Pretend You're Mine(23)
Luke nodded. “It’s not a bad idea.”
“It’s better than Frank forgetting all about it and the client changing his mind and sticking with whatever the regular countertop is.”
“What else can a CRM do?”
Harper took a deep breath and launched into the basics. She could tell she was losing him when his frown deepened. “Just think of it as a robot assistant,” she said.
Luke nodded. “I like robots.”
“So tell me about Frank. What’s his deal?” She adjusted the visor against the sun.
“You mean, why is he so pissed off all the time?” Luke grinned behind his sunglasses. “It’s just part of his charm. He giving you trouble?”
“Not really. I kind of like him. I was just curious. He seems ...”
“Insubordinate?” he supplied.
“Well, yeah.”
Luke sighed. “Frank and I go way back. I’ve known him since I was a kid. He’s a good worker. One of the best. He knows more about the ins and outs of this business than anyone. He’s just a loudmouth pain in the ass.”
Harper snorted.
“How is it working with your dad?”
Luke shrugged. “It’s good.” Harper looked at him pointedly, waiting for him to continue. “He ran a contracting business for years and I always knew I wanted to build. So about ten years ago, we decided to give it a go and started the company.”
“You’re awfully nonchalant about it.”
Luke grinned. “About what?”
“I’ve only had a peek at your books and the incoming checks, but it looks like you’re quite the thriving builder, buddy,” she teased.
“We do okay.” He smirked.
Harper rolled her eyes. Since when did she find smirking sexy? Since right now, apparently.
“With as busy as you are, how did you not already have a full time office manager?”
Luke shrugged. “We really started growing about three years ago. And Beth — you’ll meet her tomorrow — used to be full-time office help until she had the twins. Now she’s part-time and just does the bookkeeping.”
Harper slowed and pulled into a gravel lot. Luke took in the renovated barn that backed up to grassy fields. The smell of steak hung thick in the air.
“Nice place. What made you pick it?”
It was Harper’s turn to smirk. “I thought we’d draw less attention here than Benevolence.”
“Good call.”
“Are you some kind of famous bachelor or hometown hero? Everyone seems to be incredibly interested in you.”
His gaze leveled with hers, but instead of the laugh she expected she saw a coolness. “Have people been talking?”
Harper tilted her head. “Talking about what?”
“Nothing.” His demeanor changed and he reached over to squeeze her leg. “Come on, I’ll let you buy me dinner.”
The hostess, a tiny pixie with dark framed glasses and purple streaks in her hair, led them back to a cozy corner booth next to a window overlooking pasture and pond. The sun was just beginning to sink behind the trees.
Luke glanced around at the textured walls of stone and plaster and the thick ceiling beams. “Nice place.”
“I thought you might like it,” Harper said, grabbing the beer list. “Meat and a cool building seemed like the right way to say thank you for everything.”
“Are you ever going to stop thanking me?”
“Are you ever going to stop doing things that deserve gratitude?” She batted her eyelashes.
“Smart ass,” Luke grinned.
They ordered draft beers and steaks as a small band set up in the adjoining room.
“So tell me about yourself, Harper,” Luke said, stretching his arm across the back of the booth.
“You’re taking this date thing pretty seriously. What do you want to know?”
The waitress returned with their beers and Harper took a sip.
“Well, we are fake dating, so I should know some things about you. Like, when’s your birthday? Where did you go to school? What was it like growing up without parents? Why are you the way you are?”
Harper laughed. “That’s a lot of questions.” She snagged his beer and sampled it before sliding it back across the table.
Luke spun the glass around before picking it up, tasting. Harper wondered if he purposely drank from the same spot she did. “I find you interesting.”
“That sounds like it’s not really a compliment.”
“I also find you smart, beautiful, funny, and brave. But I can’t figure you out. How does someone who goes through everything you’ve gone through walk around with a permanent smile on her face?”
“You mean because of my parents?”