Ready to Run (I Do, I Don't 1)

Luke’s eyes scanned the crowd, saw bright blond hair, those sexy-as-sin legs walking away with City Boy.

Even he could admit they seemed to fit together, all easy sophistication and perfect good looks.

Luke was suddenly aware that his boots were scuffed, his jeans on the faded side of tired. The shirt was one of his few that weren’t T-shirts or flannel, but it sure as hell didn’t have cuff links.

“You could if you wanted to, you know,” Vicky said, not looking up from her clipboard.

“Could what?” he dragged his gaze away from the Jordans.

“Compete. If you put in a little effort, that pretty boy wouldn’t stand a chance.”

Luke didn’t insult his mother’s best friend by playing dumb about who she was talking about, but he wasn’t about to feed into her delusions. “Not interested.”

“Don’t you find it curious she hasn’t headed back to the city, even though you’ve told her you won’t do the show?”

“No.”

“Well, then, what’s she still doing here?”

She’s realized she can’t sell me out, so she’s after my exes.

But that answer didn’t feel right, even though he’d heard the words from Jordan herself.

“Maybe if you all would quit rolling out the welcome mat everywhere she goes, she’d get the hint,” Luke said.

“Don’t be testy with me,” Vicky said, turning toward the Jordans, but they’d already disappeared into the crowd. “It’s hardly my fault you didn’t get the hint of what I was trying to do here.”

“Meaning?”

She turned back, gestured between the two booths. “You need to kiss the girl, Luke. The entire town knows it.”

He ground his teeth to keep from telling Vicky that he had kissed the girl.

Thoroughly.

Wanted to do it again.

Badly.

Chapter 17

“Have I mentioned it’s good to have you back?” Jordan asked, linking arms with Simon.

He reached across his body to pat her hand with his. “Had I known you were sporting the cowboy boots I sent, I’d have come sooner. I knew you could pull them off.”

“And you haven’t even seen the teal ones yet. I’m saving them for a special occasion.”

“I’m wounded I don’t qualify.”

She smiled up at her friend. “Please. We both know you only came back for the claw-foot tub.”

“True, very true. Okay, so tell me what our game plan is tonight. Do we need any code words? Good-cop bad-cop routine?”

“Definitely not.”

Simon had flown in that morning, partially for moral support, partially because the bosses were slowly building enthusiasm over the potential scorned bride spin-off idea and wanted to make sure a legal consultant was on hand in case one of Luke’s exes was seriously considering it.

She and Simon were on their way to a casual dinner at Tucker’s with Stacey, and if the vibe felt right, Jordan figured, it couldn’t hurt to mention it.