Page 42 of Lakesides and Longing

She wouldn’t look him in the eye. “And if he doesn’t give it?”

“He knows now. Blessing or not, I’m done trying to pretend I don’t have feelings for you.”

He left before her response and jogged to Lukas’s house, unsure if he was really there or not, but it was his best starting point. They were supposed to ride to the beach for the sunrise with Lukas and Tess, but he doubted Lukas headed there after their fight.

He knocked, and Tess answered the door, Jack hiding behind her legs.

“Is he here?” he asked.

Tess nodded. “Collapsed on the couch. He told me to not let you in if you showed up, but I’m on your side.” She reached over and squeezed his arm. “Come on. Let’s see if we can convince him that you and Paige belong together.”

Lukas didn’t open his eyes when Blake and Tess entered the room. Blake sat on the recliner across from the couch, and Tess sat next to Lukas. Jack crawled up into Lukas’s lap. Maybe that would prevent him from calling Blake any colorful names.

“Listen, Paige and I haven’t had sex, and we’ve only kissed once in the grocery store, and that was just to prove a point to an obnoxious pair of women.”

Lukas glared at him. “Bull. I found you in bed with her.”

“Okay. We’ve been sleeping in the same bed together for a few weeks now. Paige has nightmares. The first week I was there, she woke up screaming every night, and I went to her room and helped her calm down. You asked me to protect her, and that’s what I’m doing. After talking more about it, we don’t think she saw anyone the night she called the sheriff. That was all part of her nightmares. The accident has left scars that no one can see. One night we watched a movie together and fell asleep. That was the first night since the accident that she didn’t have a nightmare. And she hasn’t had one since.”

Lukas clenched his fists. Blake wasn’t sure he believed him.

“That was very sweet of you,” Tess said. “Paige didn’t tell me about that.”

Lukas opened and closed his fists. “Paige is fragile.”

“She’s stronger than you think,” Blake said. And she was. Sure, she was having trouble now, but she’d overcome huge obstacles.

“And that’s why you’re sleeping with her every night?” Lukas growled.

“You know,” Tess began. “We like Paige, like all the wives. I do too, but you already knew that. She’s a good addition to our group.”

Lukas didn’t respond right away.

“I haven’t seen her laugh like she has this trip in a long time,” Lukas said, staring off into space.

“Right? You know what’s changed?” Tess asked, waving her hands toward Blake.

Lukas eyed him. “Tess, you don’t think that the change is because of Blake?”

“I do. Blake has does his best to respect you, but Paige wants more. Blake is the one holding out.”

“Did she tell you that?”

“Yes. And if you weren’t blind, you’d see how she looks at him. She and Blake would make an adorable couple.”

“Tess,” Lukas warned.

“What? You don’t think so?” she huffed.

Blake was grateful he could just sit back and listen. Tess was doing his dirty work for him, and he had no problem letting her.

“She’s my sister.”

“Would you rather see her with some guy she meets in a few years that you don’t know and that you’re not sure you could trust? I’d much rather see her with Blake.”

Blake gripped the arms of the chair a little harder than necessary. The thought of some other guy putting his hands on her caused jealousy to rise in his chest. But he had no right to that jealousy. Not yet, anyway.

“No. I don’t want to see her with anyone,” Lukas said his fist clenched and staring at the fireplace.

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