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Allie bit her lips to keep herself from smiling too widely. She kept her eyes trained ahead but her ears pricked to the conversation.
“Wow. That’s going to be amazing if it works out. But I still don’t understand why you didn’t just tell me.” She elbowed Allie in the ribs. “That goes for you too. I thought we were friends.”
“Hey,” Allie squawked, rubbing her side. “Wearefriends. I’m telling you now, aren’t I?”
Pippa huffed. “Well, if you don’t bring some flyers out to the restaurant, then I’m going to throw a fit. What am I if not supportive of my family?”
Allie glanced toward Luke once more and then tore her gaze away. They had to be one of the best little families she knew which was another reason why she’d wanted to be part of it.
Pippa leaned into Allie, resting her head on Allie’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re helping him. He could use as much as he can get.”
Luke made a disgruntled noise which only stirred some quiet laughter from Allie.
“I think it’s a wonderful cause. I knew I wanted to volunteer the second he told me about it.” At least she hadn’t kept that tidbit from her friend. Now, if only she could get her alone for a moment to tell her about that kiss before she burst from holding onto that doozy of a secret.
Pippa lurched forward, causing Allie to jump and stare at her with rounded eyes.
“What’s the matter?”
Her friend gestured vaguely toward some folks standing in the aisle. “I need to talk to someone. One of those who just came in.”
“But the service is gonna start in like five minutes.”
“I’ll be fast. Save my seat.” Pippa climbed over Allie and headed out into the aisle, leaving a small space between herself and Luke. That space could have been a car length’s wide and Allie still would have felt too close to Luke. The tension from their kiss still hung in the air, the unanswered questions hot and burning up the oxygen.
She took a deep breath as if it would be her last then released it.
Speak. You have the words, just say something so he doesn’t bring it up again.
Allie placed her hand on the seat beside her and faced him. “I’m done with the edits you wanted on your flyer. And actually, I sent them to the printers already. They said that they’d be done with them next week by Wednesday which is a relief because if we wait until after Thanksgiving, then we’re missing out on valuable space for the Black Friday deals.” She was rambling.
Oh, why was she allowing herself to do that?
“Anyway, I thought I could—”
Luke’s hand landed beside hers, his fingertips brushing along her skin.
Allie snapped her mouth shut, momentarily distracted by his touch.
“I need to speak to you,” he whispered. “It’s really important.”
“I don’t think we have anything to say,” Allie hissed back, placing her hand in her lap. “Everything that needed to be said has been aired out.”
Luke stared at her hard, his jaw unmoving. His eyes narrowed and he inched a little closer to her. “There is a lot that has yet to be said. I was planning on stopping by later today to talk to you, but Pippa wouldn’t give me your address.”
Good for her.
No, not good. Allie was blowing her chance to have her own happily ever after and for what? Because she was scared? There were far scarier things than having a discussion to define the relationship.
What relationship, a voice in her head seemed to sneer. She didn’t have a relationship with anyone.
But shewantedone.
Allie studied Luke’s features from his eyes to his mouth, along his jawline and all the way back to the hair she itched to run her fingers through. She already knew she’d give him a chance to talk about whatever it was that he wanted her to. There would be no fighting it.
When she arrived at the conclusion that there would be no hiding from him, Allie nodded and opened her mouth but was immediately cut off when Pippa returned.
Her friend nodded toward that small space between herself and Luke. “Go on, scoot down so I don’t have to cross over everyone’s laps.”
