Chapter 12
Leona opened up and was having fun, singing along to the radio as they drove down the street. They were headed about an hour outside of LA to his parents’ lake house. He’d bought them a nice home once he had enough money to comfortably do so. One they loved, but they were currently on vacation in Greece.
So, Luke decided to bring them there. He had free rein of the place while they were away. The property was large enough they wouldn’t have to be right on top of each other.
He almost wished he’d thought to invite Ryan and Raven, but he wasn’t sure how Mona would react. Later, he could figure that out. She was fine around him, but she seemed more interested in getting Leona to hook up with him.
The idea of Leona leaving LA didn’t sit well with Luke. However, he had no reason to attempt to keep her there. God, he wanted to though.
He hadn’t made an effort with a woman in years. He wasn’t good at compromise, and the other person always demanded too much. Look who wanted to demand too much now.
Leona had just come out of a divorce. She was at the fly free stage for good reason. And he didn’t blame her.
Didn’t change the fact he wanted to keep her there for as long as he could.
What was wrong with him? He hadn’t even been inside her yet, and he was thinking about all sorts of shit he never thought about.
Roach asked, “Are we going where I think we are?”
“Yup. Figured you could keep Mona busy while I occupy Leona.”
“Sounds good to me. And thanks for calling me.”
“Figured this way, we both get what we want. We can all hang out some of the time, then go our separate ways.”
“Sounds good.”
“Still wish I knew where we were going,” Mona teased.
“Somewhere no one will bother us. You’ll have all the space you want. There should be plenty for us to do,” Luke assured.
Leona glanced over her shoulder. “Weren’t you the one who suggested I live a little?”
“Very true.” Mona glanced at Luke and smiled. “And you have brought back her adventurous streak.”
Luke chuckled. “You can blame me if the day is horribly dull. But I can’t imagine this being a fail.”
Leona smiled at him and turned off the freeway to head past the town, to the lake. There were only four other families on the lake. All preferred their privacy. There were no parks. They might see a boat on the water, but no one would bother them.
He reached over and took the hand she had on the console. She gave him another look, one that melted his insides.
Nothing like what he would have expected. He liked her, maybe too much. Had to be why he wanted to spend all this time with her and make her friend feel welcomed. He could see himself going to great lengths to make Leona happy.
* * * *
Leona saw the map well enough to know they were heading to a secluded lake, probably all private property. She had to wonder if the day would be full of more celebrities.
She would be fine with that, but honestly, she was hoping for a small gathering, preferably the four of them, and enough space to ditch Mona and Roach.
Roach had a sense of humor, but she saw him as shy and a little awkward. Not dumb. Just, maybe not the most socially outgoing person. Maybe it was because he was used to being around famous people and not being one of them, even if Luke was his buddy.
Her head was spinning with ideas for stories she wouldn’t get to for a while, if ever. Her mind never stopped as it was.
Luke’s thumb ran circles over the top of her hand, sending tingles all the way through her body. Not only was he sexy, but he could be sweet, thoughtful, and he was a great guy. Really great guy.
She pulled up to a gated community and lifted one eyebrow at Luke.
He told her the code, and she drove down a narrow street. “Whose home?” she asked.
“My parents’. Don’t worry, they’re in Greece. But I have free rein. I did buy it for them.”
She relaxed slightly. Meeting the parents wasn’t going to happen. Why should it? This was a fling, right? Though was it a fling if they hadn’t had sex yet?
That was coming, soon, if she had her way.
Mona squeezed her shoulder. “You know, Luke is a smart guy. I’m impressed.”
Luke glanced back. “Thanks.”
Leona nodded. He was doing what he could to avoid the paparazzi. And really, whatever they dug up would be over as soon as they were done. What would it really matter?
She followed the directions until she pulled onto a long driveway. A large, extravagant house. Something fitting a movie star.
No more assumptions, Leona.
She parked the SUV, hopped out, and moved to the back to grab the bag with a change of clothes.
* * * *
Luke brought them to the mudroom downstairs and pointed to one of the guest rooms. “You can use that one to change into bathing suits.”
Mona turned to him and blinked. “The house is gorgeous.”
“My parents designed it. I just paid for it. It makes them happy, though.”
Roach pulled Mona into the room.
Luke took Leona’s hand. “Here, this is my room when I stay with them.” He took her to the room that was bigger than he would have chosen for himself, but like he said, his parents designed it. “My dad is an architect. My sister too. My mom is the designer. I was never good at any of that.”
She turned around slowly and smiled. “I like it, though should I feel weird I’m in your room at your parents’, with you? Because I want to do all sorts of dirty things I doubt they’d approve of.”
He pulled her closer. “I wouldn’t mind. And they aren’t home. They wouldn’t know.” He glanced at the door. “But first, we should go down to the water with them. Soon, I’ll have you alone.”
“Can hardly wait,” she whispered.
Neither could he. “Better get dressed fast.”
He turned and she let out a whimper.
A smile lit his face. “I’ll make the wait worth it. I swear to you.”
“Good, because I need more than your fingers,” she muttered, then he heard a zipper.
The sooner he got her away from the house, the better. And he had an idea. He only hoped she went for it. And yeah, maybe a scene in her book inspired it, but he hoped that would work in his favor.
“You dressed?” Leona murmured. Shit, no, he was imagining her smooth skin in a bikini.
“One second.” He stripped down and pulled on the trunks. Then he spun to slip his arms around her waist and pull that perfect ass against him.
Instant hard-on.
He wanted to sink inside her so damned bad, and the craving only got worse every time they made any kind of contact.
“You’re torturing me,” she whispered.
“Torturing myself worse. Can’t help it, though. Need you in my arms.”
Turning her head, she captured his gaze. “You could fix that.”
He gulped. Yeah, he could, but it wasn’t the right time. Not with her bestie two doors down. “Soon, very soon, Leona.”
Dipping her head, she pulled away from him and went to the mudroom.
Mona giggled as she came out of the room, tying the string bikini.
Luke shook his head. “Roach wouldn’t help?”
“He kept trying to take it off.” Mona glanced back at Roach as he came toward her.
“No one will be out there. You could go topless.” He lifted a shoulder and gave her a sheepish smile.
Leona glanced back at Luke.
He brought them outside and downstairs to the water. “Like rowboats?” he asked Leona.
A smile played across her lips. “I do.”
No one would disturb his quiet place down the lake. It was still on his parents’ property. Dad helped him build the small bungalow.
“I’m not rowing anywhere,” Mona sing-songed.
Luke thanked every lucky star out there. “I won’t keep her away forever.”
“You two have fun,” Roach offered. He probably had an idea of where he was headed.
Mona glanced at her phone in her bag and stopped. “Can I talk to you, Leona?”
“Sure?” she answered, stopping to wait for Mona.
As much as he wanted to ask, he didn’t. “Could you give me a hand?” Luke asked Roach.
He caught up and continued to the shed with the floaties, rowboats, and other fun stuff for the water.
Roach whispered, “Leona’s ex keeps calling Mona. Apparently, Leona blocked his number.”
Luke flexed his hands. “Has Mona answered?”
He shook his head. “No, but Mona didn’t block him. She’s monitoring the situation, without engaging since that picture.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, he looked back at Leona. “I’m starting to think I need to do some digging. Find out what his game is. I mean, why keep calling her?”
Roach shrugged. “Just in time for the movie deal. Maybe he wants back in her good graces.” Roach glanced back. “Don’t think you’ll have a problem with her going back to him.”
“How would you know?”
“Things Mona said. Leona is not one to forgive and forget. She’s more likely to leave and shut you out, then kill you brutally in a book.”
Luke smirked. “Wonder if Randal was inspired by the ex.”
“Possibly. Mona didn’t say who, but she did say Leona killed someone when she found out what he’d been up to.”
“Bastard,” Luke growled.
Roach’s eyes popped open. “How serious is this? You haven’t known her long.”
“Don’t know, but I plan to find out.”
“That sounds a whole lot more serious than anything since Natalie.” His first love, but that was over six years before.
Luke nudged Roach. “Don’t jinx it.” He pulled the row boat out and got it in the water with two sets of oars.