“Did you go for a swim?”
“No. The salon carefully styled my hair to resemble a drowned rat.”
He laughs only until I spear him with a glare over my sunburnt shoulder. “Why don’t you come over?” he says. “Join us for a game.”
“I’d hate to show you all up with my athletic prowess.”
“Okay, skip the volleyball. Walk with me to the cafe.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Together?”
“We can share a smoothie. One cup, two straws.”
“In public?”
“You don’t get more public than the cafe on a Saturday.”
“Won’t that look like we’re in”—I fake a horrified gasp—“a relationship?”
“Maybe that’s what I want.”
Oh, he’s decided, has he? “I didn’t realize our arrangement was a totalitarian regime.”
“Pardon?”
I sigh. “Did you ever stop to think about whatIwant?”
Luke halts mid-step. “I…”
Of course, he hasn’t. Solar systems literally revolve around stars like this man. “I agreed to your arrangement, remember? Despite our escapades in your bedroom, I’m sure you’ve realized I’m hardly Peggy Guggenheim by now.”
“Guggenheim? Like…the museum?”
“The museum is named after her uncle. Peggy… She appreciated art, but she was also known for being rather…free…with her affection for men.”
“And you, my little gem, are rather selective.”
I turn and carefully scan his face. Curious. So, hedoesknow me. “I am. Did you ever wonder why I agreed to your arrangement then?”
“Ah…” He covers the shock of being put on the spot with quick blinks. “You think I’m sexy?” He smirks.
“Keanu Reeves is sexy, and I wouldn’t agree to his penis going anywhere near—”
“Els, bloody hell. Not in public.” Luke’s cheeks darken, and he waves at his nether regions. “I’d prefer not to embarrass myself.”
“Shouldn’t your size make you less embarrassed?”
Luke’s mouth is a stern line when he holds up his index finger. “No more dirty talk.”
“Please,” I scoff. “That was very tame.”
“No more.”
“Whatever you say, chef.”
Luke likes me calling him that too much. I want to wipe the enormous grin off his face. “Explain it to me then,” he says. “Why did you agree to my arrangement?”
My heart seizes in my chest. How do I get out of this mess? He doesn’t get to know my secrets after he tore me to shreds in front of Kristen…and who knows who else.
