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Next to Luke is a woman, about our age, with a large tote bag in her hand. She smiles at the sight of me, and I do a double take. I wasn’t expecting a visitor.
“Morning.” I give a kind smile to the woman and spin toward Luke. “Can you give me a ride to town? I have to pick up some clothes and be at the restaurant by nine. I don’t know what’s open at this hour on a Sunday, so we should leave soon and drive around a bit.”
He’s leaning against the back of the couch, ankles crossed, with no sense of urgency about him as he nods toward the woman. “Jillian, this is Stella, my neighbor.”
“Hi, Stella. It’s nice to meet you. So, Luke, I need to get out of here. I can borrow your car and drop it off at noon.”
He quirks a brow. “Will you be going commando to Target?”
I glance down at the navy waffle knit covering. “Of course not. I’m not picky though. I’ll wear anything you can loan me. A pair of jogging pants and a sweatshirt will do.”
“I promised you last night that I’d take care of getting you clothes. Stella brought over a few things.”
I frown at his response and then turn to the woman. “I can’t take your clothes.”
The cherub-faced woman smiles, taking a step forward. “It’s no problem. Luke texted last night about what happened. As soon as I woke up and saw the message, I put this bag together. You can return them anytime. Heck, you can keep it all. You’ve been through a hell of an ordeal. The fire and being stranded naked on the street until sweet Luke came to your rescue. You must have been petrified.”
I give a sideways look to Luke and the depiction of what transpired last night and then turn back to Stella. “I couldn’t impose—”
“I happen to be one of those girls who goes up and down in weight. My closet is literally filled with everything from a six to a twelve. I brought an option in every size. Luke said you’re classy, so I picked out all dresses. I also ran to the drugstore this morning and got you all the unmentionables. Luke said to get a bunch of stuff and he’d return the rest.”
Her selflessness pours out of her heart through her bright eyes and outstretched arm. I take the proffered bag from her and grin in disbelief.
“Stella, you’re … a gem. I’m not one to take handouts. Actually, I’m usually the one handing out, but I am in quite the rush. You’re very kind to help.”
“What am I, chopped liver?” Luke asks with his arms stretched out in question, which I ignore, and Stella laughs.
“Why don’t you try them on first and see what works?” she says. “You’re also welcome to come to my house and pick something else out. Oh! There’s a pair of black heels in the bag. I’m a size nine in shoes, so I don’t have any other options.”
“Luck would have it, I’m an eight, so nine is fine.”
I excuse myself and head to Luke’s bedroom and take out the contents of the bag. The size-eight dress is a long-sleeved brown jersey dress with a V-neckline and a hem that falls just above the knee. Everything fits rather well, even the sports bra, which I’m sure is the only thing she could find at this hour. She even bought me mascara, lip gloss, eye shadow, bronzer, and concealer. I don’t know who this Stella woman is, but she’s already my new favorite person.
When I exit the bedroom again, Luke is sitting alone at the kitchen table. Stella can be seen out the picture window, crossing the street back to her home with a swish to her hips and a sway of her long blonde hair.
Luke rises when he sees me. The color of his eyes does nothing to give away the enlarging of his pupils as they appraise the neckline.
“Wow. You …” He pauses as he slides his hands into his pockets and takes on an air of nonchalance. “You clean up well.”
“The bar was set rather low.”
“You looked pretty good in my robe.”
“I look good in everything, Luke.”
He clears his throat and gestures to the devices he has set on his living room table and starts pacing toward the kitchen. “I set up my laptop and cell phone so you can make whatever calls you need. I’ll get you a coffee. I asked Stella to grab you French vanilla creamer. She didn’t get the sugar-free.”
My head shoots over to where he’s now standing in the kitchen by the open refrigerator door. I’m amazed he knows how I take my coffee.
He halts. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” I mutter. “The regular is fine.”
I shake off the familiar feeling simmering in my chest and take a seat by his laptop.
I open a browser and log in to my email account and see Melissa replied, assuring me she contacted all the vendors and urging me to call her immediately now that she’s awake. Since Luke said I could use his phone, I take his cell and dial her number.
“This is a new version ofNaked and Afraid!” Melissa gasps on the other end of the phone after she picks up. “That is some pickle you got yourself into, my friend. More like something I’d do. Were you high on rosé? I’ve made some questionable decisions while on the vino.”
