Page 45 of Legends Luke

Melody sighed. “I’m not going to tell anyone. I’m just having a hard time believing this isn’t a con of some kind.”

“It’s no con, Melody. It’s the truth. It’s my life. I want you to know about it like I want to know about yours. Whatever this is between us is worth our time and effort. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes.” The word escaped her lips before she could stop it.

Luke placed his hands on her arms at her elbows. “What can I do to help you trust me?”

“I do trust you. Even after hearing this. But I, um, need time. It’s been an overwhelming day, and you’ve given me a lot to think through.”

“Can I give you one more thing to think through?”

His hand slid up to cradle her cheek. She leaned into the contact, his touch bringing her comfort and leaving her confused at the same time. His head lowered until only a breath separated them. He hesitated, and she suspected he was waiting for her to stop him. She knew she should, but she needed to feel his touch in case tonight was the last time she’d have the chance.

His tongue caressed the seam of her lips. She parted them, and he closed the distance between them. The kiss wasn’t as intense as before. His lips tenderly moved over hers, his tongue exploring her mouth. She was ready to melt against him when he ended the contact. He trailed two light kisses across her cheek before stepping back.

“Come on. I’ll take you home.”

She was surprised her legs supported her as she and Luke said goodbye to Reagan, Jackson, and Jax.

Chapter Nineteen

Luke scowled as he scrolled through the police reports on his screen. His eyes were dry from hours of staring at his laptop, and he blinked to ease the irritation. He finally rubbed the heels of his hands against his eyes to make them water. He needed a little more time. The answer was right in front of him. He had to keep searching.

But the connection wouldn’t reveal itself. Not when he was distracted. For once in his adulthood, he couldn’t give all his attention to a case. Not when Melody’s face was never far from his mind.

Two days had passed since he told her about the Legends. Two days without seeing, texting, or talking to her. He was giving her the time she asked for, but living up to her request was about to do him in.

He thought he had the distraction he needed when he woke to a morning news report on the crew the Sheriff had warned him about. They pulled another burglary of a high-end home in Morrison, several miles from Fire Creek. The owners had been out for the evening, but their teenage son had been home. He’d tried to stop the crew only to be beaten and tossed down a long staircase.

The blows to the son’s head were enough to put him in a coma. His parents found him and took him to the hospital, but his injuries claimed his life during the night. The son was a senior in high school. The news reports indicated he had plans to attend a top college in the fall on an academic scholarship. His death was the first to be connected to the crew.

Luke slammed his fists against the desk and stood to pace the length of his office. He growled at the knock on the door. It was on the tip of his tongue to yell at Chum to leave him alone, but he finally barked out permission for him to come inside. His step faltered when Jackson stepped into his office, dressed in nylon basketball shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt.

“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at the bar?”

Now that Jax was a few weeks old, Jackson had returned to his duties at the bar. Reagan had developed a routine which allowed her to care for her son and start a new mystery novel. The Legends hadn’t received any cases, other than the crew Luke was tracking, but English had already said Jackson had a reprieve on cases for the time being. Work was one thing. Being called away from his wife and son to help out in a potentially dangerous situation was something else entirely.

Jackson tossed a duffle bag at him, and Luke instantly reached up to catch it. “Get changed. We’re going for a run.”

Luke tossed the bag back. “I’m working.”

“Not according to Chum. He said you’ve been locked in here all day. Even skipped lunch.”

“Shows what he knows. I ate. I had some stuff in the fridge.” Luke motioned over to his small refrigerator unit. He decided not to mention that his lunch consisted of a cold soda, a stick of beef jerky, and an apple.

“I didn’t come up here to bust your balls about your poor eating habits. Hell, most of my food comes from the bar. I came here to help you get your head out of your ass over Melody.” Jackson dropped the duffle at his brother’s feet. “So, change because you’re coming with me whether you want to or not.”

Luke could have protested more, and there wasn’t anything his brother could do about it, despite what he taunted. But he decided a run was probably what he needed. He grabbed the duffle off the floor and disappeared into his adjoining bathroom. He wasted little time donning garb similar to what Jackson wore. They left the auto shop in silence and climbed into Jackson’s truck for the ride to their preferred running spot.

The drive was quiet, but it was a short distance to the park close to the high school. The park had several trails for cyclists and runners, including the high school’s track and cross-country teams. The boys liked taking the more difficult trails which wound through the natural wooded area around the park and school. Once Jackson parked, they stretched their limbs to loosen up and then trotted onto the path. Surprisingly enough, no one else was using the trail, and they continued in comfortable silence.

It was their love for quiet that bonded the two brothers long before they were brothers. Having grown up in abusive homes, shoutingwas part of their everyday lives. Then they came to school where they listened to lectures from the teachers, conversations from their peers, and orders from their coaches. Once school was out and athletic practice was over, the two often stayed behind, in the quiet of the parking lot, drawing strength from the solitude. They never felt the need to fill their time with idle conversation, and those silent times were some of Luke’s favorite memories.

Their strides mirrored each other, and they settled on a rigorous but steady pace. Luke could feel the pull on his muscles. Sweat beaded on his skin, soaking into his clothes. The only sound was their measured breathing and the pounding of their shoes on the path. The exertion eased the tenseness at the base of his neck, but it wasn’t enough to erase the thoughts vying for attention. The crew, Melody, her sister, his work, his family, his future, his past. It all tumbled in his brain until his head pounded in tune with his footfalls.

He pushed his body harder. He increased his speed, causing his breathing to come in heavier pants. Jackson sped up, and the run became a race. Brother against brother. Pushing each other to their limits. Striving to be the winner strictly for the bragging rights. Racing to a finish line that was yet to be determined. Luke’s muscles screamed the harder he pushed.

They reached the edge of the link fence that looped around the high school’s football field and butted against the outer edge of the park. With an unspoken understanding, they slowed up their pace to a jog and then a walk as they waited for their breathing to even and their muscles to relax. When they reached Jackson’s truck, Jacksonreached into a cooler he had stashed in the bed and tossed a chilled bottle of water to Luke.

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