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“You have a daughter?”
“Yes.” My answer is quick. “What do you want?”
“I brought you this.” He holds up the ice bucket.
“That belongs to the Walden Hotel.”
“They won’t be needing it for a long time. I, uh …” He hands the bucket to me, and I take it in bewilderment. “I thought you might want it.”
I quirk a brow. “You drove three hours to bring me an ice bucket that’s not mine?”
He stands there, leaning back on his heels and seriously glaring back at me. “Yes.”
I look down at the bucket. Its exterior is pristine with a shiny gold mirror-like covering that reflects everything around it while the white interior is scratched and stained from years of wear by guests, only to be left behind in a hotel room. I can oddly relate to this piece of tin and plastic.
“Thanks.”
I go to close the door, but he takes a step forward, halting me.
“Can we talk?” he asks.
I grip the bucket close to me and shake my head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m on my way out.”
“Dressed like that?”
My jaw drops at the audacity of him making such a rude comment. It’s something I’d expect from my mother, not Luke Incendio.
He must notice my objection because he quickly adds, “What I mean is, from what I remember … you don’t like to leave the house unless you’re dressed for the occasion. Skirts and blouses and all that. Classic. But I’m not here to talk about your attire. Truth is, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about something you said. I just wanted to … fuck.”
“Bad word!” Ainsley shouts with a giggle.
“Crap. Shoot. Sorry.” Luke shakes his head and tries again. “I used to have all the lines, and words came easily, yet now, standing here, I …”
“Don’t know what to say?”
“I don’t know where to start.”
His honesty catches me off guard. My inhale is thick, and I hold the air in my chest. Turns out, Luke and I have something in common.
“Are you going to invite me in?” he asks.
“No.”
“Why not?” Ainsley chimes in from behind me. “We never have friends here. Well … Melissa and Hunter and Izzy. Oh, and Tara. She’s Mommy’s friend and sometimes she babysits. She needs a boyfriend. Do you need a girlfriend?”
“No,” he answers as Ainsley pulls him over the threshold rather forcefully.
“We always go to everyone else’s house, which is fun, but I don’t get to show anyone my house. I hope you like costumes because I have the best. Wanna see my new tea set?”
“Luke doesn’t want to play tea,” I interject.
“Says who?” He looks at me like I’m insane and then down at Ainsley. “I’m Luke. What’s your name?”
“Ainsley Lisette Hathaway. Pleasure to meet you. That’s what my grandmother says I have to say when I meet adults. If you see her, tell her I did a good job.”
“I will.” His amused grin is so different from the nervous energy he was exuding from the doorway.
“It’s a school night. Ainsley needs to get in bed,” I state.
