“It’s over, baby. And you’re mine now,” he rasps.
I blink, unsure what this all means. “What?”
He takes hold of my face with both hands and kisses me again. I lose myself to his kiss, helpless to stop him. He tastes so damn good, and I never want this kiss to end.
“The cops don’t need me anymore. Turns out someone else committed that murder, so I’m free. The divorce will go through in about ten months or so,” he announces when he takes a break from my lips.
A steady buzz of joy floats through my body. I slip my arms around his waist, needing to touch him more desperately than I’ve ever needed to touch anyone. “So that means we can be together,” I say softly.
His eyes flash with lust, and he grinds against me. “That depends on where you stand on this phase of a marriage. It’s definitely over, and my lawyer has been to see Jolene today to tell her. Does that mean we can progress past friend zone?”
Jesus, how can anyone say no to Luke Hardy? If I thought he was irresistible before, he’s just upped his game.
I loop my arms around his neck and catch his lips in a kiss. We drown in this kiss, and I silently give him my answer. Now that he’s told his wife it’s over for sure, and his divorce is proceeding, I’m 100 percent all for this. No doubts linger. “Consider friend zone dead and buried. I’m ready for you to show me how you really play. Introduce me to your new game, Luke,” I say after I end the kiss.
He exhales a breath as if he’d been holding it in, unsure how I’d respond. “Thank fuck,” he says, and my belly flutters at his obvious need.
A loud knock on the office door interrupts us. “Luke? We kinda need you, dude. It’s getting real busy out here,” Avery says on the other side.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” he says.
“Sorry, Callie,” she says.
“All good, babe,” I reply.
Luke’s gaze settles on mine. “Tomorrow night you’re mine,” he orders. “Unless I can make shit happen tomorrow morning.”
I don’t want to wait that long, but we’re up against his work and family commitments here, so I know I’m going to have to wait.
“I’ll clear my schedule for you tomorrow.”
His hands slide under my ass, and he lifts me up, balancing me against the door. After he kisses me again, he says, “I’d appreciate that.” God, I love that deep voice of his.
I leave the bar ten minutes later and commence the countdown to sex with Luke.
Sex.
Finally.
Oh, God, I need to prepare for this.
Thank goodness I have the whole night ahead.
18
Callie
I smooth a mask over my face later that night. The bottle assured me it would help clear my pores, and I need those pores cleared. I’m beginning to feel a little anxious. Since I arrived home from the bar, I’ve had problem after problem get in the way of my primping for tomorrow. I need everything to be perfect for when Luke and I finally sleep together again.
First, Jasper was ill, so I had to take care of him. Then after I got him sorted, Mrs Harper’s sink blocked, so I took care of that for her. And then, my car alarm sounded. When I went to check on it, one of my neighbours engaged me in a conversation about neighbourhood security that lasted a good half hour. I’ve only just managed to extricate myself.
As soon as I returned from that conversation, I dyed my hair. It’s currently wrapped in cling wrap, sitting on top of my head. And the black pore mask I applied is beginning to set on my face. Next up, a bikini wax. And then my legs need to be waxed, too. After that I’ll do a pedicure and then a manicure. To finish off, I’m going to take a long bath and exfoliate my entire body before slathering on body lotion.
I decide wine is in order while I wait for my mask and hair, so I traipse to the fridge and retrieve the Riesling I bought on the way home. I’ve just poured myself a glass when there’s a knock on the front door. I ignore it because I’m dressed only in my sexy red silk robe that barely covers my ass. I love this robe so much that I’ve got the heating cranked up just so I can wear it. Tonight is all about me feeling sexy, and this robe does that. Winter won’t stop me from feeling sexy.
The banging doesn’t stop—it only grows louder until Luke calls out, “Callie.”
I freeze.