“Needles and blood. And crossing bridges, although that’s something I’ve learnt to deal with a lot better as I’ve gotten older.”
“Do you know why you’re scared of bridges?”
I shrug. “Nope. But for as long as I can remember, I’ve been scared of them. My parents used to get really upset with me whenever we drove across a bridge, but I was convinced the bridge would break, and I’d die.”
“So, your parents didn’t try to help you through it?”
“No.”
His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t say anything. “And needles and blood? How much blood are we talking here?”
“I can handle a tiny amount, like what you’d get from a small cut, but anything more than that and I may pass out. And needles, any size needle freaks me the fuck out.”
“So tattoos are out?”
“Like you wouldn’t believe. Avery keeps trying to get me to go with her, but no way am I ever stepping foot in a tattoo parlour.” I reach for his hand. “So, what scares you?”
He doesn’t hesitate to share his thoughts with me. I love this about Luke. That he’s confident enough in his manhood to expose his fears because I’ve met many men who would never admit to any. “There are only two things I’m scared of in life—losing Sean and not being there for him however he needs me. I’d do anything to avoid those things.”
“I would be scared of those things, too, if I had a child.”
“Do you want kids?”
“Oh, my God, yes. At least two. And cats. And a house in the city and one by the beach.” My life dreams begin to fall out of my mouth, uncensored.
“You love the beach that much?”
I nod. “I just find it so peaceful and refreshing. When I first moved to Queensland, I spent days at the beach. If it wasn’t for uni being in Brisbane, I would have moved to the Coast.”
“Thank fuck for uni, then.” I know exactly what he means and smile in agreement.
“Fate would have found a way for us to meet if it hadn’t been for Avery and the bar.”
“You think this was predetermined?”
“I’m choosing to believe it was. I mean, I seriously need a man in my life who can cook roast and pizza, right? The universe sent me you. I’d say that was fate.”
His hand curls around my neck, and he pulls my face close, so our lips almost meet. “I’ve never met anyone like you before, Callie.”
My breathing speeds up. “How do you mean?”
“Someone who is different to me on so many levels, but in such a way tha
t I appreciate those differences. You show me other ways to think about things, other facets to consider.”
“I know what you mean,” I whisper before closing the distance between our mouths.
Within five minutes, Luke has me on the blanket, my body tangled with his. I don’t want to move out of his hold, but I know I need to. This is leading into dangerous territory.
I finally disentangle myself ten minutes later and scramble to a sitting position as far from him on the blanket as possible. Pointing at him, I say in the sternest voice I can muster, “You need to stay on your side.”
He grins and sits up. Moving the basket in between us, he says, “That was your fault.”
I pull a face. “How do you figure that?”
“If you weren’t so damn hot I wouldn’t be so damn tempted. You need to tone the sexy down a notch, and we won’t have a problem,” he says as he opens the basket and pulls an assortment of cheeses and crackers out.
“I guess I could wear a face mask next time.”