Page 87 of Loyally, Luke
Quietly, she moved back through the hallways, nodding to severalworkers and newly arriving guests as she passed. She should have contacted him to remind him, but having his phone number tempted her toward another level of intimacy—texting.
And she loved good texts.
Their banter confirmed they’d have equally enjoyable texts.
She gave her head a shake to push back temptation and rounded the hallway to the kitchen. A familiar silhouette caught her attention and she skidded to a stop at the threshold of the room.
Luke stood on the far side of the kitchen, staring out the window and brushing his hair to the side with his fingers. Was he using the window as a mirror?
She slipped back a step into the shadows for subtler observation.
She liked his hair. Dark and thick with a bit of wave. Her fingers twitched from the memory of brushing through it during one of their kisses. She hadn’t seen him in a few days, partly by choice and partly because of the demands of other commitments, but she hadn’t expected to see him in green.
A green button-down, open at the collar, to be specific. He’d paired the quality dress shirt with black dress slacks that fit him... well—her neck heated—very well.
All the interest and emotions she’d experienced while cocooned in his arms during the sledding rushed back at full force. Absence had indeed made the heart grow fonder.
Or it only confirmed all the more why she needed to keep her distance.
Because she wanted him too badly.
His conversations, his smile, his look of admiration, his strength, and especially his kiss.
All of it.
Badly.
He cleared his throat and pulled a folded piece of paper from his slacks pocket, unfolding it and staring back at his reflection.Mumbling something to his reflection, he gave his head a hard shake and then seemed to try again... except this time, he must have caught sight of her because he turned, offering her that crooked smile.
Right, she’d forgotten how much she wanted to see that crooked smile. Every day.
“Think I look civilized enough?”
“Very nice.” She stepped forward, trying very hard to keep her ogling to a respectable minimum. “Dark green is a good color on you.”
He refolded the paper and placed it back in his pocket, his body tense. “Blue is a great one on you. The suit is nice, even if I prefer you in sweaters and jeans.”
Her laugh burst out. “Do you?”
“Without a doubt.” He tilted his head, studying her as he met her halfway across the room. “Few things are quite as sexy as a beautiful woman looking cozy and huggable.”
Any response fled her brain as the magnetism his words inspired drew her body and heart another step closer. “You really shouldn’t say things like that.”
“Probably not.” He sighed. “But I think things like that a whole lot more than I ought to.”
“So do I.” She nearly whimpered and then shook her head. “I mean, I don’t think those things about me. I think them about you.”
His grin took a steady and dangerous slide from one corner to the other. Be still her heart! “Haven’t seen you in a few days.”
“Miss me?”
“It’s probably the worst thing to do, but I’d prefer to see you while I can.” His eyes glinted. “You’re much better on the eyes than most of the people I work with.”
“I think Gordon might take offense to that.”
“He pretends to take offense to a lot of things.”
Silence followed his statement and Ellie stared back at him, takingin those eyes... but more so the way those eyes looked at her. She wanted to bask in it.
