He nods, letting that sink in. And then he lifts his chin at my food. “Eat up, it’ll go cold.” I fight to hold back my laugh. He’s right—taking care and being bossy is in his DNA.
We eat in silence for a little while, but while no words pass our lips, the need we’re both feeling thrums between us. I can’t keep my eyes off Luke’s body. I try, but I keep catching myself staring. And each time I lift my gaze back to his, I find him watching me with a knowing look.
“When can I see you again?” I blurt out.
He’s quick to reply. “Tomorrow night. I’ll organise someone to cover me here.”
“Thank God.” I don’t even bother hiding my relief. I’m used to relationships moving a little slower. I don’t usually know what I want this soon, but with Luke, after knowing him for a year, I know exactly what I want. And I’m not going to do the flirtation dance of waiting for the man to make the next move.
11
Luke
“Bowling?” Callie says as I pull into the bowling alley car park.
I park the car and cut the engine before turning to her. “How long since you’ve been bowling?”
“God, it would have to be at least fifteen years, maybe longer.”
I jerk my chin towards the door. “Get your ass out of the car and don’t judge it then. By the end of tonight, you’ll be begging me to bring you bowling again.”
Her eyes flare a little at my order, but she doesn’t argue. We exit the car, and I lock it as I make my way around to where she waits for me.
“Are you warm enough?” I ask as she rubs her arms.
She smiles. “Yes.”
With my arm around her waist, we walk the short distance to the building. Once inside, I pay, to her annoyance, and we choose our bowling balls. Callie continues to give me the look that lets me know she thinks this is lame. She won’t. In a moment, she won’t know what fucking hit her.
“Okay, master, show me how good bowling can be,” she says once we’re settled at our table.
I smirk. “You’re up first.”
She raises her brows and slashes her finger in the air at my mouth as she gives me some more attitude. “What’s with that smirk?”
I nod at the lane. “Go.”
She mutters something I can’t make out, but she takes her turn.
“Bugger, I only got one damn pin,” she grumbles as she waits for her ball to come back up.
I move to her. “I’ll give you some pointers.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “So I can beat you?” I love her competitive nature. It matches mine, but tonight mine doesn’t exist. Tonight, I have a whole other agenda.
“What kind of man would I be if I didn’t help my woman?”
Her lips purse together as if she doesn’t quite believe me. “I think you’ve got a motive I haven’t quite figured out yet, Luke Hardy.”
I smack her ass. “Move.”
A moment later, I stand behind her as she holds her ball up, ready to take aim. I place my hands on her hips and bend to her ear. “You need to move to the right a little, baby.”
Her sharp intake of breath jolts pleasure through me, and I groan as my dick hardens. In retrospect, this may not have been my best idea.
“You sneaky bastard,” she murmurs as she takes a step to the right.
I tighten my grip on her hips. “Too far. Come back a little.”