“Do fish swim?”
She smiled, and Luke was reminded of just how pretty she was. Add in last night’s too-short glimpse of tan legs and a spectacular ass and he found himself more than just intrigued. She wore skinny jeans and a T-shirt and her long, blond hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, but somehow, the look worked for her. He thought about the little red bikini still hanging in the bathroom. Now that he knew it didn’t belong to his niece, he could appreciate its skimpiness. His brain automatically conjured up an image of Blondie in the bikini.
Then he remembered the retainers lying next to the sink. Sarah Jamison was hot, no doubt about it, but probably way too young for the direction his thoughts were once again speeding toward.
“How old are you?”
She looked ridiculously pleased. “How old do you think I am?”
“Christ,” he muttered. “Don’t tell me y
ou’re not old enough to drink the scotch you stole from me.”
Her cheeks went pink at the reminder. “I’m twenty-nine.”
“Prove it.”
She dug inside her backpack to produce a Florida driver’s license. According to the date on the card, she was turning thirty on September fourth, just five weeks away.
So, not too young after all.
After Torie had broken up with him, he’d had a couple of rebound one-night stands to soothe his ego, but it had been three long months since he’d gotten any. The old Luke would go for it. But the new Luke was suddenly feeling old. He was thirty-seven. Definitely not a kid anymore. He’d come home for some long overdue rest, and although Blondie was attractive, she emitted a nervous kind of vulnerability that screamed hands off. Plus, she was friends with his sister, all of which made her the last woman on earth he should get involved with.
He handed her back the driver’s license.
“I ran into your sister and Zeke this morning at The Bistro. She has no clue you’re in town, by the way.”
He stopped eating.
“I didn’t rat you out, if that’s what you’re thinking,” she said.
“Thanks.” He finished off the sandwich while she sat on the opposite end of the couch, watching him with a wary eye like she expected him to pounce on her at any minute. Then he realized she was waiting for him to explain. “Look, I plan to stay for a few weeks at least, and of course I’ll tell my family I’m here, but first I wanted a couple of days to myself. If my mother knows I’m in town, let’s just say it’s—”
“Complicated,” she finished. “I totally get it.”
Her words said one thing, but her eyes said she didn’t understand. How he knew that, he wasn’t sure, but he did. She had one of those faces that couldn’t hide anything. “And how do you know my sister?”
“I didn’t until I moved here. You know Frida Hampton, who owns The Bistro by the Beach?” She went on to explain the rest of the story and how Mimi had helped her out by offering her his place.
“Is that what you do? Work at different restaurants filling in for people when they’re on vacation?”
“For now,” she answered vaguely. “What about you? Your sister told me you’re some kind of environmental engineer.”
“Kind of.”
“You must do pretty well for yourself. I mean, I couldn’t help but check out the photos.” She nodded toward the Luke Powers photo gallery and he cringed. He really needed to take that down. “Fancy ski trips, hiking in Europe, beautiful off-and-on girlfriend. It looks like you have a great life. Do you think you and Victoria will get back together again?”
He frowned. “How did you know her name?”
“Mimi mentioned her. I know you’re officially broken up for now, but apparently your mom is really hoping that you’ll get back together permanently.”
Great. His sister was not only renting out his beach house behind his back, she was also talking to complete strangers about his love life. Good thing Mimi was his favorite person on earth, or he’d wring her neck.
“Listen, I know Mimi said you could stay here but—”
“Managing The Bistro is a twenty-four-seven job. I basically only sleep here and I don’t use much electricity.” There was a hint of desperation in her voice that made him feel like a first-class heel for even thinking of tossing her cute little ass out the door. She seemed okay. Not some psycho off the street, and Mimi obviously trusted her. If he kicked her out now, his big-hearted sister would probably never forgive him.
“If it helps, you can stay here for a couple of days while you look for something else.” The words were out of his mouth before he could take them back.