This Can't Be Love (Whispering Bay Romance 5)

“The feeling is mutual. He’s an awesome kid. You and Zeke have done a great job.”

“Stop. You’re making me blush.”

“I’m serious, Mimi.”

“Luke!” She laughed, then when she realized that he was indeed being sincere, she sobered. “You know, I don’t think you’ve ever said anything like that t

o me before. Thank you.”

He frowned. “I haven’t?”

She shook her head.

“Then, my bad. You and Zeke are terrific parents.” He cleared his throat and tried for a casual tone. “Cameron mentioned something about Zeke not living at the house for a while.”

Mimi put down her bread. “He did?”

“Something about a separation?”

His sister went quiet for a few minutes. “Last spring, Zeke and I had some problems and yes, we did separate. But our marriage is stronger than ever. What…did Cameron say anything else?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked quietly.

“Oh, Luke.” She let out a deep sigh. “You were in Maine at the time. Or Delaware. Who knows? And it wasn’t as if we ever contemplated a divorce or anything. We just needed to work some things out and we did.” She smiled. “No worries, big brother. Zeke and I are better than ever.” She glanced down at her tummy. “And we’ve never been happier, either.”

If her words hadn’t already convinced him, then the expression on her face did. His sister could light up half the city she was glowing so hard.

Luke decided to test the water. “Cameron tells me he’s made the traveling soccer team.” He really hoped his nephew had told his parents how he felt about wanting to quit the team.

“He’s so talented, Luke. Between yours and Zeke’s genes, the kid is practically a prodigy,” she said proudly. “He could play any sport he wants.”

So, Cameron hadn’t said a word to his parents. Which meant the whole thing fell back on Luke.

“And Cameron likes soccer?”

“Well, of course he does! What kind of goofy question is that?”

Before he could respond, their mother made her grand entrance into the dining room. “The traffic in this town is becoming unbearable!” She took a seat at the table. “Thank God you ordered me something to drink.” She took a long sip of her white wine as if fortifying herself to hear some bad news. “Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty, Luke. What happened with Jenna?”

“I explained that to you already,” Mimi said to their mother. “Luke and Jenna have absolutely no interest in each other.”

“But how can that be?” Mom said, talking about him as if he wasn’t sitting right next to her. “She’s almost perfect for him!” Almost, meaning that there was someone else out there who was perfect for him and Luke knew exactly who his mother thought that someone else was.

“Momma,” Mimi said before he had a chance to speak up, “Victoria’s marrying someone else. Get used to it.”

“As if I had a choice,” she muttered.

Luke reached inside his shirt pocket and handed his mother a check. “Please see to it that Viola gets her share of that.”

She looked at the check and blinked. “What’s this?”

“The money you and Viola paid at the silent auction for my date with Jenna.”

Mom sighed then slipped the check into her purse. “What’s going on with you and that Sarah?”

“That Sarah?” He took another sip of his beer. He probably should have ordered something stronger. The waiter appeared with their food and asked if they needed anything else, then scurried off after his mother scowled at the poor man.

“Don’t look at me like that, Luke,” his mother said, rearranging the lettuce leaves on her shrimp salad. “Sarah seems like a nice girl, but she’s a college drop-out. Plus, she’s practically a gypsy!”