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He was clearly still drifting, and he’d been out of prison for almost a year.
She pushed the judgmental thoughts away, because she had no idea what life would be like after being incarcerated. None of the men she’d known who’d come through Hope Eternal Ranch had been able to return to the life they’d had before, and Luke clearly couldn’t either. It was perfectly okay for him to take time to figure out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.
Before she knew it, the truck growled as it eased away from the barn, and Hannah straightened. Had she literally been standing there that long? The work wouldn’t get done that way, and she hoped everyone would just go back to their jobs and leave her to slink out of the shade silently.
Nick and the others went into the stable, but Luke turned and came straight toward her. She couldn’t make herself invisible, no matter how much she wanted to, so she stepped out into the sun again. “Thanks,” she said.
“Yep.” He adjusted his cowboy hat. “Are we headed over to the construction site now?”
“Yes,” she said, trying to find her thoughts. “Yes, let’s go over there. I’ve had a couple of guys working on it, but I really don’t know what I’m doing.” They started around the existing building. “We had a professional design the stable, and we have the blueprints. I’m just not sure if we’re following them.”
“It looked like a building to me,” Luke said.
“I’m going to put you in charge of the construction,” she said. “I know Ginger wants you on horses too, but for the first little bit, I need you to make sure we’re on track with the building.”
“I can do that,” he said, glancing at her.
Their hands brushed as they rounded the corner, and Hannah pulled in a breath and put a little distance between them on her next step. She had a boyfriend, and Luke had said once that she wasn’t a cheater. Shewasn’ta cheater, and she would never do that to Chuck. She wouldn’t do that to herself. She didn’t want tobethat kind of person.
“Luke,” she said, deciding she just needed to tell him. “I’m still seeing Chuck.”
“Hmm.” He kept his eyes on the ground, and Hannah eased up on the pace. He slowed with her.
She took a deep breath. “I think you’re great, and I’m so,soglad you’re back.” She smiled at him, but he barely looked at her. He didn’t smile in return, and Hannah’s heart quivered. She didn’t want to hurt him. She didn’t want to get hurt.
She also knew she couldn’t stand still, in a place of fear. If she wanted to find her soul mate, she’d have to take some risks.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
That got him to look at her. “About what?” His dark eyes filled with fire and a challenge.
Hannah’s mind blanked. “Um.” She glanced toward the equipment shed, where they kept their big machines and did all the vehicle maintenance on the ranch.
“Are you sorry you’re with Chuck?” Luke asked.
When she faced him again, she found him two steps closer to her, his gaze sparking with desire. “Because I am,” he said. “If you were single, Hannah, I’d ask you to dinner for tonight.” He spoke in utmost control, his voice low and soft and somewhat terrifying all at the same time.
A shiver ran up her spine and down her arms, and Hannah’s fingers tingled as the energy left through the tips of them.
“Tonight,” Luke said again. He backed up a couple of steps.
The world breathed again, Hannah along with it. She hadn’t even realized she’d started to hold her breath, but the way her lungs pinched and the hefty drag in she took told her she had.
“I guess you have to ask yourself if the only reason you’d say no is because you’re with Chuck,” he said, glancing down the length of the stable to the bare wood of the new one. “I’ll go see what we’re dealing with down here.” He walked away, and all Hannah could do was watch him.
Wow, she thought, those shoulders so broad, and his back so strong. Someone stepped next to her, but Hannah didn’t even have the wherewithal to turn and see who it was.
“It’s a good question,” Jill said. “He ishot, Hannah, and he’d ask you out fortonight.” She hit the T the exact same way Luke had, giggling afterward.
Hannah released her breath and looked at Jill. “You were eavesdropping on us.”
“Duh,” Jill said with a grin. She sobered quickly. “Now what? What are you going to do?”
Hannah shook her head and looked back just in time to see Luke walk through a gap in the frame, his hand on the stud for a moment as he passed inside. “I don’t know.”
