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What is happening to my life? Everything seems to be crashing down at the same time. I no longer believe this is accidental, mistakes, or coincidences. Someone wants to hurt me, but why? Luke turns his head toward me, and I realize I’m squeezing his shoulder in my trepidation and fear.
“Sorry,” I apologize. “Just worrying over all of this. I just don’t understand why anyone would go to such lengths to hurt me.”
“I don’t know, either, but we will find out and put a stop to it.” Luke looks so determined. “I promise.” My eyes fill with tears, once more. It’s been a very long time since I’ve had someone to lean on. Perhaps I shouldn’t be leaning on Luke, now. We don’t know one another all that much, but I know I can trust him. Callin intuition or call me crazy, but I feel it in my soul he is trustworthy. He really is just trying to help me because he’s a good man, nothing more to it than that. I need to remember it. Yes, he kissed me like I’ve never been kissed before, but it was in the heat of the moment. He can’t want anything real with a poor girl like me.Can he?
“Are you hungry? Luke asks, drawing me from my thoughts.
“Yeah, I could eat,” I smile down at him. He’s very thoughtful and kind. I wonder why he doesn’t have a wife or girlfriend? He owns a successful business, has a gorgeous home, and he’s a very attractive man. Luke turns his chair around to head back out of his bedroom and leads me back to the lift. We head downstairs and into the kitchen.
“Grilled chicken tenders all right with you?” he asks me when we reach the kitchen that is honestly the fanciest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s like something fromChopped. I can’t keep from looking at the large stove, huge French door refrigerator, and freezer. “I’ve had them marinating all day.”
“Yes, sounds good,” I reply. Luke begins to gather things from the refrigerator, cabinet, and a large pantry that I’d give my right arm to have, if I had the money to fill it up. I watch in amazement at how easily he moves around his kitchen, placing items on the island in the center and pans on the stove. “May I help you with something?”
“Sure,” Luke answers. “I have some fresh broccoli and cauliflower in the bottom left drawer in the fridge. Would you mind getting them ready to steam?” I move to get the vegetables he’s asked for. We work side by side preparing a delicious meal of chicken tenders, steamed vegetables, and fluffy yeast rolls. Luke’s phone rings shortly after we begin prepping the food. He pulls the phone out and swipes it, putting it on speaker. I’m not sure if I should leave the room or what to do. I don’t want to eavesdrop on his phone call.
“Robertson,” Luke answers his phone. I roll my eyes. Onlymen answer their phones like a brute. I mean what’s wrong with saying hello? A deep male voice comes over the line.
“Hey bro!” the caller says cheerfully “You get everything secured?” Luke glances over at me before he replies.
“Yes, I have you on speaker.” Luke’s tone is laced with warning. Is he afraid the caller will say something he doesn’t want me to know? “Marley is safe here with me. We’re preparing dinner.”
“Sweet!” the caller replies. “Whatcha making?”
“Chicken tenders in sundried tomato marinade, steamed vegetables, and yeast rolls,” Luke rattles off the menu, seeming to be bored with the conversation.
“Mmm, that sounds good,” the male comments. “You making enough for your poor, starving, brothers?” Luke rolls his eyes at the phone, which I find to be hilarious. This big, grown man is rolling his eyes.
“I suppose,” Luke huffs like he’s annoyed, but a smile is ghosting his lips. “Who all is coming?”
“All of us,” the caller replies with the hint of “duh” in his tone.
“I’m assuming that includes, Kelvin and Dalton, too?” Luke inquires. Another male is heard in the background.
“Yes! Please!” the male voice says, “Come on man, we’re starving!” Luke is grinning at his phone.
“You guys are always starving,” Luke complains. “I mean you can literally eat a huge meal, then be ready to eat again in thirty minutes, but I guess I can scrounge up enough to feed you all,” Luke declares. “But I’m not supplying the beer. So, BYOB.”
“WooHoo!” and “Hell yeah!” can be heard over the line. Luke shakes his head as he ends the call, turning toward me.
“Sorry about that.” He cringes before continuing, “My brothers and friends are coming over.”
“You don’t need to apologize to me, Luke,” I say. “This is your home. I’m just a guest here.” His face falls as I say this, and I don’t understand his reaction. He quickly schools his face before turning back to the chicken tenders he is tenderizing.
“I’m apologizing before they get here,” Luke informs me, as he pounds the strips of chicken. “They might be grown men, but they act like children. You should be prepared for their outrageous behavior. I’ll try to keep them from being too bad, but I’ve been trying all their lives and I haven’t been very successful.” He has a huge smile on his face as he complains about them.
“It’ll be fine,” I assure him. “I’ve met them all at the Bistro.” My voice catches as I remember I no longer work there. “They aren’tthatbad.” Luke looks over at me, quirking a brow. He shakes his head.
“They are actually on their best behavior when we are out like that.” Luke chuckles. “Not that their best behavior is that great.” I have to grin with him. His brothers can be boisterous and a little crude at times. We continue to prepare the food. Luke grabs more chicken tenders from the fridge fixing enough to feed a small army. Come to think of it with all six men here, it will be exactly that. He decides we need to expand the menu to feed them all. He gets a head of cabbage and a bag of carrots out to make Cole slaw, and he adds macaroni and cheese to the list. We work together shredding the cabbage and carrots before mixing mayo, celery seeds, sugar, and a little vinegar for the slaw dressing. He directs me to the pantry for macaroni which we put on the stove to boil.
The chicken he’s been tenderizing smells delicious. He has had it soaking in sundried tomato and basil salad dressing. While he’s been doing that, I have gotten the broccoli and cauliflower washed and cut into smaller pieces to be streamed. I place them in the steaming basket, setting them next to the stove, where when it’s time, I’ll place it over a pot of boiling water. Luke places the chicken, which is in a large tray, on his lap and begins to roll out the of the kitchen.
“Where are you going?” I ask as I trail along behind him out of the kitchen into the living room.
“Patio,” Luke throws over his shoulder. “I need to fire up thegrill.” I should have known. No simply baking the chicken in the oven, not for a big burly man like him. We exit through the living room out onto a gorgeous cobblestone patio, with an enormous barbeque grill, a pizza oven, a smoker, and a gas griddle. There’s an outdoor sink, cabinets, and mini-fridge.
“Oh my god!” I exclaim as I take in the extravagant set up. “It’s like Guy Fieri’s wet dream out here!” Luke’s booming laugh makes me laugh too. He rolls over to the grill, turning on the propane before he begins turning the six knobs to ignite the flames under the grill. He has an extension to the handle for the lid that allows him to raise and lower the huge hood for the massive grill. He places the pan of chicken on the side table while waiting for the grill to heat. The pounding of the waves just a few hundred feet away is so soothing.
“Have a seat.” Luke points to the many loungers he has scattered around the space. I stroll over to take a seat on a surprisingly comfortable wicker lounger with fluffy cushions. Leaning back on them, I close my eyes and just let the ocean waves lull me to a sense of peace after the shit day I’ve had. I still can’t believe the downward spiral my life has taken. As reality, once again, slaps me in the face, a sob leaks out before I can stifle it. I clamp my hand over my mouth, hoping against hope, Luke didn’t hear me. I’m not to be so lucky, nonetheless.
