Page 102 of Happily Never After

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

To Do:

- Thank you note for Jack

- Prep for Heather interview

- Google Men’s Rights again

“Blot.”Mindy handed Claire a tissue.

Claire dabbed lightly at her mouth and threw it in the trash.

“Perfect. You’re ready.” Mindy unplugged a curling iron and wound the cord around the handle.

“I really hope this helps.” Claire stood and stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Her normally unruly hair had been tamed and curled. She looked more pinup girl than proposal planner with her red lipstick and false eyelashes. A black negligee lurked beneath the silk robe she wore.

“This will totally help him forget that you sleepwalked as a hotdog and got arrested last night. Okay, I’m leaving.”

Luke had thoughtfully made the choice to let Mindy sleep during the hubbub the night before. She slung her purse over hershoulder and twisted the doorknob. “Good luck. I’ll text before I come home so you can at least throw some pants on.”

“Fine.” Claire sighed, but she smiled.

Mindy left, and Claire ran around the downstairs a final time, adding finishing touches and corralling the dogs into the dining room that they never used.

She blew a long breath out and flapped her hands. Her stomach was a tangle of nerves. Would this be enough to help Luke forgive her? The timer on the oven went off, and she pulled out a tray.

The door to the garage opened, and Claire whirled, muffins in hand.

“Hey,” Luke said flatly, bumping the door shut with his hip. His jaw was set, like he was ready for a fight. She hadn’t heard from him since he had peeled out of the driveway, but at least he was speaking to her again. “Something smells good.”

“I made some muffins. We’re having a Sorry-for-Sleepwalking Date Night.”

“A date night?” His mouth twitched at the side.

She nodded. “I owe you. You can lose the shirt but keep the pants. For now.”

“Fair enough.” He set his briefcase down in the hallway and tugged his shirt off. “Where’s Mindy?”

“Out. For a while. She went to look for the perfect gift for Sawyer.”

Luke nodded. “Tell me about your day.”

“Later. First, the date.” Claire pulled him down the hallway and into the living room.

“Shit. A blanket fort?” A genuine smile cracked the grumpy marble facade of his face. Maybe a day at the studio had helped him forget how mad he should be.

“It is. And I had to install some serious updates, but we’re going to playMurder Melee 3.” Claire had destroyed Luke thefirst time they had played together in a blanket fort in her apartment. It had been months since they had time for video games. Maybe this time in the spirit of reconciliation she would let him win.

Maybe.

“I see.” Luke cradled the back of her head in his hand and pushed her up against the wall. Her toes curled, and her heart stuttered. “Is this robe hiding another date night surprise?” He trailed a finger down the silky length of the seam and paused at the knot at her waist.

This was going way better than expected. “It might be,” she said breathlessly.

In the blink of an eye, he had scooped her up so she was straddling him. He pinned her against the wall and undid the knot on her robe with one hand. It fell open to reveal the black lace negligee she had been saving for a special occasion.

His sea green eyes raked over every inch of her body as his hand cupped her. He dipped his head to her neck and feasted ravenously on the exposed stretch of skin.

---