AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Anyway,” Luke rushes on, going to his inside pocket and pulling out a hipflask, glancing around warily, “I bought you this.”
Bert’s face lights up and he rubs his hands together. “Good boy.”
“I’ll get some mugs.” Luke rises to his feet. “Coming?” he asks his grandfather.
“No. I’ll wait here with Lo.”
“I’m not leaving her with you so you can interrogate her.”
“What’s there to interrogate her about if you’re not dating?” Bert cocks his head cheekily. “What would you like, Lo? Tea, coffee, or the good, hard stuff with me?”
I look around the room, fleetingly observing some of the other residents who are snoozing in their chairs or occupying themselves with knitting or the odd crossword puzzle. “Tea, I guess.”
“I was beginning to like you, Lo.” Bert tsks his disapproval at my choice. “She’ll have the strong stuff with me, Grandboy.”
Luke moves away cautiously, dividing his eyes between me and his grandfather. “Be nice,” he warns.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Bert flicks him away, and I spend a few moments watching Luke soak up the attention from the female residents before I turn back to face his grandfather. He grins wickedly. “No need to blush,” he says around his smile.
I reach up to my cheeks on a frown. “Why would I be blushing?” And then it occurs to me. “Oh, no.” He thinks I was admiring Luke. “I was just finding the attention he’s getting amusing.”
“Well, my grandboy is a tremendous hunk of a male.” He puffs his chest out. “He gets it from his granddaddy.”
I press my lips together to stop my smile. “I agree, but I don’t see him like that.”
“Then how do you see him?”
“As a friend. A really good friend.”
“And how did you get to become friends?”
Luke hasn’t told him? “Well . . .” I frown, thinking this is going to sound as ridiculous as it is. “He kind of nearly ran me over.”
For the first time since I’ve set eyes on Luke’s grandfather, I see surprise on his face. “You became friends because he nearly killed you?”
“Well, yeah.” I laugh under my breath. “I was walking my dog and managed to wander onto the road without realizing it. Luke stopped just in time.”
Bert’s eyes widen in shock, and he hums, thoughtful, crossing one leg over the over. “He nearly ran you over,” he muses, studying me closely.
I look away, feeling he’s reading between the lines. “I was daydreaming. And then my dog collapsed, and Luke kindly drove us to an emergency vet.” I leave out that he kindly paid the bills too. He might think I’m taking advantage, and I wouldn’t blame him.
“And you’re just friends?”
“Just friends.” I smile. “You find it odd, don’t you?”
“My grandson isn’t the kind of man who has female friends.”
“But he has lots of female . . .” I pause, thinking how to word it politely. “Company.”
“That’s a way to put it. Though none of them seem to hold his attention.”
“That’s because they’re all wrong for him. Luke needs to date women more his own age.”
Bert smiles, and it’s knowing. He agrees. “I think Luke should listen to you, Lo.”
“Agreed,” I counter, turning his smile into a devilish grin.
“Have you been anywhere nice this evening?”
I look down at my dress. “Just for a drink with friends. I bumped into Luke and he invited me here. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. Did you bring me a gift?”
“What?”
A loud clap rings out through the room when Bert smacks his hands together. “It’s my birthday.”
“Oh my God, happy birthday!” Damn it, why didn’t Luke tell me? I feel so rude turning up with not so much as a card.
“Why, thank you.” He brushes down his tie. “Ninety today. The staff have put on a small party for me next door.” He thumbs over his shoulder to the double doors where all the women have disappeared. “They think I have no idea.”
“It’s supposed to be a surprise?”
“It is. I might be decrepit, but my senses haven’t failed me just yet. I’ve been banned from that room all day, people are playing hush-hush, and my grandboy has just shown up with a date.”
“I’m not his date,” I say, smiling.
“Of course. You’re Just-a-Friend Lo.”
“That’s me. So, are you expecting any more family?” I ask.
“The chance would be a fine thing. My son, that’s Luke’s father, and my daughter-in-law, Luke’s mother, live in Croatia.” There’s definitely an edge of resentment somewhere there, though I don’t pry, no matter how curious I am. “And Arabella, my granddaughter, that’s Luke’s sister, is a globetrotter.” I listen, remembering Luke mentioning his sister. “She’s back in London for a few days. Came to see me this morning, she did.” He leans forward and scans the vicinity. “Stocked up my secret stash.”
I lean in too, my head tilted in intrigue. “Secret stash?”
He takes a finger to his lips and motions to keep quiet. No problem, since I have no idea what I’m keeping quiet about. “But Luke is here every other day without fail.” He’s all smiles again at the thought of his grandson. “I know you shouldn’t have favorites, but, well, Luke is my favorite. Hands down.”
