I was glad politics must not be Luke’s thing, since it seemed he hadn’t recognized Blane.
“Yeah. A little too much, if you ask me,” I said.
“You live with him?”
I broke off a piece of the bread the waiter had brought. “Just for now. My apartment is being repaired from some… water damage.”
The lies were kind of stacking up and I covered my discomfort by asking for another glass of wine.
Luke liked to talk about himself. A lot. So not much was required of me except to smile and nod every once in a while. But he was real pretty to look at, so I didn’t mind. It was relaxing, in a way. I had to be so on guard with Blane, not to fall under his spell again, not to give in to how easy it would be to go back to the way things were.
And Kade. Being with him was bittersweet. I loved when he opened up to me, when I got an inkling of his feelings and thoughts. But there was no possibility of a future with him, even though it seemed he was coming closer each day to remembering what had happened between us in Vegas.
What would I do if and when he did?
Well, he just couldn’t remember, that’s all. It had been a mistake. One that should never and would never be repeated.
Which was too bad…
Whoops, that was the wine talking. I tuned in briefly to Luke again, just to get a feel for where we were in the one-sided “conversation.” He was recounting his achievements on his high school’s swim team.
Nod. Smile. Have a bite of salad. Tune back out.
I was feeling pleasantly tipsy and started mentally comparing Luke to Blane and Kade, which was a bad idea but one I couldn’t help. Luke was an attractive, normal, nice guy with a normal, boring, nice-guy job. I should like him. He wasn’t a public figure, apparently had little to no interest in politics, judging by his monologue—and he didn’t kill people for a living. Always a plus.
He also didn’t have the raw edge to him that both Blane and Kade had, more apparent with Kade because he didn’t bother to disguise it, as Blane did, under a veneer of civility.
Both Blane and Kade were older than Luke, and both carried an air of maturity, though maybe it was more an air of don’t-fuck-with-me. I wondered if Luke carried a gun or had a knife strapped to his leg. I considered asking, then thought better of it.
Luke was built, though, the muscles in his arms and chest filling out the polo shirt he wore in a very nice way. Blane and Kade had incredible bodies, too, each with strength that I relied on, took for granted. And they were smart. Luke was smart, too, obviously, since I couldn’t even understand exactly what he did for a living.
But he’d never been a Navy SEAL, and had never hacked into a government agency or Swiss bank.
I sighed a little as I ate a mouthful of angel hair pasta, murmuring in agreement at something Luke had said.
“So,” he said, finally coming up for air, “what do you do?”
That yanked me out of my pasta and wine-induced lethargy. “Oh, well, um, I go to school right now, and bartend.”
“What are you studying?”
“Criminal justice.”
He smiled. “That’s cool. So what are you going to do with that?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet,” I answered honestly. “I just know I want to put bad guys behind bars. Maybe as a cop.”
A look of skepticism crossed Luke’s face and his smile turned indulgent. “You’d be the most beautiful cop I’ve ever seen,” he said.
My smile was tight. I knew when I was being patronized. Suddenly, Luke didn’t seem quite as attractive as he had been before.
And that was the extent of the questions about me. My career choice launched Luke into another story, about how he’d been pulled over by the cops but had gotten out of a ticket, blah blah blah.
I abruptly decided I was spoiled, spoiled by Blane and Kade. Yes, Blane was overprotective and controlling, and yes, Kade confused me utterly with his going hot and cold on me, but they listened to me when I talked. They’d never made me feel like an ornament who was supposed to sit in silent adulation at their awesomeness.
I passed on dessert. Luke suggested we go to a bar for a drink and a dance or two, but I pleaded a long day so he took me back to Blane’s house. He walked me to the front door.
“I had a really nice time tonight,” he said, taking my hands in his. I hadn’t been quick enough getting my keys out of my purse.
“Me too,” I lied with a smile.
“May I call you again?”
Ack. “That would be great,” I said. Just because he called didn’t mean I had to answer. I knew I should really let him down right then, but maybe he wouldn’t call and I could avoid that whole unpleasantness altogether.
Luke moved closer and I knew what was coming. My first thought was to step away, but then I wondered—had Blane and Kade spoiled me in every way for other men? So when Luke leaned down and pressed his lips to mine, I didn’t pull back.
It was okay. He was a good kisser as far as technique goes, but I felt nothing. No spark, no shiver of arousal in my veins, nothing. It was okay, and that was all.
“What the fuck is this?”
I jerked back, spinning around to see Kade and Blane standing in the driveway. Kade was the one who had spoken and he continued walking toward us even after Blane stopped by Kade’s Mercedes, leaning against it with his arms crossed over his chest.
They were both dressed in jeans and black T-shirts, and I could see Blane was wearing his holster at his side, the Glock firmly wedged into it. Kade was armed as well. It was obvious they were going somewhere, and wherever it was, they expected it to be dangerous.
“Where are you going?” I asked as Kade reached past me to unlock and open the front door. Luke stared at him.
“Nowhere special,” he said. “Go inside. We’ll be back later.”
“Um, who is this?” Luke asked me.
Kade had been ignoring Luke, but now he fixed him with a stare. “Back before eleven? I’m guessing she thought you were less than impressive.” His smirk was cold, and if Luke had any sense, he’d shut up.
“No one asked you, asshole,” Luke shot back, his ears turning red. “Kathleen, who is this guy? Is he your brother, too?”
“Brother?” Kade interjected before I could answer. “She doesn’t have a brother, dipshit.” He turned to me. “Really? You told him Blane was your brother?” His tone spoke volumes about what he thought of that idea.
My face heated as Luke’s gaze landed on me again. “I’m really sorry,” I said quickly to Luke. “It just… came out.”
“So who is he then, if he’s not your brother?” Luke asked, angry. Not that I blamed him.
“Her fiancé,” Kade said.
“Ex-fiancé,” I shot back.
“You’re living with your ex-fiancé?” Luke was incredulous.
“Yes, but it’s over now,” I protested, though the part of my mind not completely aghast at what was happening was wondering why I’d bothered. It wasn’t like I wanted to go out with Luke again.
“Then who’s this guy?” Luke jerked a thumb at Kade.
Kade slung his arm over my shoulders. “I’m the brother,” Kade explained. “His brother.” He nodded at Blane. “And her friend,” he said, which would have been fine. But then he added in a conspiratorial whisper, “With benefits.”
My embarrassment was now complete. Luke looked at me like I was insane, a slut, or possibly both. I covered my burning face with my hands, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole. Maybe I should say something? But what on earth would I say?
“Um, yeah, I-I’m not really… in… to that,” Luke stammered. “I’ll catch you later, Kathleen.” He hurried back to his truck without a backward glance and a moment later was speeding away.
“I can’t believe you said that!” I rounded on Kade, forcing him to drop his arm.