“Well, let’s not forget, you also don’t understand the need to get married.”
“I’ve reconsidered my view on that,” he murmurs.
“I’m glad. Mostly because I figure that means you’ve moved past your hurt, and that was all I wanted for you. I’m so glad to see you happy, Luke. You seem more at peace with life.”
He rubs the pad of his thumb over the rim of his glass. “I’ve made peace with most things in my life. I’ve still got a way to go with others.” I can’t help but feel he’s talking about me.
“Hopefully, time will help,” I say softly.
He stares at me. “Hopefully, it won’t need to.”
My tummy flutters, but maybe I’m misunderstanding his meaning.
The waiter brings our food and effectively ends that conversation. After he leaves, we discuss the fact I haven’t eaten good Aussie food in ages and then just never return to the previous topic. I devour my steak and salad. So good. I’ve loved sampling the food in the States, but there’s nothing like coming home and eating the food you grew up with.
We decide against dessert because I’ve spent most of dinner yawning. I’m exhausted from the flight and sleep beckons so we make our way upstairs.
Luke’s eyes find mine as I unlock the door to my room. “Sleep well, baby.”
Baby.
I’ve missed hearing that word from Luke’s mouth.
“Thank you for dinner.”
His gaze dips to my mouth and my breathing slows. The time passes just as slowly while I wait to see what he does. A couple pass us, laughing loudly, pulling us out of the moment, and his eyes find mine again. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The only thing that stops disappointment filling me completely is the fact he presses his lips to my forehead and lays a kiss there before he leaves.
46
Callie
I wake the next day to a knock on my door. I pull the covers over my head and do my best to ignore it. It’s probably housekeeping. However, the knocking only gets louder and then Luke calls out, “Callie, you in there?”
I quickly check my phone for the time.
It’s just after eleven.
Jesus, I slept a lot of hours.
“I have coffee,” he continues.
Sold.
I shove the covers off and pad to the door. I don’t even care that my hair is probably a sight and that I never took my make-up off last night. I also push out of my mind that I’m wearing nothing but a sheer babydoll that barely covers my ass.
I need coffee.
He hands over the coffee when I open the door. “You just wake up?”
I nod and usher him in. “Yeah. Guess I was tired.” I take a sip of coffee. “Damn, this coffee is good. I owe you.”
He grins. “I’ll take lunch as payment.”
“You want me to buy you lunch?”
“No. I’m buying you lunch. I found a little Thai restaurant you might love.”