Skin Deep (Skin Deep #1)

“Oh, God, Emma. Please make tequila lime chicken and invite me! I haven’t had that in so long and its my favorite meal you make!” Allie was begging and I couldn’t help but laugh at her.

I met Luke as he was walking back in the front door and asked if Allie could come to dinner out at his house. He shrugged and nodded, and then asked what we were having for dinner. I told him, and he went right back out the door, yelling at Brandon and Jackson that they were actually getting a kick ass dinner for once.

I gave Allie Luke’s address and hung up with her as I walked into the kitchen to gather the ingredients that I would need for dinner.

After everything was loaded, including the four of us, we headed out to Luke’s. He reached over and pulled my hand to his thigh, locking his fingers with mine while he drove. I smiled up at him, and my heart clutched when he smiled back and winked before turning back to the road.

For the first time in a very long time, I actually felt like this was something good, something that might stand a chance, even if I didn’t agree with how domineering he could be. He made me feel special, and that’s something I’ve never had before. With D.B. Brad, he made me feel like I should feel privileged that he was letting me hang around. Sex with him was when he wanted it, on his terms, and I never got anything out of it. N-e-v-e-r. Unless I did it myself. I used to swear I was getting carpal tunnel from double clicking my own mouse just to get anything from sex with him!

That one time that he was being an asshole and trying to push my buttons, he had spanked me and was shocked when it made me hot. He called me a whore and left. It wasn’t a week later that I walked into his apartment and caught him red-handed with his neighbor. And by red-handed, I mean literally. They were painted head to toe with red body paint. At least I hope that’s what it was. If not? That bastard has issues that he needs addressed. Stat!

We got to Luke’s and the guys helped unload the car. Allie pulled up about ten minutes after us and helped me get my laundry started. There was a mountain of laundry piled up in front of the washer, so I grabbed a bunch and threw it in with mine. Men.

Allie asked if she could help me with dinner, and I agreed, but she really didn’t do much of anything. She was too busy staring at Brandon. When she wasn’t staring at Brandon, she was staring at Jackson. When she was staring at Jackson, Brandon was staring at her, a slightly disgruntled expression on his face. That made me wonder a bit, but I wasn’t going to say anything.

After I got dinner done, we all sat at the table to eat. No one said much, aside from telling me how good it was. For a while, the only sound was the clinking of the silverware and one of the guys occasionally asking for someone to pass something.

I felt surprisingly content, sitting at Luke and Brandon’s table, eating with a group of people that I’d only known for a short time, aside from Allie. The more I had pulled away from Luke, the more he had drawn me back in, and I found myself dangerously close to being completely in love with him. I was half afraid I already was. Scratch that. I knew I was. Yikes!

“Emma?” Luke’s voice broke into my thoughts.

“Hmm?” I asked, turning to look at him.

“Something wrong?” he asked me, a small smile playing about the corners of his lips.

“No, why?” I asked.

“You were staring at me and you looked a little startled at first, and then a little concerned. I was just making sure there was nothing wrong.”

I shook my head, embarrassed that I was caught starting at him, and even more embarrassed that I hadn’t even realized I’d been doing it!

We finished eating and Allie and I cleaned up the dinner mess, but Luke and Brandon actually did the dishes. Jackson disappeared out the front door with his cell phone and Doug and Allie followed, Allie grabbing the Frisbee sitting in Doug’s toy basket on the way out.

I finished my laundry and threw another load in for Luke and Brandon. I took the basket of clean clothes out to the couch to fold, holding up the guys’ clothes to see whose was whose. I gave up after a minute because everything I held up was Brandon’s.

“Why are you doing Brandon’s laundry, Emma?” Luke asked me, shaking his head.

“I thought it was both of yours, and it was just sitting in front of the washer. So I threw some in with mine and then started another load of it. Its not a big deal.” I shrugged.

Brandon, being a smartass, said, “When you get done with my laundry, can you change my sheets on my bed?”

I finished folding the clothes, grabbed all of Brandon’s up in my arms, and walked into the kitchen to stand next to him. He opened his arms to take them from me, and as soon as I saw my opening, I punched him in the stomach, making his breath wheeze out as he doubled over.

He moaned. “Why the hell did you do that?”

“You deserved it, asshat!” Luke said, laughing and giving me an appreciative look.

I winked at Luke and headed outside to play with Doug with Allie.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. We stayed outside, enjoying the crisp, cool, fall weather, and when darkness started falling, Luke started a bonfire in the concrete fire pit sitting in the middle of a large patio area just off the back deck. The fire was surrounded by thickly cushioned benches and adirondack style chairs. We all moved to the patio around the fire, relaxing. Luke disappeared inside and came back out with the stuff to make s’mores.

After stuffing ourselves with the ooey-gooey goodness of chocolate, marshmallow, and graham crackers, Allie stood up to leave.

I laughed when Brandon pulled her down on his lap, refusing to let her leave. She laughed and tried to get up, but he wouldn’t let her. She gave in when he started tickling her and leaned back against him, gasping for breath. I couldn’t help but smile to myself because they looked good together, but I didn’t think either one of them would ever settle down. Allie was too free spirited, and Brandon was too…Brandon.

Jackson was quiet for the most part, but I saw him watching Allie with a speculative look gleaming in his eyes a time or two.

When it started getting late, we all headed inside. I couldn’t keep from yawning and Luke kept laughing at me and teasing that I was getting old if I couldn’t stay up past ten thirty. Of course, then I had to tell him about himself, especially because he’s older than me…

Allie was standing by the door, her keys in hand, and I walked over to give her a hug and say goodbye. As we stood there , Brandon came up and put his arm around Allie. We both looked at him, waiting for whatever crazy shit would come out next. Instead, he surprised us both.

“Allie, you don’t, uh…you don’t have to leave.” Brandon said hesitantly. “There’s plenty of room here, and you could have my bed if you wanted. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

I smiled. Brandon could be so sweet sometimes!

Jackson piped up from the couch where he was lounging. “Yeah, Brandon, I don’t think you’ll get to sleep on the couch because that’s where I’m sleeping and I’m not sharing!” He winked at Allie before adding, “With you, at least. Allie can share the couch with me. Or, better yet! Allie and I’ll sleep in your bed and you can have the couch as you so graciously offered!” He was grinning ear to ear by this point.

Brandon stiffened, glaring at Jackson who just laughed at him.