Page 100 of A Hard Sell

Marta retrieved two pairs of bunny ears from somewhere under the counter. “It’s time for the egg hunt!”

“Mom.”

“Oh, don’t be such a spoilsport! Come on! I didn’t get to do one for the girls this year.” She stuck out her lower lip and batted her eyelashes at Luka and Thomas.

“Hmm, so that’s where you get that from,” Thomas said wryly, nodding at Marta.

“What—I—” Luka sputtered, quite sure he had no idea what Thomas was referring to.

Thomas grinned at him, then stood and took the bunny ears from Marta.

“You can’t be serious.” Luka gawked at him.

Thomas’ eyes were twinkling. “I bet I find more eggs than you, Luka Francis.” He plunked the pink ears on his head.

Again, with the heart squeezing. Luka reached for the pair of blue ears. “You’re on.”

* * * *

Luka closed the door after Thomas left. He turned to see his mom and dad smiling at him.

“What?” he asked.

Marta’s eyes were wide and shining. “He’s a special one, Luka.”

Luka ignored the throb in his chest. “I know, Mom.”

“Don’t let him go.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Can’t Help Falling

“Morning.” Luka’s gaze swept up and down Thomas’ frame as he arrived in their office. He never got tired of that man in a navy suit.

Thomas paused his typing. “Morning. Did your parents get on the road okay?”

“Yup, when I left for work.” Luka shook his head. “I feel like I need a couple days off to recover from Hurricane Marta.” He sat at his desk.

“She’s great.” Thomas chuckled. “If not a little intense.”

Luka’s heart ached. “It’s gonna crush her when you move.”

Thomas turned to look at him. “I can be your fake long-distance boyfriend if you need…to keep Cynthia’s son away from you.”

Jesus. How did he get to a point in his life where he was contemplating a fake long-distance boyfriend? Where it seemed better than nothing? Despair and guilt bubbled up his throat. “Long-distance doesn’t work.”

Thomas looked down at his hands where they rested on his laptop. “I know. But…it can if it’s not real.”

“Yeah.” Luka smiled sadly. “I guess. I’ll have to let her down eventually though.”

“Maybe not for a while. You can start dropping lines into your conversations about what a jerk I’m being.”

“Ha. She’d never believe it.”

Thomas smiled. “She’s sweet.”

Luka felt sick. The apology fell out. “I’m really sorry, Thomas.”

---