Chapter 9

Harper

It was like pulling teeth to get Nora to let her hair down, but then again she did keep that bun so tight sometimes I think she glued it down. Luke had called an hour ago offering to walk over to escort us back to his house, but I’d told him about all the trouble Nora was, he’d be better to let me handle her alone.

I finally dragged her out of the house, but it was like pulling a dog on a leash, one that planted his feet solid in the ground refusing to walk, to get her to step it up.

“Stop pouting. We’ve been over this. You don’t have to stay, and it isn’t like you can’t walk home if things get uncomfortable. For someone so willing to push me on Luke, you should learn to practice what you preach.”

“You’re better at these kind of things than me. You’ve always been the loose goose between us. Besides, don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy yourself, you came home late and woke with a glow.” I felt the blush warming my cheeks betray me, and I kept quiet not denying a thing.

“And maybe if you loosened up a bit you’d glow too. At least pull the stick out of your ass for the night and have a little fun.” We made it to the door where music hummed from the other side, and Luke opened it before I could knock as if he’d been watching our approach all along.

“Come in, ladies. Sorry for the music, it’s Tanner’s taste, not mine.” He took my hand and kissed it and then threw his arm around my waist. The room was filled with people, and I wondered if the entire town had shown up. Everyone welcomed us and Nora smiled and fell into conversation with a few of her patients. She was well-loved and if she could forget that she’d seen half the room naked, then maybe she could loosen up and have fun after all.

Luke pulled me away from the front room and into the kitchen where Tanner was talking to a girl in a white shirt and black pants. She was attractive enough, but her clothes made her look like a server at a restaurant instead of a party guest. That didn’t stop Tanner from leaning close and whispering something into her ear that made her blush. His eyes widened when he looked up to see us standing there, and he gave the girl a pat on the back and hurried around from the other side of the kitchen island to greet me.

He stepped up and took my hand bringing my knuckles to his lips, which made Luke raise a brow. “It’s hard to find good help.” He threw his thumb over his shoulder to the girl in the white shirt who was now slicing fruit. “Well, hello Harper. You’re looking delicious tonight. Is Nora around?”

“Thanks, I think, and yeah, she’s in the other room.” I stepped back as he dropped my hand and patted his brother on the back. Then he took off like a man on a mission.

“He sure knows how to lay it on thick. I hope he doesn’t scare Nora away.” Luke watched him go shaking his head. I knew what it was like to be helpless to save your sibling from themselves.

“I hope so too; it was a chore getting her to come. I wish I knew what the story was between those two. I have a feeling there’s more there than meets the eye.” Luke gave me a look that said he seemed to agree and then pulled me close.

“Let’s get a drink and head back out to supervise.” He gave me a quick kiss on the mouth, which was much too short, and then we went about getting our drinks and going back out to the crowd.

The room was crowded with more people showing up by the minute, and everyone we passed shook Luke’s hand or patted him on the back. He stopped and introduced me to so many people that I would never remember their names, and it was a good thing I wouldn’t have to, especially since he’d introduced me to a few of them as his girlfriend.

My cheeks were good and red by the time a good-looking man with a scruffy face walked in the door. Luke pulled me across the room as he went to greet him. The two shook hands and slapped each other on the back.

“I’m glad you came, man.” Luke turned to introduce me about the time the man’s eyes locked on the fact that Luke still had his arm around me.

He smiled and offered his hand to me. “You’re the good doctor’s sister. I’m Finn.”

“This is my girlfriend, Harper.” He brushed a strand of hair back across my shoulder as if preening me for my introduction. “Finn’s a good buddy of mine, so don’t listen to a thing he says about me.” Luke gave Finn a knowing smile, and the two slapped palms.

“Looks like you finally beat me to a pretty girl. I’m usually the one with all the luck. But don’t worry, you’re in much better hands, Harper.”

“I’m going to trust you on that. I see a little gleam in your eye.” I gave him a wink, and he cupped his hand against the side of his mouth and leaned in.

“I can see a little a gleam in your eye as well.” He cut his eyes to Luke who heard every word and put a hand between us.

“None of that. I’ll have to keep my eye on you.”

“He is very charming,” I said making eyes at Finn. Luke knew I was only teasing and he chuckled as he pulled me closer to his side.

“That he is. Ask most of the ladies here.” Luke kissed the side of my head as Finn glanced around the room.

I noticed that something or someone had caught his eye and he kept them locked as he leaned in toward us. “I’ll leave you two love birds alone; I think I’ve found my next girlfriend.”

He wasted no time crossing the room and Luke, and I laughed as he went straight for the girl in the white shirt who was now passing out drinks.

“He’s a very interesting guy.” I tugged my collar to let in some air. The room was stuffy, and the crowd was growing thicker.

“Let’s go upstairs?” Luke whispered in my ear sending a chill right through me.

“To your bedroom?” My eyes met his, and I shook my head. “Shouldn’t you stay down here with your guests?”

“Fine, let’s at least go sit on the porch. I need some air, and I want to be alone with you.” I nodded, and he led me out to the porch which was more of a small patio or lanai on the back of the house.

I waved to Nora on my way out, and she was having a conversation with a few people, so I didn’t think anything of stepping out, and she wasn’t trying to stop me.

He sat on a swing that hung from two beams and was surrounded by creeping vines of wisteria, the air around us was sweet, and a cool breeze blew our hair.

“So I’m your girlfriend?” I nudged at him referring to the introduction he’d made at least five times.

He brushed his hand across his beard as if to hide the smile that played around his lips. “Didn’t think you’d mind.” He pulled me in close for a long hot kiss that left me light headed as the heat blossomed between my legs.

He shifted in his seat, and his hand fell across my breast, kneading and caressing. “We should have taken this upstairs.” He closed his mouth against mine again, and I held the back of his head, playing with his hair and mingling my tongue with his. I broke away and caught my breath.

“We can’t keep doing this.” I felt the ache in my heart that was a clear warning sign. It could only lead to ruin.

His thumb brushed over my bottom lip as he held my face and planted tender kisses along my neck. “Yes, we can. Stay the night with me, Harper.”

“No, I can’t, we —

The door flew open, and Nora rushed out looking like she’d seen a ghost. Her face was pale, but her expression reflected that she was full of rage. “He kissed me. That asshole strolled right up to me and kissed me like he owned me.”

Luke released a breath of frustration as I got to my feet and straightened my clothes. He’d managed to get my blouse twisted, and I was sure my hair was mussed, and my lips were swollen with desire.

Nora held up her palms to wave me off. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt anything; I just wanted you to know I’m going home. I won’t wait up.”

I tried to stop her and catch up to go home too, but she insisted I stay and Luke encouraged it too. My only excuse for an escape wasn’t doing me any favors, so I sat back down with Luke.

“I should probably go anyway.” His head was shaking, and he had me by the hand before I could make a move to do so.

“No, you’re staying with me. And then I want you to go to church with me in the morning.” I wasn’t sure I’d heard him right at first, but then he shrugged. “I go every Sunday morning. I want you to go with me.”

“I suppose we have committed an abundance of sins.” I shuddered as his cool hand slipped inside my blouse and cupped my breast.

“Yeah, and lucky us, we still have plenty of time for more.” His mouth closed on mine, and his hand slipped down my front cupping my mound which was already on fire with an aching need.