Page 25 of Making the Call
Dani
Luke tellingme he wants to keep seeing me, has me on cloud nine. My heart plummets to my stomach, when he brought up the subject. I’d been dreading this conversation and going insane, wondering how I could walk away unscathed at the end of this week. I tried to convince myself I could have a fling and not get attached. But that went right out the window as I got to know him better.
Let’s face it. I’m not the casual type. I never have been. That’s why I’ve chosen to be single, rather than attempt any form of casual relationship. With Luke, I desperately wanted to be the type who could just let things happen, so I could simply enjoy this experience with him. But I just don’t have it in me. I know he says he’ll be busy for the next few months, but at least he wants to see me again. I’m not a stage nine clinger or anything, but if I’m being honest, I’m not one-night stand material either. Well, I guess we’ve had more than one night together, but we both agreed to an expiration date at the end of the week.
Since today is his last full day on the island, I need to make the most of it with him. As we finish breakfast, I ask, “Do you have anything pressing you need to do before leaving tomorrow?”
Luke’s eyes light up with delight, and a smirk flits across his features. “What do you have in mind?”
“Well… for starters, let’s clean up from breakfast. Then we could either go out on that magnificent boat of yours or at the very least, spend the day doing something other than work.”
“I could be up for that.” Luke’s voice fills with mischief. “Especially if it involves you wearing those cut-off shorts.” He waggles his eyebrows, and I can’t help but laugh. When I calm down, he adds more serious, “We could pack a bag and return in the morning if you want. I won’t catch the ferry until early afternoon. The charity auction isn’t until seven. Though I left my tux at my loft in town.”
The thought of Luke in a tux nearly has me salivating. The man is hot wearing nothing but a smile. The thought of him dressed up has me wishing I could attend. I’m sure he would look sexy as sin decked out in a well-fitted tux. But my brothers are due in around noon, and since Davis only has a short break from his summer classes at Gonzaga, I don’t want to miss this time with him.
“Dani?” Luke asks, breaking me from my thoughts. “If you… Uh… don’t want to stay on the boat, we can come home tonight.”
I shake my head, realizing he’s misinterpreted my silence. My face heats, knowing he’s caught me fantasizing about him. He eyes me suspiciously and begins to say something when I interrupt, “No…” I shake my head once again to clear my thoughts. “I was just imagining you in a tux,” I whisper.
Luke rolls his eyes and dismissively states, “If you’ve seen one man in a tux, you’ve seen us all.”
Somehow, I highly doubt that. But I try to pass it off. “As long as we’re back before noon, I wouldn’t be opposed to staying on the boat. My brothers have tickets for the one o’clock ferry.”
“We can make that happen.” Luke smiles as he pulls me in for a kiss.
Before we can get carried away, I regretfully break the kiss. “I’d better run home and grab a few things. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Need me to grab anything at the store?”
“No. I’ll pack some food from here and be ready to go when you return.” He kisses me quickly once more before pulling back and pushing me toward my things by the door. “Go… Or we’ll never leave,” he teases.
We end up going to Orcas Island. It’s a beautiful day on the water. Luke and I just kept wanting to go a bit further. We enjoy the sights on Puget Sound, and the weather couldn’t be better.
I’m mesmerized when I spot a pod of Orca whales. Three are traveling together between the islands. Their surfacing catches me by surprise. We follow them from a safe distance for quite some time, just as we get outside Seattle. Luke’s amused by my reaction and probably followed their path longer than necessary, just to appease me. Which makes me like him a bit more. I have no idea how long we watch them play with one another before diving deep into Puget Sound once again.
When we get near Orcas Island, Luke suggests anchoring for the night near a cove out of the way. Not having done this before, I simply agree and enjoy my time with him.
As we stand on the deck to take in the beauty that is around us after dinner, I feel Luke’s arms snake around my body and pull me closer to him. I’d been lost in thought and didn’t hear him approach.
“Hey.” His deep, sexy voice pulls me out of my trance. “What’s going on in that brilliant head of yours?”
“Just taking it all in. Wishing we didn’t have to go back tomorrow.”
Luke lets out a quick breath. “You’re telling me. I can’t tell you how refreshing it’s been to take a break from everything.”
Remembering my looming deadline and the odd hours I’ve been keeping, I can’t help but agree. “I know,” I whisper as he nuzzles my neck as his body presses against my back. Tingles explode up my spine from his closeness. Instinctively, I spin to loop my arms around his neck. My breath catches as I take in his gorgeous smile.
“You have no idea what it’s like during the season. Don’t get me wrong. I love my job and can’t wait for the start of the season, but I haven’t had a vacation like this in so long. I almost wish it wasn’t ending. I really like you, Dani, but…”Oh, shit, here it comes. The proverbial but.I knew this was too good to be true.“I…Uh… Must warn you, Dani, my schedule’s insane for the next five months or so… And if we make it to the post season, I won’t be available to come to the island much.”
“Okaaaay…” I drag out, wondering where he’s going with this.
“Would you be opposed to visiting Tacoma from time to time?” His sincerity slays me. His piercing blue eyes reveal there’s a lot riding on my answer.
“I’m sure that could be arranged,” I tease.
Relief washes through him, and I reach up on my toes to kiss his worries off his face. Time ceases to exist as he thoroughly kisses my worries away as well. When he breaks the kiss, I’m breathless and admittedly panting slightly.Holy shit, have I turned into a horny teenager?
His deep-blue eyes lock with mine as he regains steady breathing.At least I have the same effect on him. “Seriously, Dani. You need to know for the first time, in a very long time, I want something more than a temporary fling.”
“Had many of them, have you?” I tease, not knowing what else to say.Fuck! I don’t want to know the answer to that. Shit. Shit. Shit. Me and my big mouth.I sputter as quick as my mouth can, and his lips part and cringe. “Don’t…” I place a finger to his lips. “Don’t answer that. I don’t want to know the answer.”
