AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He wouldn’t appreciate her choice any more than she’d figured Luke would appreciate the note she’d left him, one she’d deliberately kept brusque enough so he wouldn’t think she was a clingy female. She’d tossed in a little white lie about having an emergency so she’d have an excuse for slipping out and avoiding the awkward morning after. Her plan seemed sound since she hadn’t expected to see Luke again. Even if she’d thought about running into him, it wouldn’t have been here in the hospital and definitely not so soon after the best, most explosive night of her life.
“Luke Thompson,” he said, extending his hand toward her father.
“Dr. Aaron Collins.” The two men shook hands. “Which still doesn’t answer my question. Who are you, and what do you want from my daughter?”
Alexa groaned. She was over thirty years old and her father was acting like he had a right to ask. Jesus. “Dad, Luke’s a . . . he’s a friend.”
She caught his sizzling gaze and was happy he accepted that description and kept his mouth shut. “And we’re going to talk. In private.”
“You have patients to see,” her father said, inserting himself into the conversation.
“No, I have lunch to eat.”
“Great! Because I came to take you out. I have a picnic basket in the car.”
“It’s winter!” Alexa whipped her head toward him and looked, really seeing him for the first time. He wore a cream sweater that made his tanned skin even more appealing, and his golden eyes sparkled as if he had some plan in mind.
“And you eat in the cafeteria so you can be around if you’re needed.”
Luke scowled at her father. “I know it’s winter, darlin’. I’m freezing down to my Texas bones. But if I learned something in the past twenty-four hours, it’s that you need to loosen up and have fun. So we’re getting out of here and having a picnic lunch somewhere private. Then you can come back and work.”
Her father stared at Luke as if the man had lost his mind.
Alexa was sure she’d have been doing the same thing—if she wasn’t so tempted by both his offer and the man himself. He hadn’t been put off by her note. He’d sought her out. Planned something special. And then there was the little fact that the vein in her father’s head began throbbing—the one that pulsed harder when she did something he didn’t agree with.
The devil on her shoulder wanted to stick it to Aaron and do something that Alexa wanted for a change. But more importantly, the woman inside her that Luke had awakened last night wasn’t going quietly back to sleep.
She glanced at Luke, hoping to convey both her gratitude and the desire he’d re-ignited in one quick look. “Let me get my coat,” she said.
His grin—and the fire in his eyes—assured her he’d definitely gotten her meaning.
“Alexa, we aren’t finished with this conversation,” her father said.
She straightened her shoulders. “I’m sure you’re not, Dad. But I am. At least for now.” But one thing she knew for sure, the argument and his pressure would be waiting for her when she returned.
* * *
Now Luke knew what Alexa was up against when it came to her father and her career. The man was a bastard, and though she stood up to him, it was no wonder she had no time for a social life or any kind of fun. That made his mission all the more worthwhile. Cole thought Luke was insane, but he’d recommended a place where he could take Alexa for privacy. He agreed that The Family Restaurant was the best place for him to pick up sandwiches and chips, and he had another surprise for her in the back of his truck, but for that one, she’d have to agree to spend more than her lunch hour with him today. If not, he hoped to make use of them tomorrow. Luke was in town for a couple of days, and with Alexa, he intended to make good use of them.
He drove her out to the lake at the far edge of Serendipity. He parked the vehicle and led her to the cabin on the lake owned by Cole’s father. The Sanders men used the place for summer fishing, but Cole assured him all he had to do was turn on and the heat, and the boiler would kick in.
Alexa had been silent on the drive, and he had no doubt she was angsting over leaving work, the argument with her father, and now being alone with him. He hopped out and headed to her side in time to help her out of the high truck.
“Thank you.” She glanced over her shoulder at the rustic cabin behind them. “Whose place is this?”
“Cole and his dad own it.” Luke clasped her hand and led her toward the door. “Let’s get inside. I’ll turn the heat up and go back out for the food.”
