My frustration at myself lashes out with a kick at the gravel. “And I ruined it all.”
“You two need to talk. He’s off pretending he can live without you, but give him a week. He can’t.”
“What if he decides he can?”
“Don’t you worry. The next time you see that stubborn bastard, he’ll be on your doorstep begging you for another chance.”
The knock on myfront door is too polite to be Sawyer.
I drag myself off the sofa. There’s no book to put down or TV to turn off. I’ve just been staring at the ceiling, feeling sorry for myself. I pad through the living room and open the front door. Luke stands on the other side.
He offers me a sympathetic smile and holds up a grocery bag. “Can I tempt you with a morning after breakfast?”
It’s a sweet gesture, but I’m not in the mood for pretending to be good company. Sawyer’s gone. What’s the point? Is it even worth the battle to ask Luke to leave? I’m already swimming in guilt. Do I really want another man’s hurt feelings on my conscience? I care a lot less about sparing Luke’s feelings, but I definitely don’t have the energy for another fight.
I sigh. “Come in.”
He doesn’t notice my reluctance and eagerly steps inside. His eyes go wide as he scans the room and toes off his shoes.
“You really fixed this place up,” he says.
“I can’t take any credit. This is all Cain.”
Luke sniffs the air. “Is that…fresh paint?”
“He paid a few of the local boys to redo my living area when I was at work. Hence the…” I gesture at the sheets thrown over most of my furniture.
“Ah, yes, the rustic Italian villa closed for winter vibe,” he says, wiggling his eyebrows.
I almost crack a smile. “So, what’s for breakfast?”
He drops the grocery bag on the counter and starts unloading ingredients. “I thought I’d go for proper comfort food today.” He grins. “Pancakes.”
I settle into the corner of the kitchen beside him. “With all the trimmings?”
“Allthe trimmings, but… I’ll be honest.” He holds up a jar filled with red goop. “I whipped up the strawberry coulis last night when I couldn’t sleep.”
“What kept you up?” It can’t have been mulling over all the missed opportunities to talk to Sawyer, like what kept me up.
“I was actually thinking about you.” He shrugs. “I was worried about you.”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you?” He cocks his chin. “You put on an amazing show for the auction, but you were quiet in the car when I dropped you home.”
“Life suddenly got very complicated again.”
He reaches out to squeeze my shoulder. “People were always interested in knowing more about you. Now that the truth about the mysterious Elsie Hoskins has been revealed, everyone will move on to some other mystery in a day or two.”
I stare at him. He’s taking the news remarkably well. “It doesn’t bother you that I didn’t tell you the truth?”
“No? I mean, I’m not surprised. There were clues, but I never asked.” His smile is apologetic. “Our relationship—”
“Arrangement,” I correct him.
He frowns but doesn’t press the point. “We got off to a different start than most couples. The intimacy came first.”
“I don’t think you can call what we had intimacy.”
