? Like cookies and ice cream? Then I could join you.”

Rae hugged Luke tight, desperately wanting what he offered. “You make it sound so tempting, but we’d be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.”

“So? We may get singed, but we’ll survive. One way or the other.” He gave her a squeeze then took her by the hand. “Let me show you around.”

Rae felt as though she were floating through a dream as Luke toured her around his home. She loved the vaulted ceilings, the rich woodwork, the stone fireplace. The living room was spacious and sparsely furnished with an overstuffed couch, recliner, club chair, and ottoman. She adored the cushioned window seat with its view of nearby evergreens and distant mountains. Now there was a space crying for brightly colored throw pillows! She could sit in that picturesque cubby and read for hours.

She fell in love with the kitchen. The den—not so much. The dining room was nice, but she could make it nicer. Luke’s fitness room was what it was—a room crammed with weights, a treadmill, and various other torture devices.

He steered her upstairs and into the first room on the right. It was sparsely furnished—a futon and what looked to be one of Sam’s handcrafted, hand-painted bureaus. “I thought we could turn this spare room into a nursery. As you see it has a great view of the mountains and plenty of sunlight. I could paint the walls yellow or green—something neutral since we don’t know the sex of the baby and—”

“Okay.”

“Okay to yellow? Or okay to green?”

“Okay to living with you.” Her heart roared in her ears. Her blood sizzled with lust. Hearing Luke talking about their baby’s nursery was an electrifying turn-on!

Zap!

She turned and kissed him and he must have felt the same jolt because Luke swept her off her feet and carried her … somewhere. Rae was too lost in the kiss to take note of his path. Too aware of the way he was holding her, too absorbed in the heady feel of his lips, his tongue. Too crazy in love to think beyond, “Take me.”

Luke laid her down gently. Someplace soft.

Bed, she thought.

He said nothing as he pulled off her boots then slowly peeled off her jeans.

Sexy.

Said nothing as he shucked his own boots and pants. He just watched.

Her.

Hot.

By the time he was completely naked, Rae had stripped off her tunic and bra. Sprawled on the bed, she held out her arms, sighing when he covered her with his warm, hard body.

She was naked and ready. So ready, she exploded on Luke’s first thrust.

He froze, hard and deep inside of her, a bemused look on his face as she shuddered with a lingering orgasm.

“I’m sorry,” she rasped.

“I’m not.” He brushed a kiss over her mouth, smiled. “That was damn hot.”

“Yeah, well…”

“And now I get to work you up all over again.” He smoothed a hand over her face, over the curve of her neck, then down her body as he moved inside her—slow and deep.

Luke took his time and worked her up. Rae’s body responded in wondrous waves, but the most exciting and erotic bonus was the way he held her gaze. Luke looked into her eyes the entire time he made love to her. As if she was the most captivating woman in the world. As if she was the center of his universe. As if …

Rae cried out with an earth-moving orgasm and Luke climaxed right behind her.

Her brain fairly shut down as her body rode a wave of intense euphoria. “Holy—”

“—hell,” Luke finished as he collapsed beside her and pulled her into his arms.

Heart full, Rae struggled to find the right words to express what she was feeling. Description failed her, but words flowed all the same. “I love you, Luke.”

He smiled into her eyes. “I love you, Reagan. Good and true.”