Page 73 of I Still Love You

He glances over at me, his hand on the steering wheel as he turns into his development. “Are your sisters going to be mad we left?”

I shrug, taking in the detail of the landscaping, shrubs and flowers perfectly placed along the sidewalk leading to each townhouse. “They’re too busy being mad at each other to care about us. You moved?”

“After Mackenzie moved to Austin with Mason, it didn’t make sense to stay in that house. It was quiet and lonely and made me miss them more. I needed to start over.”

I smile softly and nod, understanding how hard it is when your family is miles away. “Which one is yours?”

Placing the car in park and shutting off the ignition after parking, he points to the one directly in front of us, the siding gray with big, bright windows spaced evenly across the front. It lacks the décor of the neighboring houses; the left has a summery flag whipping around from the breeze, and the right has sparkly lights bordering the windows.

“It’s nothing special, but it’s home.”

“I can’t wait to see it,” I tell him before getting out of the car and breathing in the fresh evening air. With the sun setting, the air is getting chillier, but it’s refreshing after listening to Claire and Britney go at it and racing around my rental to grab what I needed for an overnight bag.

I’m not sure what to expect out of an evening with Luke, but excitement buzzes through me like adrenaline after a crazy shift in the E.R.

He grabs my bag from his back seat and walks us to the door. He holds the door open when he unlocks it and flicks a switch that lights up his living space. Like any townhouse, the rooms are narrower than they are wide, and it’s all open, minus a half wall that sections off the kitchen at the back, the interior as bare as the exterior. I chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” he asks, tossing my bag onto a loveseat by his side before focusing on me. “You don’t like it?”

“What I see, I love,” I admit, “but it’s plain. Reminds me of your office.”

He lifts a brow, his hands reaching for my waist. “There’s something here that reminds me of my office, but my living room isn’t it,” he rasps teasingly before claiming my mouth with his, his kiss rough and demanding.

I pull away. “Is this why you brought me here? To seduce me?”

“No,” he answers, kissing along my jawline. “I brought you here because I want to be around you. We don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with. We can pop in a movie and order in.” Giving me one last kiss, he asks, “What are you hungry for?”

I think back to the taco dip I didn’t get to eat. “I’m sort of hungry for tacos.”

He looks back at me as I follow him into his kitchen. It’s small but housed with cherry wood cabinetry and stainless appliances. “Are you fucking with me? If this is your way of foreplay…”

I stifle a laugh, confused. “How would that be foreplay?”

Turning on me, he gently grabs my face, caressing my cheeks until he backs me into the fridge. Light as a feather, he gives me a whisper of a kiss, and my heart soars. “You are aware of what taco is code for, right?”

I blink once, then again. “No?”

Moving his hand between my legs, he cups me, causing an immediate rush of heat in my core. “Taco,” he says, “is code for pussy.” His eyes flare, taking on the same glint he had when he fucked me in the conference room. “Are you hungry for pussy, Layla?”

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I choke out, “N-no.”

“Well, I am, and if you don’t move to the side and let me fry the meat for actual tacos, I’m going to lift your ass on my kitchen table, spread your legs, and eat your taco.”

Dawn trickles in through the sheers hanging from Luke’s bedroom windows. As the break of day lights up the morning sky, casting lines of pale yellow over the bed and wall on the opposite side of the room, I revel in the heavy arm draped over my midriff.

My days always started off well when I woke with Luke next to me, our legs entangled with one another. Once upon a time, Luke was by my side through everything, and it wasn’t always easy. I met him out of nursing school when it was critical to put my time into my career. I spent long days at Regional early in our relationship while he worked hard to build a steady foundation for his future. There were days we didn’t get enough time together, but we were a united front because we catered to the weak parts. We watered our love and watched as it grew. Sort of like what we’re doing now.

Luke’s arm twitches, and I steel my breath so I don’t wake him. At first light, my eyes peeled open, and I haven’t been able to get out of my head since. I never thought we’d be back to this, back to being okay, back to wanting each other.

But here we are.

Or, well, here I am.

Even though I’m in Luke’s bed, in his townhouse and personal space, I’m still wondering if this is what he truly wants.

“Why are you awake right now?” He grumbles into his pillow, his head facing the opposite direction. “It’s the ass crack of dawn, and as much as I’m enjoying your company, I am not getting out of bed this early.”

A grin graces my lips. “Still not an early bird?”

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