Page 16 of Say Yes to the Death

“I don’t really feel like talking, Luke,” she said, leaning against her refrigerator. She wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed and sleep for a year. “This has been the worst day since… well, since last week.”

He crossed over to her and put his keys and the boxes on the kitchen island. He slipped his hand over her cheek, caressing with his thumb. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell my mom about you. But to be fair, we don’t talk about anything but work and the stock market. It’s the Islestorm way.”

Claire bit her lip. She had been known to conceal things from her mother. Maybe she had reacted too harshly. The back of her neck prickled. Someone was watching her. Sawyer’s golden eyes shone from the end of the hallway, half in shadow.

She dropped her voice. “You’re still in trouble. She saw my boobs. My boobs, Luke. Painfully white as a freshly sliced bagel.”

“You were really topless?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“Due to an unfortunate near-drowning incident, yes, your mother was the lucky fifteenth person to accidentally see my breasts this month.” Policemen, friends, paramedics—a literal parade of people had witnessed her blood-drenched bosom. She should probably never go out in public again.

“You are the sexiest woman alive.” Luke lowered his mouth to hers and pulled her roughly toward him. He dipped her right in the middle of the kitchen.

Claire balled her hands at her sides and went as rigid as a board. Luke kissed her harder and eventually she wrapped her arms around his neck, laughing in spite of herself. The longer she knew Luke, the harder it was to stay mad at him. Strength rippled in his neck and shoulders as he held her, and desire stirred deep in her belly. Surely her stab wound had healed enough to take a ride on the Luke Express.

When he brought her back up, she took a step back and crossed her arms. “I’m still eighty percent mad at you.”

“But I brought your favorite pizza,” he said, gesturing at a pair of cardboard boxes on the island.

“Fifty percent mad at you,” she corrected.

“And a cannoli.”

“Damn it. Okay, fine.” She leaned forward and gave him a tiny peck on the cheek. It was getting too late in the day to murder him anyway.

“So what’s going on? You said something terrible happened today.”

“Oh,” she said, picking up her wineglass and immediately downing what was left. She shuddered and made a face.

“This can’t be good.”

“It’s not good. It’s awful. Do you remember Wendy?”

“Your psychopath stalker?” He crossed his arms, clearly bracing for the worst.

“One of many. She’s suing me.”

“You’re joking.”

“Nope. Jason served me the papers this morning.”

Luke’s face reddened, and his eyes narrowed. “She got Jason involved?”

“Yep. Just what I needed.”

“What did he say to you?” There was danger in Luke’s eyes.

“Whoa, calm down there, alpha male.” She laid a hand on his chest. “Just the usual. He was sorry I got kidnapped, et cetera. Not sorry enough to decline serving me papers, though, I guess.”

His frown deepened. “What’s she suing you for?”

“Assault and battery,” Kyle chimed in from the other room. “It’s a pretty clear-cut case, unfortunately. You did kind of beat the shit out of her. But don’t worry, we’ll figure something out.” Apparently, he had sobered up enough not only to provide legal counsel but also to eavesdrop.

Claire grimaced. “I still maintain that she deserved it.”

“She did,” Luke said, drawing her into his arms again.

She breathed in his familiar scent and relaxed, smiling in spite of her shitty day. They picked up the pizza boxes and made their way into the living room.

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