“One final point of curiosity.” Luke slowed his pace by Pam’s desk on his way to the sanctuary. “Did anyone stop to consider it might be a good idea if I were consulted before purchasing carpet for my office? After all, it is my office, and I would swear that only this morning, Mrs. Brooks acknowledged the fact I’m paid to make the decisions here.”
“Everyone knows that,” Pam agreed. “But you’ve got too much to do, and carpet is such an insignificant thing. Besides, you always tell me to use my own judgment when you’re away. I thought it was a nice surprise.”
“It is, but…oh hell, never mind. I’m going to lead the group, then go home and run.”
“If you don’t mind my saying so, you look as though you ought to go home and take a long nap.”
“I do mind,” Luke replied, but when he walked into his condo, his bed looked a whole lot better to him than his running shoes. He meant to lie down for a few minutes, then call Catherine Brooks to make certain she’d made it home safely, but when he awoke, it was six o’clock Tuesday morning.
When Luke did call Catherine, it was late Tuesday afternoon, and he asked if he might stop by to see her that evening. Certain he must be upset about the new carpet, she tightened her grip on the receiver.
“You needn’t come all this way to yell at me. Everyone thought the carpet was a fine idea, and with you away, it seemed the perfect time to install it.”
Luke chuckled softly. “I hadn’t planned on yelling at you.”
“You hadn’t? Then why did you want to see me?”
“That’s an excellent question. Let’s just say we need to talk.”
She caught herself before again asking why, but as much as she would enjoy seeing him, she was still concerned something was amiss. Then she began to worry that something wasn’t. The last time he’d been there, she’d wanted him to stay, even if she hadn’t dared say so. What if the suggestion came from him this time?
She quickly slid into a chair at the breakfast table and tried not to choke. She wondered if she should invite him to come for dinner, but fearing that would be offering too much, she decided against it. She was just so dreadfully out of practice when it came to men, but if there was practice to be had with Luke, she definitely wanted it.
“Seven o’clock would be fine,” she managed smoothly, but as she hung up, she thought of Joyce’s continuing anguish over men and made a firm promise not to be as great a fool.
There was no milkshake in Luke’s hand when he arrived, and Catherine quickly offered coffee or tea. “I have soft drinks as well, and while I’m not sure what’s left in the liquor cabinet, there must be something.”
They were standing in the living room, a remarkably cheerful room decorated in shades of yellow and blue. She drew on its sunny mood now. Not wanting to look as though she’d gone to great lengths to look nice, she’d dressed casually in a flared deep green skirt and matching knit top.
“I don’t need anything now, thank you,” Luke responded. “You look awfully pretty in green. You could promote tourism for Ireland.”
Surprised by that unexpected compliment, she blushed. “My family traces its roots to Scotland, but thank you. Won’t you sit down?”
He waited for her to settle herself at the end of the sofa, then chose the wing chair at her right. He sat forward and clasped his hands between his knees. “I meant to call you last night to make certain you’d gotten home safely, but unfortunately, I got distracted.”
She couldn’t help but wonder just who had provided that distraction. “It happens, but thanks for the thought.”
“I thought you might come in today, but when I checked the master schedule, I couldn’t find your name anywhere. I’m sure I emphasized how important it is to make a schedule and keep it when you attended the training session.”
She’d been so nervous, but now she just wanted to laugh and had to bite her lip to stifle the impulse. “Is that what this is about? You’re annoyed because I failed to sign up on the master schedule?”
Giving up all pretense of calm, Luke rose and began to pace in front of the coffee table. “No, I’m annoyed because I keep waiting for you to come through the door, and I can’t handle the disappointment when you don’t. If I’m completely wrong about this, I’ll save us both any further embarrassment and get out of here, but if there’s a chance that you’d like to see me outside of Lost Angel, I’m all for it.”
The sleeves of his white dress shirt were rolled on his tanned forearms. His Levi’s were neatly pressed, his loafers polished, and with his hair still too long, he called to mind a very charming college professor. Fortunately, she knew there was far more to the man.
She rose gracefully and came toward him. She hadn’t been this frightened with Ford Dolan, but she liked Luke too much to hide what she felt. “Yes, I’d love to see you, anytime, anyplace.”
She held her breath as he moved close, but he kissed her cheek and then her earlobe before trailing a tender caress along the curve of her jaw. She’d expected him to kiss her with a thorough passion, but instead, he moved with a disarming stealth.
“You have to remember to breathe,” he whispered against her hair, “or you’ll miss all the fun.”
She drew in a quick breath. “You wouldn’t take advantage of an unconscious woman.”
He smiled. “Certainly not, but with you, I’d sure be tempted.”
She raised her arms to encircle his neck. He smelled delicious, and he felt so good to touch. As his heat melted away her fears, she slid her fingers through his hair. When he leaned in, she pressed his mouth close for a near endless kiss to prove quite emphatically just what a temptation she really could be.
Chapter Seven