Tempted by the Boss

By the time Luke left and was headed home, he finally felt a sense of accomplishment. He hadn’t had this feeling in so long and he absolutely owed everything to Kelly. Before their trip to Hawaii, he’d worked for hours on end, never finding anything resembling a solution that would help Wingate get that extra leg up they needed. But now everything was falling into place.

Luke stifled a yawn as he maneuvered the roads that took him home. It had been a hell of a week in the very best way and he couldn’t wait to lie in his own bed tonight. Yet, much as he wanted her right beside him, a part of him wondered if asking Kelly to stay had been a mistake. He sure as hell didn’t want to give her the wrong impression or to make her believe they could be more. Luke’s hands clenched around the steering wheel as more self-doubts began to creep in. He knew Kelly well enough to know she would get attached and he didn’t want to be the one to break her heart.

Sixteen

“Something smells good.”

Kelly turned toward the wide, arched opening of Luke’s kitchen and smiled as he stepped through.

“I made dinner,” she stated, spreading her hands open to the display on the island. “I hope you don’t

mind. I rummaged through your cabinets to find something. I figured you’d be hungry when you got home.”

Nerves swirled her belly as he came on into the kitchen and stood on the other side of the island. Being in his house was so much different than the neutral ground they were in in Oahu. She’d felt so strange walking through his house when she’d first gotten here. For one thing, the place was enormous. She’d peeked in each of the six bedrooms and deduced his was the one done in all navy and rich woods and the entire room had his masculine essence.

Everything in this place reminded her of him. The classy decor, the strong beams accenting the ceiling, the commanding two-story stone fireplace in the living room. It was all quintessential Luke and she loved getting another insight to his personal life.

Zeke and Luke had been living together, but Zeke had moved in with Reagan once they married. Kelly could easily see two bachelors living here in this vast domain.

She’d spotted a photo of Luke’s parents on his dresser, and a piece of her heart tumbled for him. She knew that ache of not having parents in your life. At least he had his brother and aunt. He had some family left and she was glad he still had a strong bond with those in his life.

Kelly longed for such a bond but, more than that, she longed for a life partner. She longed for a family of her own and a man who loved her. She saw how her mother had missed out on so much and Kelly knew she would never live that way.

“I didn’t mean to be gone so long,” he told her. “Zeke and I got to talking, and I just wanted to make sure I filled him in on every detail.”

“What did he think?” she asked. “Was Reagan there, too?”

Luke nodded. “They both thought it was brilliant. Reagan is sending out some texts and phone calls to some of her friends and Zeke is talking to the members of the club.”

“It’s going to be a busy week getting everything ready,” she told him. “I hope I can pull all of this off to your satisfaction.”

Luke circled the island and came to stand directly in front of her. Taking her hands, he looked directly into her eyes.

“You will pull it off,” he assured her. “There’s not a doubt in my mind that this will be the greatest party and re-launch ever. You’re a mastermind when it comes to organizing and bossing people around.”

Kelly couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head. “I’m not bossy.”

“You did a hell of a job bossing me in Oahu,” he reminded her, then placed a quick, sweet kiss on the tip of her nose. “I need to grab a shower before I eat. I’m still straight off the plane and I want to change.”

“No problem. I’ll just fix up a plate and get us some wine.”

He stared at her for a moment and she thought he was going to say something, but he ended up just releasing her hands.

“Give me ten minutes,” he told her before he left the room and headed toward the stairs.

Kelly hoped he didn’t mind coming home to her in the kitchen like she belonged here. She’d gotten fidgety waiting on him and then her stomach had started growling. Next thing she’d known she was boiling pasta and making marinara sauce.

Searching through the cabinets once again, she found plates and utensils. It took a bit to find the wine opener, but then she realized he had an electric one on the counter above the wine fridge.

When he still hadn’t come down, she wondered if he’d gotten busy with emails or phone calls. She waited nearly twenty minutes before heading upstairs to check on him.

The minute she rounded the corner of his bedroom, she stopped short. There he was wearing only a towel around his waist, face down on his bed...fast asleep.

A twinge of disappointment coursed through her. So much for a romantic evening and picking up where they’d left off at the resort.

Kelly snuck away and went back downstairs. After eating a quick dinner, she cleaned up the kitchen and put the leftovers away. She’d already showered and changed at her place before she came here and now she needed to unwind. Her mind was racing and her thoughts too revved up to go to sleep.

With her laptop and phone, she decided to go to the back enclosed patio that overlooked the pond. The cozy oversize chaise in the corner called her name the moment she’d seen it earlier.