Pretend You're Mine(37)

Thinking. About him. The way he could look into her with those eyes that didn’t miss a thing. His jaw, usually set in a firm line, was perpetually covered with a 5 o’clock shadow. And that body, hard muscle under inked lines begging her hands to—

Her phone signaled a text from the nightstand jarring her from her fantasy.

Her pulse kicked up a notch when she saw Luke’s name on the screen.

Have a good day?

She’d play it cool, she decided. Really good. You?

A few seconds later, he responded. Not bad. Getting ready for bed now.

Hopefully it’s more comfortable than your couch. She included a winky face. That was still playing it cool, right?

Funny. What are you still doing up?

Thinking about you.

A minute passed and then two before her phone dinged. Same here. For a fake girlfriend, I can’t get you out of my head.

Harper did her best version of a horizontal happy dance and then counted to thirty before she responded.

What do you think that means? She nibbled on her thumbnail from the time she hit send until he responded.

It means I’ve spent more time regretting my decision to stay away from you than convincing myself to stick to it.

Then don’t stay away. Come over to the dark side.

Cute. I just don’t want you to get hurt.

We both know there’s no future. What’s the harm in enjoying the present? Her screen dimmed and then turned off. A minute ticked by on the bedside clock before, finally, another text came in.

Get some sleep, baby. I’ll see you tomorrow night.





CHAPTER FOURTEEN


It was a restless night’s sleep with dreams of Luke. The next day, she only had to drag her thoughts back to the present — away from all things Luke — every thirty seconds or so while she puttered around the house.

She still hadn’t heard from him by the time she dusted every nook and cranny of the banister, cleaned the inside of the first floor windows, and finished her murder mystery. She was debating on whether or not she should text him when her phone rang in her hand.

“Tell me you’re not busy getting naked with my brother today,” Sophie demanded.

“Your brother is currently out of town avoiding me, presumably to protect himself from my incredible magnetism that drops athletic shorts with a single glance. So, no.”

Sophie snorted. “Perfect! Then you can come with me.”

“Where are we going?” Harper asked, opening the back door and stepping onto the porch.

“It’s the Annual Benevolence Not-So-Polar Plunge at the lake.”

“Aren’t those things usually in the winter?”

“I’ll fill you in on the way. You’ll do it, right?”

Some cold water would probably do her hot blood some good, Harper decided.

“Sure.”

“Great! Wear your worst bathing suit.”

Harper only had one suit, and she hadn’t worn it for a few years. She hoped it still fit.

“I’ll bring your costume and pick you up in half an hour.”

“Costume?” But Sophie had already hung up.

Harper tossed her phone on the counter and dashed upstairs to find her bikini.

***

“Okay, so, forty-five years ago, some high school students decided it would be fun to organize a Christmas cold water plunge to benefit a local cause.” Sophie launched into her explanation as she pulled out of the driveway. “I think it was a family whose house had burned down. Anyway, they were all set to do it when the lake froze over. So they decided to postpone it until the water thawed.

“Now, every year, townies get together in April, dress up like it’s Christmas, and jump in the lake. This year’s cause is a leukemia and lymphoma nonprofit.”

“That’s kind of awesome,” Harper laughed. “So what’s our costume?”

Sophie reached behind her into the backseat and dumped a sweater in her lap. Harper held it up and laughed. Garrison Christmas 1987. It had misshapen reindeer flying over lumpy, snow covered hills.

“These are from Mom’s knitting phase. We still do shirts every year, but now we order them online.”

“I’m feeling Christmas-y already. So how cold is the water?”

Sophie grinned. “Well, it’s not December, but it sure as hell isn’t warm! They don’t call the lake Arctic Hell for nothing. People don’t willingly get in the water until August. I brought a bunch of old towels, though and they hand out shots afterwords and have a bonfire. It’s pretty fun.”

When they pulled into the parking lot, Harper goggled at the number of cars already there. “It looks like the whole town is here.”

Sophie nodded, “More or less. James and Ty should be here already. Ty is on duty as a cop slash lifeguard. James will do the plunge with us.”