Page 40 of Condemned By Secrets

Shane blew the hair out of his eyes, and Luther clenched his teeth as they attempted to slowly lower the heavy wooden crate to the floor. They were a couple inches away from succeeding when Shane lost his grip, and it clunked against the hardwood. Anna winced and hoped what was inside didn’t break.

“Sorry, man,” Shane apologized as Luther set his end down before it fell on his fingers.

“It’s okay.” Luther flexed his digits, and Anna saw red marks from where he’d gripped the crate so tightly. She frowned as she stared at his hands. Had she noticed how long his fingers were before? She wondered if they’d have more calluses after today and how different they might feel if he brushed her cheek with them . . . or other sensitive areas. Anna blushed at the turn of her thoughts.

Cassie bounded over with a beer in each hand, and Anna blinked, pulling herself out of that dangerous line of thinking.

“Time for a break, boys!”

Cassie handed one of the beers to Shane, and Luther said, “Hey, where’s mine?”

She took a sip of the other bottle she held, then grinned. “The refrigerator.” Cassie pointed in the direction of the kitchen.

Luther glared at Cassie, which just made her laugh, and Anna found herself smiling at the exchange. Theywerelike brother and sister.

Luther turned his attention to Anna, and the glare in his eyes had become a glint. “You owe me a drink. How about I try this one?” He reached for her wine glass and took it from her grip before she’d realized what he intended.

“Oh, but—”

Luther took a sip. “Not bad.” Then he winked. “Kind of tastes like strawberries.”

Anna’s cheeks heated at the mention of strawberries, and she met Luther’s gaze. As they stared at one another, his smile faded, and his eyes ignited, sending an answering warmth coursing through her.

When he took a step toward her, the movement broke his hold on her, and Anna almost sagged in relief. She had to put some distance between them before she threw all caution to the wind. Turning away from the hunger in Luther’s eyes, she called over her shoulder, “I’ll get you a beer.”

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Frowning, Luther stared after Anna as she retreated to the kitchen. She was still running away, and he didn’t know why. It renewed the ache in his chest, a dull throbbing over his heart that wouldn’t stop. Since his encounter with the sarge a few days before, he’d been pondering his question. Was he in love with Anna?

Absently, Luther took another sip of her wine. The flavor burst in his mouth, and the image of him eating strawberries off Anna’s naked body flashed in his mind. He wasn’t sure about love, but he was definitely in lust. The wine tasted like her, and he was thirsty for more.

Luther blinked at the sound of Cassie’s laughter and turned to his friends. He’d almost forgotten they were there.

“You’ve got it bad,” Cassie smirked at him before taking another sip of her beer.

“You’re one to talk.” Luther looked pointedly at Shane before raising an eyebrow at her.

She grinned, then noisily kissed Shane’s cheek. “Sure do!”

This had all three of them laughing, but Luther stopped when Anna walked back in. She handed him a beer, then frowned down at the wine glass he handed back to her.

“You drank most of it,” she pouted, and Luther’s eyes were drawn to her lips.

The bottom one was poked out, and he desperately wanted to capture it with his teeth. He wasn’t sure how long he stared at her mouth in silence, but the sound of Shane clearing his throat brought Luther’s attention back to the room.

“We should probably get going.” Shane was trying to hide a grin as he tugged at Cassie’s arm.

“Oh, but you didn’t have any pizza!” Anna exclaimed.

Shane stopped edging toward the door and looked with longing at the pizza boxes the girls had set on the makeshift table. “Uh, would you mind if we took some to go?”

Luther chuckled, knowing Shane had to be starving. He’d worked up an appetite moving Anna’s heavy furniture—or whatever it was she had in those crates—and if he hadn’t been focused on a different type of hunger, Luther would have already scarfed some pizza himself.

“Of course not!” Anna set her wine glass down on a box and moved to the table. Luther followed and snagged a slice with sausage as she divvied up the pizza. When she’d finished, she stood and handed one of the boxes to Shane. “Thank you both for helping me move in.”

Cassie gave her a quick hug. “You’re welcome! It’s been fun, Anna. I hope we can hang out again soon.” She glanced at Luther and winked. “Who knows, maybe we could go on a double date.”

Anna sputtered, and he had to grin as Cassie and Shane made a quick exit.

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