First Real Kiss

Lola’s mouth pulled into a broad grin identical to Luke’s. Their brown eyes crinkled in the same way, but her hair was blonde and wavy where his was dark and straight. She reminded me of that country singer, Carrie Underwood. So pretty. “Somebody’s got to make sure he doesn’t do crazy things like show up uninvited at anniversary parties.”

Was she making fun of him? Had he told her about the other night? Maybe she knew why he knew so many things about me. Lola could be my future ally.

“Well, don’t worry. It turned out, my parents weren’t concerned. My dad, in fact, would have started adoption proceedings if Luke had stayed another ten minutes.”

“Your dad did seem to like me,” Luke mentioned casually.

“Understatement. There might have been a worship ceremony had I not interrupted.” However, I did see my chance here, and I wasn’t going to miss it. “Lola, tell me about your brother. What would you say his most irritating qualities are?”

Luke let out a gasp, which he immediately tried to suck back in. It was kind of funny. But I had to know. Sisters were the most honest people in the world about a brother’s shortcomings.

However, Lola reached across me from her chair and squeezed Luke’s knee. When had I started referring to him exclusively as Luke? “My baby brother? Irritating? Not for the wide world. He’s the most generous, kind, thoughtful person I know.”

If she’d told me he hiked Mt. Everest weekly, I couldn’t have been more shocked. “Did you recently watch the long version of Pride and Prejudice and decide you’re Georgiana Darcy?”

She burst into laughter. “No, but how about it? A girls’ night watching a little Jane Austen, just you and me?”

“What about me?” Luke pushed Lola’s hand away. She’d still been gripping his knee. “I’ve got nothing against a good five-hour romantic comedy.”

Lola looked at me. I looked at Lola. We both simultaneously burst into laughter.

I laughed because the thought of Dr. Luke Hotwell enjoying a British costume drama was so outrageous. However, Lola seemed to be laughing for another reason.

“You? When was the last time you were home for five hours at a stretch while you were awake? Even for Jane Austen?”

Luke gave a little pushback. “As you see.” He indicated his day-off style clothes. Which, I’ll admit, suited him very nicely. Jeans and a two-button Henley shirt looked really good on his frame.

What am I thinking? The guy has been snooping in my brain!

“So, Sheridan,” Lola said. “Do you happen to know anyone who needs an oil change? Luke was asking.”

Okay. This was going too far. “Stop. Cease and desist! Why do you know about my car?”

Again, Lola and the laughing. “Calm down, Sheridan. I saw your social media post looking for recommendations for a local oil change mechanic.”

Oh. Right. Whew.

I must have looked relieved because Lola said, “I’ll admit, after his whole my brother sent her flowers thing, I did a little stalking of you. I hope it doesn’t bother you too much. You don’t post very often.”

No, I didn’t. “Sorry. I forgot all about that.” Too many peonies on my mind. “There’s just been a lot of … weird lately.”

Weird. That was a noun now, right?

“What you probably don’t know, is that Luke here loves to change oil, and he’s going utterly stir crazy without being able to go to the hospital, and they told him to get a hobby, but his only hobby is heart surgery, and that’s more or less out since he’s been banned from the hospital.”

“Not banned!” Luke’s leg jerked outward, and his shin bumped against the coffee table. He grabbed it.

“So, now that he’s already changed my oil, my brother-in-law’s oil, and his own oil, he’s running out of oil to change. So, if you’re in need, you’d actually be doing him a favor if you let him come over and change your car’s oil. Say, on Saturday, if you don’t have to work.”

I didn’t have clients on Saturday this week, for once. “Well … if it would help him out.” It really must be a struggle to go from being extremely busy and needed to being a lump on a couch. “All right. But I’ll have to pay you.”

“No,” Luke said.

At the same time, Lola said, “All right. He has high prices, but he gets to name them. They aren’t always monetary.”

Uh-oh. I did not like the sound of that.

Luke mashed his mouth into a frustrated-looking frown and gave Lola a threatening nod. She jumped to her feet. “Okay, folks! Heading out. Thanks for the wallet and phone save, Luke. Nice to meet you, Sheridan. Hope to see you again soon. Maybe at the Great Quake Commemoration thing.”