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“She said she was coming back after she checked on the flowers and whatever else. I don’t need to look for her,” Rocco replied, looking flustered.
Heath laughed and joined in on the teasing. “Damn, Roc, you’ve got it that bad? A little event planner’s got you all rattled?”
“Fuck you, Heath, I’m not rattled. And you’re one to talk. What you gonna do when Leah gets here in a little while, huh?”
It was Heath’s turn to look flustered and rattled. Luke knew that Leah, Jake’s younger sister, had always had a crush on Heath. It had been cute when she was a little girl, vying for Heath’s attention. Heath, for his part, had just treated Leah like his own little sister. With a ten-year age difference between them, what else could he do? Jake had been good natured about the whole thing. Getting digs in when he could, which pissed Heath off. As if he expected Jake to protect him from his baby sister. Luke found the whole thing rather funny.
But Leah wasn’t a little girl anymore. Far from it. She was twenty-five now and that ten-year age difference between her and Heath wasn’t an issue anymore. No, Leah Tyler had grown into a gorgeous chestnut-haired, deep brown-eyed, curves-in-all-the-right-places siren.
Not only was Leah a beautiful woman, but she was smart too, graduating from Northwestern University with honors and a degree in Finance. She was a Financial Analyst for the Cobras but didn’t report to Heath directly. Heath had recently been promoted to Finance Director and Leah reported to one of Heath’s direct reports. The Cobras’ finance department wasn’t large so Leah and Heath saw each other every day.
Luke suspected Heath wanted Leah, but he’d fended her off so far. How Heath kept his hands off her while being tempted every day, Luke had no idea. If Luke saw Abbey every day at work, they would have been reprimanded or fired for fucking in the supply closet, or the copy room, or anywhere else they could find.
Luke believed part of the reason that Heath didn’t make a move on Leah was loyalty to his friendship with Jake. You just didn’t fuck your buddy’s little sister. Period. End of story. Luke didn’t think that Jake would actually mind if Heath and Leah got together. Heath was a good man, and he’d never intentionally hurt Leah.
To Luke’s amusement, Heath played dumb. “Leah who?”
Jake just laughed and winked at Luke. “Leah Remini. You know, from King of Queens and now Kevin Can Wait.”
Heath’s eyes grew wide. “Was Luke able to get her to attend?” Was Heath kidding?
Rocco, Jake, and Luke laughed. Jake threw his hands up. “No, idiot. I meant my sister Leah. Like you didn’t know who I meant. Leah Remini, right.” Jake sighed and shook his head. Obviously Heath was going to fight this thing with Leah until the bitter end.
“What about your sister? What are saying? That I’ve got a thing for her or something?”
Rocco grunted and chimed in. “Or something.”
Heath looked panicked. “Well, I don’t. She’s your kid sister, Jake. I’d never do that to you. She’s like a sister to me and is my employee.” Heath looked to Luke for support.
Luke wasn’t having any of it. “You’re not fooling anyone with this denial shit, Heath. Man up for fuck’s sake. Marine.”
Rocco stepped up to Luke, a scowl on his face, eyes narrowed. “Got a problem with the Marines, civilian?”
Luke had no issue with the Marines or any service branch. In fact, it had been Luke’s idea for the Chicago Cobras to partner with the Veterans Ticket Foundation and donate three hundred fifty free game tickets to veterans and active duty military and their families for every home game. Once a year, the Cobras hosted a Military Appreciation Night, providing twenty-five hundred free tickets and performed a special ceremony honoring the men and women in uniform. Luke’s own father had been in the Army.
Jake stepped in, pushing Rocco back. “Relax, man. No one’s insulting the Marines, all right?”
Rocco and Heath nodded. Luke blew out a breath, relieved.
Jake turned to Heath, a serious expression on his face. “Look, I know Leah’s my kid sister and you’ve always treated like she was yours too, but she’s never been shy about her feelings toward you.”
“No, that’s not true.” Heath shook his head. “She had a little crush when she was younger, that’s it.”
“Heath, come on. Get real. Little girl crush time is over. She’s a grown woman. Do I really need to tell you what you already know?” Jake looked to Luke and Rocco. “What we all know?”
Heath rolled his eyes, in full denial mode. “And what is it that we all know, Jake? Enlighten me, please.”
“Stop playing dumb. We all know Leah’s in love with you. Has been for a long time.” Jake turned and went to the mirrored door and checked his appearance. He brushed some lint from his shoulders, adjusted his white bow tie, and turned back around to face Heath.
Heath shook his head. “No, she’s not. Even if she was, I wouldn’t never act on it or encourage her. I would never do that to you. Friends don’t touch their friend’s sisters. We all know that. I can’t believe you think I’d do something like that to you.”
Jake walked back over to Heath and looked over to Luke. Luke nodded slightly to Jake.
“What if I said I didn’t mind if you did do something about it?”
Heath’s mouth fell open. Before he could answer Jake, there was a knock at the main office door. “Boys, it’s Darren and Hannah. Can we come in?”
