Page 13 of Light My Fire

But Luke doesn’t think he should have a thing for Brooke.

And now Luke knows that he’s stuck in this cabin watching his two best friends try to win over the girl he wants.

And here I thought the snowstorm was going to ruin our weekend.

CHAPTER 4

Wyatt

“I’m not sick,”Luke grumbles. “Just sick of these two assholes.”

That makes me grin. I see what Jackson clearly sees—Luke absolutely is attracted to Brooke and wants in on flirting with her but he thinks she’s a relationship type of girl.

Which she probably is.

Or maybe she’s too busy with school for that right now, who knows? Sheishere alone on spring break studying.

I’m definitely willing to find outexactlywhat she wants.

Brooke stares at Luke a second longer, but he doesn’t elaborate. She looks at me quizzically.

“Don’t mind him,” I say.

“He doesn’t know how to go with the flow,” Jackson adds. “Old bachelors are like that.”

Jackson really loves to push Luke’s buttons and waving his hand in dismissal of Luke right now is tantamount to waving a red flag in front of a bull.

Which is exactly his intention.

The game is more fun if all three of us are in on it.

Not that Brooke Wilder is a game.

More of a case of “may the best man win.”

Usually, I would agree. But I don’t exactly want more competition.

“Fuck off,” Luke tells Jackson.

“I think you need to eat, Luke,” Brooke declares. “My brother Blake always gets super hangry. When was the last time you ate? Here, have this.”

Brooke, who I strongly suspect is a little tipsy, raises a baby carrot straight up to Luke’s lips. His eyes darken and his shoulders go rigid. But when she eases it into his mouth, he flicks his tongue out and pulls the whole thing into his mouth, crunching hard.

“Thank you.” His voice is gruff but softer.

Oh, yeah. Luke is melting like the butter I’ve brushed over our steaks at Brooke’s concern.

I feel a ripple of alarm.

Jackson is just fucking with me. Is he attracted to Brooke? Sure. Who the hell wouldn’t be? She’s gorgeous and really damn sweet. But he’s not looking for forever. He’s not even looking for a relationship. He’s just having a really good time and feels like there’s plenty of time for settling down later after he figures out what he really wants long term. Which is fair. We’re only twenty-eight. There’s definitely time. And Luke is actively avoiding commitment because of the way his marriage ended a decade ago. I don’t blame him at all. That was a total shit show.

Neither of them would want more than a hookup.

I’m a different story, though. I’m ready for more than meeting girls in bars or on an app and having casual sex. I want that special someone.

Brooke is exactly what I’m looking for.

So I’ll be fucking damned if I’m going to let one of them get the jump on me.

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