Pretend You're Mine(9)

She would have to ask him what it meant. A little conversation on their trip would help keep her mind off the memory of waking up with him pressed against her.

Feeling like she had been hit by a small car, Harper gingerly snuck down to the kitchen where she started a pot of coffee before opening the fridge. Considering the state of the rest of his house — there was nothing but a stack of boxes in the dining room — she didn’t have high hopes for a bachelor’s kitchen inventory, but was happy to find eggs one day away from expiration, milk, cheese and the remains of a loaf of bread. Scrambled egg sandwiches would start the day off.

The swelling in her face had gone down, thankfully. But the bruising had gotten uglier. Everything else ached. She had even discovered a baseball-sized bruise on her butt cheek. Hopefully that ham-fisted asshole was crying like a baby in a cell somewhere and Gloria had gotten her first good night’s sleep in years.

Harper found Luke’s laptop on the counter and, as the eggs cooked, checked Craigslist for job listings in Fremont. There were a few that would do, at least temporarily. It was almost a shame that she didn’t know someone here in Benevolence. The sleepy town and its nosy residents gave off a good vibe. No one could be lonely here.

But the job market was probably nonexistent. Besides, Harper thought as she rummaged for sugar, if she stayed, she would make a fool of herself over Luke.

And who wouldn’t? He was hot, protective, and those eyes. “Definitely a bad idea,” she murmured to herself.

“Do you always talk to yourself when you cook?” The room got warmer and the air cracklier when Luke walked in.

She glanced up from the frying pan to where he stood near the refrigerator, studying her. He still wore the pajama pants, but had added a t-shirt. Damn.

“Good morning,” she said cheerfully, trying to shove the carnal thoughts out of her head.

“Morning. What’s all this?” He nodded towards the stove.

He looked guarded. Harper handed him an empty mug.

“Breakfast. It’s a thank you for letting me stay here.”

He took the mug and after a second’s hesitation made his way to the coffee.

She watched him out of the corner of her eye while he poured and she plated. What would it be like to have this view every morning?

***

“I really appreciate this,” Harper said, sliding into Luke’s truck.

He waited until she fastened her seatbelt and then started the engine. “You already said that.”

“Well, I didn’t want you to think I’d gotten less grateful since breakfast.” She looked out the window as they backed down the driveway and pulled onto the street. The town rolled by, neat and tidy. Well-maintained houses hugged the main street and historic brick buildings housed businesses with cute names like Common Grounds and the Sparkle Shop.

Growing up, she had dreamed of a town like this. A place to belong. They drove past the high school with its wide green lawn and football stadium. She wondered how different things would have been for her had life begun here.

“You’re quiet.” Luke observed, glancing at her.

“Just thinking. Did you play football? In high school, I mean.”

Luke stopped for a red light. “Yeah. And ran track.”

“Very athletic.” Harper commented.

“You?”

“No, I never played football.”

“Smart ass.” Luke said it mildly, and Harper caught a glimpse of dimple.

Harper smiled. “No other sports either.”

“Why, because your school didn’t have boxing?”

“Funny.” She wrinkled her nose at him. “It was mostly circumstances. I moved around a lot.”

“Skipping out on arrest warrants?”

“I’m starting to think you have a slightly skewed perception of me, Lucas.”

“Can you blame me?”

“Hey, you’re the one who picked me up at a bar.”

“I picked you up off the parking lot.”

“Details, details,” Harper waved her hand.

Luke turned into a small parking lot next to a barn-red office. Dunnigan & Associates.

“Damn it, Luke. I told her I would see my doctor when I could.”

“Suck it up, sweetheart. It’s the price of a ride to the city.”

Harper pouted. “I feel fine.”

“Bullshit. You can barely move. Now be a big girl and get out.”

She took her sweet time following him up the ramp.

“If you’re in that much pain I’d be happy to carry you in,” he threatened.

Harper quickened her pace and slunk in the door behind him.

“They’re not even open yet,” she hissed at his back.

“Doc opened early just for your pretty little ribs.”