Inside, Viv waits for me, sprawled out on the chair by the window. “I want to debrief so badly, but I’m so goddamn tired. Tomorrow?” She lifts her head off the back of the chair.
“Deal.”
There’s no way I’m falling asleep tonight.
Ten
GRANDMA, PUPPIES, AND BASEBALL
Luke
What do you do when your mind knows you need to stay away from someone because they’re a guest at your family establishment, but your body doesn’t seem to get the memo?
Liv is so fucking beautiful. I want to know everything about her—everything that makes her who she is. I want to know more about whoever the asshole was that called her difficult and made her think it was a bad thing.
She tried to hide it, but I saw it.
There was a vulnerability behind that sarcastic tone.
I stand there, waiting for her to close the door before turning to head back to the truck. Josh is standing beside the passenger door, waiting for me.
“What’s the matter, princess? Need me to hold the door open for you?” I tease.
“Nope. Just wanted to witness the shitshow that is Luke Huffman all twisted up about a pretty lady.”
“I am not twisted up.” I run my fingers through my hair, stopping to stand in front of him.
“Okay, then. Tell me why you didn’t get out of the truck rightaway to walk Liv to the door the way we’ve always been taught that a decent man should? Tell me why it was painfully obvious you were thinking of grandma, puppies, and baseball before you could even get out, or else everyone would see the little woody you were sporting.” Josh hauls open the truck door and turns back to me, a shit-eating grin spread across his face.
“Little my ass. You wish your dick were as big as mine.” I have no plans to tell him he’s one-hundred percent correct, and I am, in fact, all bent out of shape over this woman.
Josh scoffs.
“She’s a guest, man. You know she’s off limits. I didn’t want to give her the wrong impression.” I stride around toward my side, Josh tracking every move I make.
“Come onwith that. Somewhere along the way, you've gotta let that go. Where else are you ever going to meet someone? Or do you just plan to be alone forever, pouring your heart and soul into the bed-and-breakfast?” He’s still standing outside the truck, looking at me across the cab through the open doors.
“Can we not do this right now?” I climb onto my seat, but Josh stays outside as if not climbing in will force me to have this conversation, right here at this moment. I’m not sure I’m ready to admit that I’m afraid of meeting someone. Putting the B&B between me and anyone new is the safest bet, plus it keeps our reputation honorable. Win-win.
“No one’s asking you to marry the girl. You just need to get back in the game. Oh! Maybe a little secret vacation tryst. It’s fun. You should try it.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me.
“And what do you know about that?” I ask.
“Bro, it’s called a secret for a reason.”
“Right.”
I turn the key in the ignition and put the truck in gear. Before Josh realizes it, I’m pressing the gas pedal and taking off while he still stands outside, forearms resting on the leather seat, one foot up on the lip of the truck.
“Shit! You’re such an asshole!” Josh scrambles to grip the headrest and haul himself into the moving truck, pulling the door closed with him.
I don’t think I have it in me to get back in the game, but if I were to ever try, I’d hope it was with someone like Liv.
Liv
As tired as I physically am, mentally I’m too wound up to go to sleep. It’s like my body woke up from some hibernation and is ravenous.
I run the water in the bathtub, pour a small amount of vanilla bath oil in, and light the candle on the shelf. The water is nearly too hot as I ease in until I’m completely submerged from the neck down, muscles relaxing. I needed this.
