Chapter 3

3

JUNE

A ll through dinner, my mom and Paisley go on about wedding stuff. I hate that a part of me feels jealous. My mom is so excited and animated. I've never been the girly-girl that I'm sure she longed for. It's not that I believe she doesn't love me.

I'm thrilled for Paisley. If anyone deserves a family, it's her. When she talks about how she grew up, it breaks my heart. I couldn't imagine a life with parents that didn't love and support me. Not wanting to invade their bonding time, I eat instead, knowing that Luka is staring at me. Why? I have no freaking clue. He's probably judging me for one thing or another.

When everyone is done, I help clear the table. It gives me an escape and keeps me busy. When I come back into the dining room to grab more dishes, Luka snags me by the wrist. This isn't the first time he's done this. He also did it the first day I met him when I told him if he was taking Paisley, I was coming with them. He hadn't shot down the idea. He dragged me right along.

"What are you doing?"

"Come with me." He gives me a tug, forcing me to follow him. I should protest, but I can't bring myself to do it. Luka heads for the front door, taking us out onto the porch.

"Why are you dragging me around again?" I try to tease him.

"I can't help myself." He comes to a stop. His thumb brushes back and forth against my skin. He's still holding on to me. "I thought maybe I remembered it wrong," Luka mutters. I think it's more to himself.

"Remembered what wrong?" I ask, confused by what the heck he is talking about.

"How soft you are."

Whoa, I really didn't see that coming.

"You don't like me." Before things get out of control here, I remind him.

"I like you." His brows pull together with a perplexed expression. I can't help but laugh. He could have fooled me. I mean, if this is what him liking me looks like, then I'd hate to see what disliking me would.

"I'm guessing you're not too thrilled about that?"

"I didn't say that." His words were unnecessary. His actions speak volumes.

"You didn't have to." I pull my arm back, but he doesn't let me.

"Don't; I want to keep touching you." My stomach tightens, enjoying him saying that way more than I should. Of course, my body decides to betray me. "Why were you so quiet?"

"When?"

"When we ate."

"Maybe I'm always quiet."

"Not what your mom said when you left the table."

"It's nothing." I glance back toward the front door to see if anyone is watching us.

"Show me around." Luka keeps holding me by the wrist as he leads me down the stairs.

"Is this your way of holding hands?" I laugh. He shrugs like he really doesn't know. It makes me wonder, and God and everyone else knows I can't help myself. If I want to know something, I'm going to find out. "Have you held hands with anyone before?"

"No," he says simply. I thought it might embarrass him to admit it if it were true, but it doesn't. I soften toward him.

"Like this." I go to take his hand. He allows me to, but then he ties our fingers together.

"Now tell me why you were quiet."

"Maybe it was because you were there."

"It wasn't." He calls me out right away.

"You know you look kinda funny walking around on a ranch in a suit." I try to steer the conversation in a different direction.

"I'll manage." He had taken off the jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. "Now stop changing the subject."

"I didn't have anything to add. Mom and Paisley were doing their thing."

"You don't want to help plan the wedding?"

"I don't know." I give a small shrug. "I'm happy they are getting married. That means my best friend will be sticking around, and I get my brother back too."

"But things are changing."

I nod. I suppose they are changing, just not for me. And that's the problem I'm having with it all.

"It would be nice to be asked for my opinion." The words tumble out of my mouth. I'm not sure where they came from, but they're true. I know Paisley and my mom are not intentionally doing it, but I can't help but feel left out. It's really silly because I know it's not their intention at all.

"You could help me pick out a suit," he offers with a smirk.

"I think you have that covered." I laugh. We come to a stop when we reach one of the fences that stretches along the south side of the property. I release Luka's hand to climb up and sit on top of it. I'm actually eye level with him now.

Luka rests his hand on my bare thigh. I lick my lips. "I was sure you didn't like me."

"Why?"

"You kept calling me kitten and bossing me around."

"What's wrong with calling you kitten?"

I chew on my bottom lip. "I don't know," I huff when I can't come up with a reason.

"Maybe because you like it?"

"I do—" I cut myself off. "Maybe a little bit." Luka lets out a low chuckle that's sexy as hell. I don't think I've heard him laugh.

"I've never given someone a nickname before," he admits. Okay, now I might love that he calls me kitten, but I'm not admitting that. I'm still not sure what is going on here, but more than that, I don't think Luka does either.

I don't think he's cold and bossy because he's not trying to be a dick anymore. I'm starting to see that maybe it's all he knows.

"That first day we met."

"When that vet was drooling all over you?"

"Vet?" I swear, I never know what Luka might say. I really like that about him. "Oh, Doc Baxter." How is that the first thing that comes to his mind out of everything that happened that day?

"He wants to fuck you." Luka's mouth forms a straight line. He's not doing so well with hiding his emotions anymore.

"No, he doesn't." I shake my head. All the girls in Cottonwood want Baxter. He could have his pick. I saw Cara hitting on him a few days ago, and she won Miss Colorado two years ago. She never lets any of us forget it.

"He does. Trust me."

"We're kinda friends." I try to explain.

"No, you're not." He runs his hand through his hair, frustrated. "At least not anymore, you're not."

"What the hell?" I punch Luka's shoulder. It doesn't faze him. "He's the new local vet. He helps with my horses." Luka's expression tells me he's not buying it.

"That's not all he wants to help with. He wants to fuck you."

"Will you stop saying that?!" My cheeks are starting to warm thinking about fucking. Not that I've ever done it, but now I'm thinking about it, and it's Luka who is with me. And no matter how much I make fun of his suits, I can't deny for a second how hot he looks in them.

"It's true."

"How do you know?"

"Because I want to fuck you too." My mouth falls open. Holy crap. Did he really just say that?

"That's so crude." His words shouldn't bother me. I've spent my life around cowboys and at rodeos. There isn't a thing I haven't heard. But I don't want to be a conquest. I try to hop off the fence, but Luka stops me.

"Kitten." His hands reach my hips, and he steps in between my legs. "Didn't come out how I meant." I pause, wanting to hear him out. I'm also enjoying his hands gripping me. "Jealousy got the best of me, but I stand by what I said. He wants you." Luka's hands tighten on my hips, his fingers digging in. "But he's not going to have you."

"You know you can't boss me around." It's terrible, but his jealousy is, for some reason, working for me. If it were someone else, it would raise concerns. I would be verbally ripping them to shreds for thinking they could tell me what to do.

"Maybe not, but I could make him disappear."

"Luka!"

"I'm not going to kill him." He shrugs. "Maybe just ship him off to another country."

"And how would you do that?" I don't know why I'm even engaging in this, but again, I can't help myself. I always have to know.

"Everyone has a price."

"No, they don't, Luka." I rest my hands on his shoulders. Doc Baxter might, but not everyone. "I bet there is no amount of money in the world that could get my dad to leave my mom or my brother to leave Paisley." They are a shining example of true love. It's what I want more than anything.

"Is that the whole true love thing?"

"It's not a thing."

"Scientifically—" Knowing he is going to spew nonsense about it not being real, I interrupt him. Without thinking, I press my mouth to his.

I expect him to stiffen or jerk back, but he doesn't. The second my lips meet his, Luka is deepening the kiss. His tongue slips between my lips. I follow his lead, kissing him right back. Neither of us stops until we're both breathless. My lips tingle, as do other parts of my body. I had no idea a kiss could be that way.

"That was…" I trail off, not having a word for it. I expect Mr. Smarty Pants to have one, but he remains silent. "So, ah?—"

"You're right."

"Oh, I like the sound of that." I laugh. "What am I right about?"

"Maybe there is true love." Even as he utters those words, his expression of uncertainty takes over.

"You could be good for a girl's ego. One kiss, and I've got you thinking about true love." I wiggle my brows at him, trying to make light of it all. Inside, my emotions are running rampant.

I think Luka might be able to run hot and cold. In fact, a few moments alone with his thoughts could undo everything that has transpired in the last five minutes between us. I need to remember that. He could really break my heart. I was cursing at him a few hours ago, and I have just now given him my first kiss. This man is dangerous.

"Tell me what you wanted to say before. About the first day we met." I smile now, thinking about it. "You mentioned that you weren't through with me. What did you mean?"

"Exactly as I said. I'm not done with you."

"Yeah, I got that. Done with me for what?"

"I have no fucking clue, kitten."

"You know, before today, I wasn't sure you could even curse. I was sure you had a stick up your ass."

"I typically don't." He shakes his head. "But you bring it out of me. Make me do things that are out of character." Once again, I'm not sure if he's happy about that or upset.

"Me?" I pretend to be offended.

"Hey, what are you guys doing?" I hear Paisley shout. Luka quickly steps back away from me.

"I was showing him the sunflowers." I point over my shoulder.

"Come back up. We need to talk about bridesmaid dresses."

I hop off the fence. "I'm coming." I flick a glance over toward Luka. Is he embarrassed about the possibility of being caught with me?

"You coming up?"

"Yeah." He grabs my wrist again. "Who is Patrick Bateman?" he asks, once again surprising me. I burst into a fit of laughter.

I don't think I'm done with Luka Woods either.