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“Only a few weeks.”
She shrugs. “Well, I never did believe time meant very much when love was involved. I knew within a week that I was going to marry my husband. Six months later, we were married, and we enjoyed sixty-one years of marriage. It wasn’t always easy, but nothing worth having is, my dear.”
I pause and process what she’s just said. Nothing worth having comes easy. It’s such a throwaway line these days, but it’s probably one of the most important notions in life. Our society is so caught up in the fast, the easy, and the immediate. There’s a sense of entitlement among so many that I don’t subscribe to. I’ve never shied away from hard work, but it’s always good to be reminded that working towards something you want takes effort.
I reach for her hand. “Thank you for telling me that. What we have is good, but you’re right. We’re going to have to work hard for it. And it’s going to be so worth it.”
On the way to Luke’s bar, I mentally resolve to be more patient with our relationship. I’ll play whatever game he wants to play while we count down the days until we can be together.
* * *
The minute I enter Elixir, Luke’s eyes meet mine, and I shiver at what I see there. I might not be close to him yet, but I can read desire when I see it. As I move closer, my core clenches as I see how intensely he’s watching me.
Oh, God, why are you letting me down now?
I was psyched to play along, but this is too much.
He comes out from behind the bar and grips my hand. Hard. Without a word, he drags me into his office. His body is as tense as I’ve ever seen it, and I wonder what he’s going to tell me. He’s worked up about something.
“Luke, wha—”
He cuts me off when he closes the door and pushes me up against the back of it. His hungry eyes search mine for only a split second before his mouth descends on mine. Then he forces my lips apart to take possession. And when Luke Hardy takes possession, I know there’s no coming back from it. If I thought he’d already staked his claim, I was wrong. This kiss screams his ownership in ways he’s never announced it.
His hands are in my hair.
His body is pressed hard against mine.
His growl of dominance fills the room.
When he finally ends the kiss, I’m panting.
“It’s over, baby. And you’re mine now,” he rasps.
I blink, unsure what this all means. “What?”
He takes hold of my face with both hands and kisses me again. I lose myself to his kiss, helpless to stop him. He tastes so damn good, and I never want this kiss to end.
“The cops don’t need me anymore. Turns out someone else committed that murder, so I’m free. The divorce will go through in about ten months or so,” he announces when he takes a break from my lips.
A steady buzz of joy floats through my body. I slip my arms around his waist, needing to touch him more desperately than I’ve ever needed to touch anyone. “So that means we can be together,” I say softly.
His eyes flash with lust, and he grinds against me. “That depends on where you stand on this phase of a marriage. It’s definitely over, and my lawyer has been to see Jolene today to tell her. Does that mean we can progress past friend zone?”
Jesus, how can anyone say no to Luke Hardy? If I thought he was irresistible before, he’s just upped his game.
I loop my arms around his neck and catch his lips in a kiss. We drown in this kiss, and I silently give him my answer. Now that he’s told his wife it’s over for sure, and his divorce is proceeding, I’m 100 percent all for this. No doubts linger. “Consider friend zone dead and buried. I’m ready for you to show me how you really play. Introduce me to your new game, Luke,” I say after I end the kiss.
He exhales a breath as if he’d been holding it in, unsure how I’d respond. “Thank fuck,” he says, and my belly flutters at his obvious need.
A loud knock on the office door interrupts us. “Luke? We kinda need you, dude. It’s getting real busy out here,” Avery says on the other side.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” he says.
“Sorry, Callie,” she says.
“All good, babe,” I reply.
Luke’s gaze settles on mine. “Tomorrow night you’re mine,” he orders. “Unless I can make shit happen tomorrow morning.”
