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I laugh. “Well, likewise, Mr. Fried Pickle First Timer.”
We both chuckle, munching a bit more on the amazing fried food, and then, for some reason, I’m thinking about Beth again.
“My niece has a heart problem, so…I’m doing a cardiac specialty. I want to be able to help kids and adults like her.”
Humming thoughtfully as he finishes his bite, Luke eyes me, more serious than I’ve seen him.
“That’s damn impressive, Clara. I understand why your job means so much to you.”
I shrug, not really knowing what to do with that compliment. Luke’s use of my first name causes a blush to spread across my neck and up my face.
“Thanks, I guess.” I take another sip of my beer, hungry for the social lubricant. “But what about you? How’d you go from the military to being the CEO of a PR firm?”
“Ha! Well, I can kind of thank Jay for that.” He puts his hand on the back of his head, giving a tangled up version of his smile. “When we got out of the service, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. It’s a decent change going from soldier to civilian life again.”
“I can only imagine.” I raise my brows at him.
“Jay mentioned that of all of us, I was the one who’d be able to sell water to a fish, so…here we are.”
I downright giggle at that one. “He needed a salesman?”
“He needed everything. Jay’s the business mogul of all of us. Sure, Dom owns a few things, but he’s small potatoes compared to Jay.”
“And you?”
He grins, that dazzling smile on full display. “I’m the charm, obviously.”
I should have known I was done for when we got here, but somehow, I let myself believe I was actually going to turn Luke down.
“Okay. I’ll stay with you.”
Chapter 12
Luke
I’m driving back to the penthouse with Clara, and my brain is fucking reeling.
I didn’t think the conversation in the diner would get that heavy, but more than that, I’m genuinely surprised she actually agreed to stay with me.
“I’m guessing taking it easy sounds like a good plan for the evening. How about a movie?”
Clara glances over from the car window, and I can see the exhaustion creeping up on her.
“Sure. Not sure how long I’ll last.” She giggles lightly, and I nod back. “Oh, and I guess I need clothes or something. At least for the night. Can we swing by a store before we get back to your place?”
I hum, the realization that she has zero clothing options with her going to a much steamier place in my head than it should.
“’Course. I think there’s one just a few blocks away, actually.”
We drive a few more minutes before the place I’m looking for comes into view, and I pull us into the parking lot of Tailor’s.
It takes Clara no time at all to choose some comfy clothes from their sleepwear section, and when we take them up to the counter, she even tries to pay.
Before she quickly remembers she has no wallet.
“Oh, shit. I…I’ll pay you back. Tomorrow. As soon as I get into my apartment.”
Rolling my eyes with a smirk, I hand the cashier my card.
