“Does everyone think it’s true?”
“Yes.”
She sighed and Luke waited for the next question. “Why?” she finally asked.
And Luke found himself telling the truth about it for the first time. “Everyone thinks it’s me because Simone and I are close. We were best friends. But we were never lovers.”
“So who’s the father?”
It was Luke’s turn to sigh. “I don’t know. It’s a long story.”
“You sound sad.”
Sad. Yeah. That actually made him smile. “I guess that’s one word for it.”
“Pissed?”
He smiled wider. “Maybe.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Luke frowned at the pen he was pushing around the table. “I don’t think that’s—”
“Come on. Just come over. Bring me dinner.”
“I…” Okay, this was awkward. Given any other circumstances, he would put up his hands and back slowly away from a hot virgin with two protective older brothers. Why the heck did she have to be the only person who managed to make him smile these days? Damn it, he said silently, rubbing a hand over his eyes.
“All right,” she said, her voice pulling down in disappointment. “I understand. I guess I’m the definition of complicated.”
Her? Good God. “Don’t be stupid, Tessa. I’ll be there in half an hour. Burgers okay?”
“I assume you mean burgers from the Sink?”
He grinned at the table. “I do.”
“Cheeseburger with guac,” she said quickly. “No onions. And park behind the house.” With that reminder of how idiotic they were both being, Tessa hung up the phone, probably afraid he’d call it off. Because any sane man would.
Yeah. That sounded about right. Any sane man.
At least he could claim one small comfort. There was no possible way he was sleeping with Tessa Donovan tonight, so she was probably the safest woman he could have dinner with.
“Even I’m not that stupid,” he muttered as he packed up his files and grabbed his keys. “No way.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
HE WASN’T A MISOGYNISTIC asshole with a pregnant girlfriend. He was just a hot single cop who was bringing her a cheeseburger.
Tessa smiled as she fired up the stereo, damn happy with the way this day was turning out. It might even call for a little Van Morrison. Yeah, it definitely called for Van Morrison. Tessa turned on “Brown Eyed Girl” and danced into the kitchen to finish tidying up.
She’d saved the day—probably—and now she was going to get the man—maybe. What more could a girl ask for? Feeling a lovely bond with all the other women in the world, Tessa typed up tonight’s Twitter message and sent it out.
Feeling my Celtic roots tonight, ladies. You know what that means. Come on by & and say sláinte.
Jamie had been wearing his kilt tonight, and their Twitter feed was already buzzing with it.
She was still grinning when a car door shut in the alley behind her house, and Tessa rushed to the back door to open it. But her smile fell when she saw Luke. He looked exhausted. As if five days had passed since she’d seen him and he hadn’t slept a wink since.
“Luke! You look awful!”