A knock at my door interrupts Joel mid-sentence.
I reach for his forearm. “Do you think that’s Warren?”
He pats my hand with his. “No.”
“It could be,” I whisper, even though whoever is at the door can’t hear a word we’re saying.
“It’s not,” he says matter-of-factly. “Go answer the door.”
“You answer it.”
“I live upstairs. It’s your door, so you answer it.” He rubs his jaw. “I promise that you’re going to like what’s waiting for you on the other side.”
Wrapping both my arms around his neck, I whisper. “You got me a surprise, didn’t you? Is it something that will take my mind off of everything?”
He pulls back from the embrace. “Go see for yourself.”
I adjust the waistband of my jeans, tug the hem of my sweater into place, and start toward the door. “Whatever it is, I know I’ll like it.”
“Guaranteed,” he calls after me.
Another knock sounds just as I reach the small foyer.
I grab the handle, turn it, and swing open the heavy red wooden door.
I stare at the handsome man standing on my doorstep.
“Afton Neal.” He reaches his hand out to me. “Let me formally introduce myself. I’m Luke Jones, and I’m forever in your debt.”
Chapter 9
Afton
My gaze falls back to where Joel is standing. The shocked expression on his face tells me that he’s just as surprised to see Luke as I am.
“Did I come at a bad time?”
Speechless, I stare up and into Luke’s blue eyes. They’re a shade darker than my eyes. They’re mesmerizing. Everything about him is right down to the sound of his voice.
I swallow hard. “I didn’t expect to see you again.”
He slicks his tongue over his bottom lip, and mother of all things sexy, I need to take a step back.
Drunk Luke Jones was charmingly hot, but this put together sober version is on a ghost pepper level.
“I tried to call.” He cocks one dark brow. “I found your number on your website, but you didn’t answer. I left a message.”
I silenced my phone yesterday because it wouldn’t stop ringing.
Not only were my parents trying to reach me, but a handful of my friends wanted to know what happened at the church.
I decided that ignoring everyone for a day or two was the self-help move I had to make.
“I’m sorry I didn’t answer,” I say honestly, knowing that if I had spotted an incoming call from him, I would have picked it up on the first ring.
“I get it,” he says softly. “No need to explain.”
“Invite the gentleman in, Afton,” Joel says from behind me.
I let out a nervous chuckle. I didn’t expect to see Luke again, and I sure as hell never imagined he’d be in my home.
“Come on in,” I beckon with a curl of my finger.
I step aside to give Luke room to enter. His hand is outstretched again as Joel approaches him.
“Luke Jones,” he repeats his name.
“Joel Walton-Neal.” Joel takes Luke’s hand between both of his for a hearty shake. “I’m Afton’s brother-in-law and best friend.”
“Work partner too,” I add.
“She’s generous.” He laughs. “I’m her assistant.”
“With the food photography biz?” Luke drops his hands to his hips. “I’m no foodie, but the portfolio on your website is damn impressive. My grandmother’s been looking to update the website for her restaurant. I’m going to pass your information to her.”
Since Luke’s gaze has been volleying between Joel and me, Joel takes the lead. “What’s your grandmother’s website address? We can have a look at what she’s got going on now.”
“She owns Calvetti’s.”
“Calvetti’s?” I question. “Your grandmother is Martina Calvetti?”
Luke answers with a nod and a smile that sets my heartbeat racing. “She’d insist that you call her Marti. Everyone does, including me.”
“It’s a small world,” Joel says just as another knock sounds at the door. “I ordered lasagna from there for Afton thirty minutes ago. It’s her favorite.”
***
Joel pokes his elbow into my side as we listen to Luke talk to the man who brought our lunch from Calvetti’s. Neither of us can make out anything since the entire conversation has been in Italian.
“Thanks again, Alfie,” he says as he pats the gray-haired man on the shoulder.
Alfie turns, and with a wave of his hand in the air, leaves my home, shutting the door behind him.
Joel turns to me. “I forgot I have a meeting.”
That’s code for I’ll get lost so you two can be alone. I’m the one who started it when Joel first confessed that he was falling for my brother.
“I think that meeting is tomorrow,” I say with a perk of my brow.
I’m not sure I want to be alone with Luke right now. I suspect he’s going to ask me what happened at the church when I ran away from the man I was supposed to marry.
Having that discussion with a virtual stranger is no more appealing than having it with someone I know.