Page 5 of The Sweetheart Dance
Well, even that isn’t the truth. I could never forget what he looked like. During that week we were together, I was so in love with him. Everything about Luke had drawn me in and captured me.
It wasn’t until I realized he would go back to his reality and I would mine did I finally understand it was a fling.
Of course, I followed his career knowing that he went pro football. Everyone around this small town follows his career. I never told anyone about our week together all snuggled up during my senior year of high school. No one would have believed me anyway.
He holds his hand out to me, the same hand that he held over his heart. A sincere smile is on his face as he urges me to take his hand. This was the same gesture he gave me at the ski lodge when he helped me down the ski mountain.
“Raina,” he breathes.
I watch his lips as they form my name. I can’t believe I’m standing in front of Luke Willows. The famous Luke Willows has every woman- old and young- begging to be with him. I can’t believe that Luke Willows is in front of me.
It is that Luke Willows to who I had lost my virginity.
In seconds, he has me pulled into his arms. My arms wrap around his neck as if we have never skipped a beat since all of those years together.
His warm lips kiss me on the cheek. “I have been wondering what it would like to see you again this whole time,” he murmurs against my cheek.
I take a step back to look at him. To actually look at him. “I have been wondering the same thing. I wondered if you would remember me.”
Luke smiles. “Of course, I remember you.”
I can hear someone honking off in the distance and I see Colton’s car coming up the street to come to see me. My body turns rigid while he parks in front of us and gets out of the car.
“Raina, get into the car please!”
“Please leave me alone,” I admonish.
Everything happens so quickly. Luke has me pushed behind him so my body is tight against the car. He is effectively shielding me from Colton.
“I believe the lady has told you no. I would suggest you leave,” Luke replies in a calm voice. Judging by the way his muscles are tightened under his suit jacket, I can only assume he is not calm.
In my mind, I’m happy Luke is here. It isn’t that I don’t trust Colton. Hell, I was just about to agree to marry him minutes ago. I’m hurt and angry he broke up with me while I was under the impression we were going to get engaged.
“I want to make sure Raina gets home safely. Raina, are you sure you don’t want a ride?” Colton’s voice is aggravated as he tries to speak to me through the professional football player.
“Please leave,” I whisper around Luke like cowardice.
Colton speeds off leaving me alone with someone who had changed my life so completely all of those years ago.
“Do you want a ride home?”
“Yes, please.”
Chapter Four
Luke
I probably shouldn’t have stepped in front of Raina as she was speaking to that man. I could read her like a book that she didn’t want to have anything to do with him.
Since I’m dying to know, I ask the question on my mind. “What was that about?”
She purses her lips while looking off into the distance. “He dumped me. I thought he was going to propose,” she whispers.
“Dumb ass,” I mutter under my breath. “Come on. I’m going to take you home.”
“You don’t have to. I’m sure I can call a ride service to come to get me.”
I smile at her once her eyes meet mine. “I’m sure. Get in the car,” I retort while opening the door for her.
