Lies Beneath the Surface (Buried Secrets 2)
“Yeah, but you didn’t know a damn thing about the bastard either.” I bite back, not thinking about the words that fly out of my mouth.
“Carly, what the hell? Why would you say something like that?”
“Nothing Savannah, I’m just tense. I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that.”
“You know you can talk to me when you need too, right?”
“I do, but I think I’ve burdened you enough. Come on, let’s get you home so you can get the kids from school.”
The drive home is quiet, as I let Savannah’s advice soak in. She’s right. So I find my resolve to surface the truth.
Chapter 5
I let a week pass by before the gnawing tension of this secret weighs on me until I’m wore thin. I promised Savannah I would be honest with Luke and Colton about my pregnancy. As bad as I want to procrastinate in shattering their worlds, I know it’s best to get it done and over with.
I called Luke this morning and asked him to meet me at the Village Diner for lunch. Of course he was thrilled to hear from me and agreed to meet. Escaping the office without Colton questioning me won’t be easy, but I’ve told enough lies over the last few weeks one more ain’t gonna hurt anything.
When I get to the Village Diner I see Luke’s truck in the parking lot. A bit anxious to see me no doubt. I walk into the small brick restaurant and greet Mitzi who is wiping down the counter. She smiles, nodding to the back where I turn to see Luke. As I approach the table, he stands and pulls me into a strong hug. Mmm, his smell envelops my senses and carries me away. Electrifying jolts course through me with the slightest graze of his finger-tips, causing goose flesh to blanket my ivory skin.
Every single thing about Luke Ashton is intoxicating and mesmerizing. From his piercing baby blue eyes, his gleaming white smile, and his strong, broad shoulders. He has a sensual heart, and thinks of everyone else first, himself always last. Yes, Luke Ashton is the perfect package, except for one, tiny flaw. He ain’t Colton. He may be able to cause my heart to race, but Colton stops my damn heart. When Luke can merely bring me to my knees, Colton paralyzes me.
When Luke releases me from his embrace, we take a seat at the table, and begin to browse the menu. Reading from soups to sandwiches, the descriptions of each has my stomach doing somersaults. I close the menu laying it at the edge of the table, and look up to see Luke’s eyes peering through me.
“Let me guess? It’s a snowy day, so you’re gonna have chicken and dumplings, right?” His lip tugs up in the corner.
“Actually, I’m not hungry after all.” I whisper looking past him around the room, trying to find anything else to focus on besides him. He notices my anxiety immediately, and cups his palm over my hand.
“Talk to me. What’s botherin’ you?” He asks, his eyebrows scrunching together.
“That obvious, huh?” I laugh, trying to shake off the boulder that sits atop my shoulders. Luke smiles, but I know I ain’t getting off that easy.
“Yeah, just a bit. We haven’t talked much since before Christmas. You avoid me, which is hurtful, by the way,” he pouts, “I know something’s on your mind, or we wouldn’t be here. So talk.”
Yep…he had me at hurtful. God bless it, why do I have to hurt him, or Colton. Hell, I don’t know who I’m hurting but I know pain will be inflicted, hearts will break, and I will lose one of the two. I pull my lip between my teeth, nibbling away with little bites, trying to inflict the pain I’m so deserving of.
“I really don’t know where to start. How to say it.” I shrug, tears already filling the brim of my eyes. Damn it, why do my emotions have to defy me? I said stay stong, Carly Jo!
“It’s easy. You have a thought, you open your mouth and the words come out. And your mouth sure as hell is big enough, so open it up and let it go, angel.” He smirks. Cute, smartass attempt at easing my anxiety. Okay jackass, open my big mouth and let it out. You asked for it.
“I’m pregnant.” I say quickly in a rushed breath. I want so badly to pinch my eye lids shut, to hold the tears back, but the shocked expression on Luke’s face pulls me in, and the tears fall harder. I half expected him to pull away from me, shoot up from the booth like his ass was on fire, but he doesn’t. He grips my hand tighter as he leans across the table and presses a feather light kiss to my cheek.
“Congratulations Carly, you’re gonna be an amazin’ momma. Have you told Colton yet?” He says as a gleaming smile stretches from ear to ear across his tan face. Shit, he doesn’t understand. Does he know basic math? Hell, we went to school together, I’m sure he should.
“Yeah, he was with me when I took the pregnancy test.”
“I’m really happy for y’all. You deserve the happiness and a family.” He chuckles, rubbing small circles across the back of my hand.
“Luke?” I ask, terrified to explain the heaviness of the situation. Why the hell don’t he get it? Shit, I know he was drunk when we happened, but he didn’t have any problem remembering it the next morning. “I don’t know that Colton is the daddy. I’m so sorry for springing this on you.” He stills at my confession, his eyes growing as big as saucers, and his lips drop open to thick luscious “O”. He stares off past me to at the wall in shock. An uncomfortable silence forms between us as Luke drifts farther into his thoughts. I snap my fingers in front of him, pulling him back down to Earth. When our eyes lock, his baby blues are tense, terror filling them. He pulls away from me, resting his elbow on the table and pinching the bridge of his nose with a deep sigh.
“Does Colton know about us?” He asks me, cracking his knuckles.
“You’re still breathin’ ain’t ya?” I laugh. He rolls his eyes, shaking his head at me.
“You’re real cute, ya know that? I ain’t scared of that dick.” He states simply, shrugging his shoulders.
“Luke, I really am sorry. I don’t want to hurt you or Colton, but obviously someone will be hurt, regardless of how this all turns out.”
“Do you know how far along you are? Can they determine paternity by your period, or something? I just need to know what to expect here.” He urges.