Page 6 of Her Brother's Best Friend

“Are you in the shop yet? Turn on the news.”

I don’t have to. The second I step into the salon door all the TVs are on the local news channel, and everyone is standing or sitting with their attention fully on the brunette reporter. I begin to ask what I missed, but as soon as I open my mouth, I’m shushed by the onlookers.

“Thank God you’re safe, sis. Don’t ever scare the hell out of me like that again. I have to get back to the shop. Luke hasn’t shown up yet. I’ll call you back this afternoon.”

The phone clicks, and I’m left staring at police and firemen and yellow caution tape and a reporter making over-exaggerated hand movements. Then they pan to the woman on the stretcher and comment on how lucky she is to be alive after the attack.

My knees begin to bow, and my legs can’t hold me up. I fall into the chair beside me and drop everything to the ground. Everyone turns to me, but I don’t look at them. I’m transfixed on the building in the background. My building. A few hours ago, I was standing right where they are filming.

“It’s getting to where a single girl can’t live in this city any longer.”

“Did you hear them just say she must have known her attacker? Serves her right for hanging out with losers.”

I give both the women seated in chairs a hard stare. Victim shaming isn’t okay, no matter her background. I start to correct them when the bell above the door clangs hard, and the door flies open all the way back on its hinges and into the glass wall behind.

Luke takes up the whole open space, and if the intensity in his eyes is any indication, I’m in for a very long lecture. He’s breathing like he ran all the way from Brooklyn, and every muscle on his body is at full flex. Luke’s eyes land on me and drink me in like he just crossed the Sierra, and I’m his first sip of water. When he reaches me, I can’t breathe from the way his body crushes mine.

I can’t see over Luke’s broad shoulders, but the gasps and muttering from behind him tell me we have an audience. He’s holding me so tightly I fight to get enough air to call out his name.

“Ah. Luke. Can we take this somewhere more...private?”

He lets go, and for the first time, his gaze registers we’re not alone. I swear Luke is made of steel and stone and never shows emotion past annoyance, but unless the light is playing tricks on his skin, he’s blushing. I can’t hold back my laughter, which earns a scowl.

I led him by the hand into our break room and shut the door. I pull out a chair for him and another for me and begin to ask what the fuss is about when Luke pulls me into his chest and holds me there with vice-like arms around my back.

He’s got me so tight I’m forced to either look up into his face or bury my nose in his chest. I choose his face and suddenly his mouth comes crashing down on mine. His lips are soft but his force is demanding. I shut my eyes and give in to his need. He tastes of mouthwash and coffee and Luke, and I’m addicted. So addicted when he pulls away suddenly the withdrawal hits me hard and I whimper. And I’m wet. Wet for him and his mouth and his overreaction.

“I saw the news this morning and location, and the first thing I thought of was you.” He runs a hand over my hair, and I swear I see his fingers tremble.

“I’m fine,” I say and catch his hand by the wrist and lay my cheek in his large palm. “Is that why Kyle called me freaking out?”

“I went by your apartment, and you weren’t there. Fuck, Cass. If that had been you--”

I put a finger on his lips. Luke’s all tough guy with no kinks in his armor, so finding one that seems to be me is both unnerving and endearing. “I’m right here, Luke. I’m fine. I left the apartment before dawn to get some work done.”

“And your phone? I texted you at least half a dozen times.”

“The subway,” I shake my phone by my side as if to show him. “You know the underground is a dead zone.”

Luke takes my face in both of his palms and presses his forehead to mine. “I thought I told you I’d take you anywhere you need to go?”

“You weren’t where I left you when I woke up, and it was early. I didn’t want to bother you.”

He tilts my head up closer to his. “You could never bother me. But the thought of some man’s hands on you--” he sucks in a breath through his front teeth, and his whole body tenses in a wave I feel crash over his body. “It drove me mad, Cass.”

“I can see that,” I say because I don’t know what else to do. For years I’ve kept my distance from Luke. Kept safe from being toyed with. Rejected his kiss from memory because showing me emotion was all a game to him.

But the Luke standing in front of me, shivering from fear and anger, isn’t playing around. And it’s attractive as hell on him. All six foot plus feet of brooding man is turning on parts of my body that have never turned on for a man before.

I want to trust him. I want to give him some sense of security to ease his ache. But, I’m not sure I can. I’m not sure I can go from avoiding my first broken heart to being the object of his affections so quickly.

Luke runs his hands over my shoulders, and I’m brought back from my thoughts to him.

“The subway is out for you too. I can’t go that long without being able to hear your voice on the phone. What time do you get off tonight?”

“I’m done at six, but the guys and I have plans after.”

“What guys?” His jaw sets, and I know I have him on edge again. Serves him right for playing with my affections all those years ago.

---