Page 69 of Beautiful Storm

My heart pounds as I swallow a lump in my throat before sucking my bottom lip between my teeth, trying not to voice my thoughts, while Luke stays silent.

I play the footage again, thinking that’s all he needed, but when it ends, Luke leans over me to take control of my mouse, replaying the clips several times, his smile widening with each view. I hold my breath so I don’t breathe him in and make sure to keep still with any movement likely to bring us closer.

“Fuck, I look good,” he finally whispers after God knows how long, turning to face me, bringing his nose close to my cheek. My body warms and my legs clench, but I refuse to read anything into that. I’m blaming the pregnancy hormones because something like this wouldn’t usually affect me.

He smiles and I let out a laugh. He’s cocky but right now he can be, because he’s right. It’s great footage and it’s going to make the perfect promo. Football fans will appreciate the play, and everyone else will appreciate Luke.

“For once, Luke, I’m going to give you this. Gloat away, because this clip is going to bring us viewers.”

“Hell yeah.” He laughs. “Don’t worry, I won’t bring this moment up too many times. But I’ll always remember you saying it.”

“Credit where credit’s due.”

“Thank you.” He grins before nudging my shoulder with his, sending a tingle right through me.

“Look at us being civil while we’re alone,” I joke as I slide my chair back, trying to put some distance between us, needing totake my mind off his close proximity. “Maybe there’s hope for us yet?”

I spin my chair away from him and stand up to turn on the light, hoping the brightness will snap me back to reality, but a sharp pain in my side cripples me and I grab the desk to stabilize myself. “Jesus Christ.”

“What’s wrong?” Luke rushes over, his hand settling on my lower back, his palm burning my skin. “What happened? Is it Bean?”

“Is it what?” I burst out laughing as I try to stand, but the pain takes a few more seconds to subside and when I flinch, Luke curls his arm farther around me, leaning closer to support my weight. I almost let him lift me until I remember I shouldn’t and shake him off.

“Sorry, I’m okay. Just one of those joys of pregnancy.”

“Are you sure?” He frowns, his hand still on me.

“Yep, it’s caused by everything in here”—I wave my hands around my belly—“expanding. It’s happened a few times.”

Luke stares at me for a second, his eyes bouncing between mine as if trying to catch me on a lie, so I smile through the pain to put him at ease. “Oh-kay,” he says slowly, still not a hundred percent convinced. “That’s good. Sort of.”

“I promise, the baby is fine. But…uh…what did you call it?”

Luke laughs before his usual playful demeanor returns and he takes a step back. “Jelly Bean. I couldn’t keep saying ‘baby.’ It didn’t feel right.”

My heart skips but I ignore it and smile.Hayley will be pleased.“I like it. It is better than ‘baby.’ Do you mind if I steal it?”

“Of course not.” He relaxes in front of me, putting me more at ease. “Your stealing has never bothered me. Remember you stole my answers to our math test in fifth grade?”

“Excuse me?” My jaw drops. “That never happened.”

Luke folds his arms over his chest as he casually perches on the edge of my desk. “Then how do you explainbothof us getting a perfect score?”

I half mimic his stance, crossing my arms and popping my hip. “We wereboththe smartest in our grade,” I remind him.

Luke’s cocky smirk lights up his face before he stands up and leans in, patting me on the back. “Thank you, Joy. I’ve waited years for you to admit that.”

Dammit. I bark out a laugh as I once again shift away from his closeness.

“And on that win, I’m going to leave you to it.” He points to the door and laughs until he glances back at me and his smile fades. “As long as you’re okay?”

“Yes,” I rush out as my chest tightens. “I promise. I’m fine.”

“Good. You’d tell me if you weren't, right?” He frowns as through he’s running scenarios through his head. “Or if anything else was worth telling me?”

“Definitely. I don’t have anything to report at the moment. I promise.”

“Okay. Great. Thank you. I guess I’ll see you around.”

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