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“My parents’ home is like a museum. Every item is accounted for, polished and on display. If they can’t show it off, it’s barred from the home. My room is now a guest suite. My mother packed my old mementos up and sent them to my house when she redid the room. She said to keep what I wanted and throw out the rest. She’s not a very sentimental woman.” I locate the box and raise my hands up in the air. “Found it!”
Bracing myself, I put my hands on the box to lift it.
“Here.” Eric places a hand on my back and gently moves me to the side. “I’ll carry that for you. Lead the way.”
Eric and I walk up the stairs and through the house, which is now filled with party guests. The back door leads to an outdoor firepit, where we run into Tara … and Luke.
Tara looks fantastic in her silver cocktail dress, but it’s nothing compared to the sight of Luke.
Navy suit that matches his eyes.
No tie and an open button to show off a sliver of his smooth, muscular chest.
A jawline that’s like granite as he glares at Eric.
“Jillian, I love that dress!” Tara motions toward the one-shouldered lavender silk dress I have on.
I look down at it and away from Luke. His arched brows were practically blade-like with the severe way he was staring at the way the silk hugs my curves.
“Thank you.” I accept her compliment with a tight smile. “Tara, this is Eric Hollenford. Eric, these are my friends.”
I do my job of introducing everyone while my heart is like a train bounding down the tracks. Last I heard, Luke denied Tara’s invite to the party, so his presence tonight is throwing me off-kilter.
Eric gives Luke a nod of recognition. “I remember you. The manny.”
“Manny?” Tara places a finger to her cheek. “Like a male nanny. That’s cute.”
Luke’s stiff posture shows he doesn’t agree.
“I’m not the manny,” Luke bites out through his teeth.
Eric clears his throat and gives a forced smile. “If you’ll excuse me, this box is quite heavy.”
“You need a hand with that?” Luke asks and doesn’t wait for the reply. He takes the box from Eric’s hands like it’s the lightest thing in the world and looks to me. “Where is this going?”
“Right this way. I’ll be right back,” I say to Eric and leave him with Tara.
Luke and I head toward the bar, and he places it on the ground. I open it and start unloading the bottles for the bartender to stock behind the bar.
“I’m surprised to see you tonight,” I state to Luke as I place a bottle of Woodford Reserve in the bartender’s hand.
Luke unloads the next two bottles. “Tara asked, so I thought I’d take her up on the offer.”
“She’s going to get the impression you want to date her now.”
“I don’t want to date her.” He tosses the now-empty box behind the bar.
“Then, why are you here?”
“Why is Eric?” He places his hands on his hips, and a wrinkle cuts across his forehead.
I don’t have an answer for him.Well, I do.
“I like Eric. He’s a nice man and good company. If you hadn’t made a reappearance in my life, I might have given him a real shot, not the half-assed one I’ve been devoting.”
“Maybe you should ask why my presence is affecting your love life so much.”
My hands ball into fists as I let out an unladylike growl. Luke, however, merely smirks and walks away. I take a deep inhale, pinching the air and bringing it down. Looks like I’m going to have to find my own Zen tonight because Luke is in one heck of a mood.
