Page 29 of Crash

“Feel free to join us for dinner, dear,” Mrs. Clark says. Luke’s face turns even redder at his mother’s invitation. Zoey doesn’t need to be asked twice because she’s out of her chair and at the buffet in seconds.

“Make sure you try some of the chicken and the rice, Zoey,” Troy yells, his playful eyes looking at his brother. “That’s Luke’s specialty.”

Luke mouths something to Troy and both brothers laugh at him, causing him to turn even angrier.

“Wipe the lipstick from your lips, lover boy,” Troy whispers.

He practically scrubs his lips raw with his napkin. Even the tips of his ears have turned red now. Satisfied at his reaction, I get my appetite back and resume eating.

Zoey returns, claiming her seat next to Luke.

“This smells so good, Luke. I had no idea you could cook,” she says.

“Maybe you should cook for her one day, Luke,” I find myself saying. His head snaps in my direction. I was expecting to find anger, and I’m surprised when I don’t. His green eyes are soft, but I’m unwilling to think about it further and look away.

“So, how did you and my brother meet?” Troy asks.

Luke gives him the death glare and I snort into my stuffing.

“We ran into each other a while back, and he called me out of the blue about two weeks ago.”

“You two make a really cute couple,” I say.

“I know,” Zoey says. She takes a huge bite of the chicken and rice and moans too loudly and inappropriately for a family dinner. “This is delicious, Lukey.” She leans over and kisses him on the cheek, leaving more lipstick on him. Everyone at the table chuckles but I roll my eyes.

“Sorry,” she says, wiping the lipstick with her thumb. “This red lipstick gets on everything. I don’t know why you asked me to wear it.”

“He tells you what lipstick to wear? Are you kidding me?” I ask as I take a bite of the food Luke made. The chicken is good, though not as good as Aunt Gabrielle’s. I taste his rice and I know immediately that he did not cook it, but I decide not to call him out at the table. I can’t help but notice the way his eyes stay on my mouth as I chew.

“Well, he asked nicely. Remember how nicely you asked, Lukey?” she says, wiggling her brows. I drop my fork back on my plate, the clinking sound filling the room.

“I’m throwing away all my red lipstick the minute I get home.” I thought I said it under my breath, but half the table snickers, and Luke’s gaze turns icy. He raises his hand and plants his mammoth paw on top of Zoey’s hand, all while holding my gaze. I lose my appetite all over again.

“Well, Vivi,” Luke says, “not everyone can pull off red lipstick.”

CHAPTER 13

LUKE

I lean against the wall and take in the scene in front of me. This is not customary. At least I don’t think it is since I’ve only worked here a month, and this is the first new hire. I haven’t seen her since that uncomfortable Thanksgiving. She didn’t even finish the mountain of food on her plate. I watched as she picked at it, glancing at me and Zoey every few seconds before making an excuse and fleeing the house. As soon as she left, my hand left Zoey’s. After we ate, I told Zoey two lies. The first was that we had to go visit a sick relative in the hospital, and how I’d love for her to come but would hate to get her sick. The second was that I’d call her later.

When the rest of the family started to leave, I lied to Jake and Sandy and told them I would meet them at Mrs. Etienne’s house. Half an hour later, I texted Jake and told him I wasn’t feeling well. As planned, I spent the rest of Thanksgiving in my room watching Netflix while eating the damn good cheesecake that Sandy made.

As much physical distance as I put between us, Vivienne never left my thoughts for a second. Now, she’s walked in with Sandy, Tash, and Gabrielle behind her as if she’s royalty and they are her ladies in waiting. Even though she must go through human resources for the first two hours of the day, she goes behind the receptionist’s desk and talks with Colleen, the person who will train her.

Why someone needs to be trained to answer the phones and transfer calls is beyond me, but whatever. I don’t make the rules. I was ordered to be here, so here I am.

Jake walks over and stands beside me, both hands in his pockets as he looks on. I ignore him and focus on the group of women who are hugging and kissing each other.

It’s raining outside today. She’s wearing a red coat that makes her look like Little Red Riding Hood with the giant hood covering her head. Colleen points to a small closet and she proceeds to take it off.

My breath leaves my body. I’m used to seeing her in those t-shirts. Hell, I can handle seeing her in her tight Wonder Woman t-shirts which barely contain her perky boobs, but I’m not prepared for this. She’s in a white button-down and a blue blazer with matching pants. She seems taller, too. Her hair is still wild but only the back is in loose wavy tresses. The top is in an intricate braid, making it almost look like a crown on top of her head, but it’s her lips that draw my eye.

They are a deep red against her pale skin. Like ripe cherries begging to be bitten. I shake the thought out of my head when I hear loud giggles. The four of them form a group hug as her aunt kisses her face over and over again. Then she breaks out of the group hug, bends down to put her purse in a drawer, her blazer lifting and showing off her plump, little ass.

I know I need to look away, but I can’t. And I don’t. When she stands up, she turns around and our eyes lock. Everything and everyone else fades away, and it’s just us. Neither one of us smiles at the other. I can see her freckles from here. Just a smattering across the bridge of her nose. Her brown eyes look nervous, tentative, but I can see the excitement in them too.

She breaks our eye contact and focuses on something Tash is saying.

---