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Valentines Days & Nights Boxed Set by Helena Hunting, Julia Kent, Jessica Hawkins, Jewel E. Ann, Jana Aston, Skye Warren, CD Reiss, Corinne Michaels, Penny Reid (137)

Chapter Fifteen

I manage to make it through the rest of my shift while Everly shoots me worried glances.

"Is that the same redhead?" she whispered to me when they walked in, once she realized Luke wasn't alone.

Everly insists it didn't mean anything, that he was eyeing me the entire time while I rang them up and avoided looking at him. But Everly missed the redhead's comment when she turned to fill two large cups of dark roast, room for cream on one.

"She's a barista, Lucas? How darling."

I was still reeling from Luke ordering for her, knowing what she wanted without having to ask her. Her comment was an added slap in the face.

"Gina, stop." That's all he said. I felt his stare on me, but I just dumped his change in the tip jar, not even bothering to ask him if he wanted it, then beamed a huge fake smile to the girl in line behind them and requested her order.

I like Luke. I believed him when he said the redhead wasn't his girlfriend. I believed him when he said he wasn't going to call too. He didn't promise me anything.

But I don't like thinking he's such an ass that he'll walk into Grind Me with the very same woman he was on a date with before he slept with me three nights ago. Not cool. Do I want more time with Luke? Who wouldn't? I don't need a comparison fuck to know that it will be years before I find a lover who will compare to Luke. So sure, I want more of Luke's time, but my expectations are a dinner spent at the same table and a few new sexual positions, not a key to his apartment.

But today's stop at Grind Me with Gina in tow? I never saw that coming. He's arrived alone every Tuesday morning for weeks and today he brings her? Ass.

If he's trying to drive his point home about Saturday being a one-time thing, his message is received loud and clear. But I still can't regret a moment of it.

I skip the campus bus in favor of a very long walk after work. My cheeks are chilled as I make my way down Spruce Street toward Jacobsen Hall. A week ago today was my clinic appointment. For a girl who likes to plan, I sure didn't plan on Luke walking into that exam room or anything that happened after.

My feet crunch over the leaves falling to the sidewalk and I stuff my cold hands into my pockets. Fine, I'm a little pissed. And sad. I'm a practical girl, I wasn't looking for a fairy tale, but I don't feel satisfied by the way this ended with Luke. Sexually, yeah, it was a satisfying experience. Emotionally, it was a little lacking.

Suck it up, Sophie, you got what you wanted.

My phone rings and I slide it out of my pocket and answer as I walk.

"Sophie, honey, it's Gram. I just wanted to let you know that we accepted the offer on the house and our offer on the condo we wanted in Florida was accepted. We're moving!"

I smile. "That's great, Grandma. I'm glad you're finally doing it."

"The buyers want to close on our house here the week before Thanksgiving."

Oh.

"So we've only got four weeks to pack everything up. We're thinking we'll drive down to Florida then, so we don't have to put everything into storage. We can close on the condo in Islamorada the week prior because it's vacant and the owners want to close fast."

I know what she's really asking. She wants to know if I'll be okay without seeing them for Thanksgiving. They've put off retiring for just this reason. They wanted to be nearby for me. "Grandma, it's fine. I can go home with Jeannie or Everly for Thanksgiving."

"Are you sure? We can get you a plane ticket if you want to fly down for the long weekend."

"Yes, I'm sure. It's fine, I'm sure you’ll have plenty to do with unpacking and friends to see." They have good friends who retired to the area several years ago.

"We already have invitations from the Mirabellis and the Blackwells to get together as soon as we get to town." Grandma sounds thrilled and I'm happy for her. "You'll come down for Christmas though, right? We'll have a room ready for you."

I agree that Florida for Christmas sounds like a great idea and we say our goodbyes as I reach the front door of Jacobsen.

There's a black Mercedes S63 parked illegally in the loading zone. And leaning against it, watching me, is Luke.

"You're here for me?" I gesture to myself with the hand still holding the phone.

"Yeah, you." He rubs his bottom lip with his thumb, a movement so simple yet so erotic, before placing his hands in his pockets.

I don't reply. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say. We stare at each other in silence. He takes a step towards me and I instinctively take a step back, then rock forward on my toes.

"You said you wouldn't call," I finally say. My voice has a bitchier tone than I intended.

"I didn't call." His voice is unapologetic.

I want to roll my eyes. "No. You brought your date to my workplace instead." The wind whips a piece of hair into my face and it sticks to my lip gloss. I swipe the hair away and move a step to the left, using his body to block the wind. He's so much bigger than me. The thought fills my head with memories of how he felt over me.

"She wasn't supposed to be there." He steps closer again.

"What does that even mean?" I take a step back and bump into his car. We've danced around and switched positions. He pulls his hands from his pockets and places them on the roof of the low-slung car on either side of me, pinning me in place. I have to tilt my head back to look him in the eye.

"I can't stop thinking about you, Sophie." His eyes search my face. "This morning was… wrong. It's all wrong. You're too young for me. You're sweet and unspoiled." He swipes another errant hair off my cheek and tucks the hair behind my ear. "I should leave you the hell alone, let you find someone more suitable, but I feel selfish about you.” He places his hand back on the roof and leans in. "What do you want, Sophie?" he breathes into my ear.

I shiver and it's not from the cold. He smells so good and he looks even better. The cars pass us on Spruce Street while I think, the front doors of Jacobsen slamming open and closed.

"Sophie, I'm not talking to myself. I asked you a question and I expect a response. What do you want?"

"You." I look at him, finally. "I want you."

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