Chapter 12

An hour later – Ellie

The Range Rover pulled up next to the back door of a restaurant called Burger Up. It looked sorta upscale hip, but all I was hoping for was a delicious burger.

On the ride over, I'd been too busy watching the sweat bead on Luke's brow to think too much about the almost-kiss from last night. After I'd got to my room, I'd realized that I hadn't even been certain he was trying to kiss me. I may very well have run away from him spouting out something about spreadsheets like a lunatic for no good reason. But regardless, a kiss would have just complicated things, and the less complicated the better.

I'd gone to bed last night repeating the words "strictly business" over and over to myself until I'd fallen into a fitful slumber and dreamed about making out with Luke. Gah. Even my dreams were inappropriate. I mean, I couldn't help how hot he was, and I actually couldn't help how nice he was being or how charming, but I definitely could keep things casual and run from any potential kisses.

I'd almost expected him to say something to me today about how crazy I'd been, which is why I'd shown up at his bedroom door like I would at an examination room at a hospital. All business. All the time.

I'd knocked on his door and asked if he was ready and changed that dressing like a pro. I'd even managed to keep from saying how good he looked today. I'd had the distinct impression that he'd been about to say something I didn't want to talk about, so I'd asked him the first thing that had sprung to mind—how he'd learned his ex-nurse had leaked pictures of him to the tabloids.

Of course, the minute the words left my mouth, I realized he might not want to relive that particular experience. I was relieved when he said he needed to talk about it. Then my heart had nearly broken seeing the uneasiness on his face as he stepped me through his ordeal. Poor Luke. No one deserved what he'd been through.

When he asked me to go out to lunch with him, I'd considered saying no. I mean, everything with Luke lately sounded so much like a date. Why was that? Or was it just me being too sensitive about all of it? It didn't need to be awkward if I didn't let it. But I could tell how on edge he was on the ride here as he glanced out the darkened windows of the SUV. He'd been rubbing his palms together and looking uneasy.

I did my best to keep a casual conversation going. We'd already talked about the weather, the Nashville restaurant scene, and had just finished a short discussion about the best restaurants in Milwaukee when the car pulled into the alley behind the burger bar and came to a stop in front of the back door. Apparently, celebrities didn't enter through the front door like everyone else.

When the driver opened the car door for me, I glanced tentatively at Luke. "Ready?"

He swallowed and nodded. "As I'll ever be."

I wanted to hold his hand, but that would be too intimate. Wouldn't it? Instead, I nodded and slipped out of the door. Luke was right behind me, and to my surprise, he grabbed my hand and squeezed it. His two security guards fell into step in front and back of us and we were ushered into the back of the restaurant. We were hustled through the kitchen and into a private room.

"Wow," I said, turning around to see the entirety of the small room. "VIP." I'd never been escorted into a restaurant with security involved.

"Yep, turns out a lot of restaurants have private dining rooms like this."

"More things you've learned since becoming famous?"

He nodded.

The doors to the private room closed behind us, and we both knew the security guards were posted just beyond.

"How do you feel?" I asked, searching his face. He looked a little pale.

He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. "Honestly, pretty great. Not gonna lie. It was touch and go there in the car for a bit, but now that I'm in here, I'm glad we came."

"I am too," I said.

He held out the seat for me just as a waitress slipped into the room. She handed us our menus and somehow already knew what drinks we wanted.

"My people called ahead," Luke admitted after the young woman had slipped out again.

"I see." What people? Mrs. Hawthorne? Linda?

It wasn't long before the waitress returned, and we both ordered burgers and fries. The waitress slipped out again, and I turned to Luke.

"You know you're pretty brave to do this."

"Come eat lunch?" He chuckled.

"Trust people again. Like the waitress. You're trusting her."

He narrowed his eyes, and a fierce light came into them. He clenched his jaw. "It makes me so angry to think that Tiffany selling those pictures could steal my aliveness. You know? What makes me me. I refuse to allow anyone to take that from me."

"I totally get that," I said. Wow. What Luke had just said applied to me in a way too. It made me think of what Vance had taken from me. The ability to trust. The ability to believe there was actually a nice guy out there. One who wasn't a player always looking to cheat. I'd allowed him to take that from me.

"Penny for your thoughts," Luke said, dipping his head a little to catch my eye.

"I was just…nothing." I waved my hand in the air. We didn't need to get into all that. Plus, Luke had been talking about himself and his struggle. I wasn't about to switch the conversation to my issues. "I think you have a really great attitude, Luke. Your arm and your shoulder will heal soon, and you'll be back on tour in no time."

"That's the plan," he said with his trademark grin. The one that made me press my legs together a little bit these days.

"We should celebrate," I said, glancing around the room. "Ooh, I have a great idea."

"What?"

"Tequila shots!"

His eyes widened, but he smiled. "It's noon," he pointed out.

"I know, but neither of us have anything to do later, and we're not driving." I waggled my eyebrows at him. "It'll take the edge off your nerves, and it's probably the best painkiller you could hope for outside of a prescription pill."

He laughed. "Well, when you put it like that."

The waitress returned and Luke ordered two top-shelf tequila shots. When she returned with them a few minutes later, I rubbed my hands together in glee.

I handed him his lime and we both licked the backs of our hands between our thumb and index finger before sprinkling salt on top.

"You first," he said.

I happily obliged, licking the salt, downing the shot in one gulp, and then biting into the lime, which made me wince. Once it was over, I shook my head and coughed a little. "Whoa. I haven't done one of those for years." Probably since…college. Wow. It occurred to me that for the first time in years, I felt young and carefree.

"My turn," Luke said, licking the salt off his hand. He tossed back the liquid with a flick of his wrist and then popped the lime between his lips and sucked. I'd never wanted to be a lime more in my life. Oh, hey! More inappropriate thoughts. Great.

After the shot was done, Luke looked at me, his blue eyes sparkling. "I have to admit I was wrong about you, Ellie."

"Wrong? About me? How so?" Smiling, I tossed my hair over my shoulder. Would it be crazy to ask for another shot? Probably. But I definitely wanted to hear how Luke had been wrong about me. That sounded like a fun story.

"I always kinda figured you for someone with a…"

"What?" I crossed my arms over my chest. I already knew what he was gonna say, but I wanted to hear him say it.

He laughed and pressed his hand to the top of his head. "I was gonna say ‘stick up your ass,' but in the nicest way possible."

My crack of laughter filled the little room. "I know you thought that about me. That's not news."

"But I am admitting I was wrong," he pointed out.

"I'm glad to hear you admit it. But honestly, you aren't that wrong. I probably have had a stick up there for a good long while."

His brows shot up. "Why's that then?"

I sighed and let my head fall back on my shoulders as I stared up at the painted ceiling. Did I dare get into all this? With Luke? At lunch? After a tequila shot?

Oh, hell, why not? Do it for the plot.

"I guess I've had my reasons for keeping the stick up there."

"Like what?" He leaned closer to me, bracing his right elbow on the table and propping his chin on his palm.

"Like needing to get excellent grades in school to take care of my grandma one day."

He immediately sat up straight and let his hand fall back to his lap. "Wow. That's a lot."

"Yep." I scrunched up my nose. "I guess, for me, being super organized and getting good grades was my way of being in control of things…if only a little." She shook her head. "Sorry to get heavy on you."

"No. Not at all. There's nothing to apologize for. I just forgot that your grandma raised you."

I shrugged, feeling anything but nonchalant on the topic. "Yeah. I never knew my dad, and my mom took off soon after I was born. She was only twenty."

Luke's face fell. "Damn. I'm sorry, Ellie."

I shook my head and blew out a breath, horrified that tears were threatening in the backs of my eyes. "What's to be sorry for? I know neither of your parents were winning any awards for parent of the year either."

Luke nodded. "You've got that right."

"We all had problems in our neighborhood."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Your grandma is still alive, isn't she?"

"Yep. But unlike your mom, she's only too willing to let me pay the bills. I consider it a privilege to be able to give back to the woman who gave me so much though."

He pressed his lips together. "Is she still at Twin Valley?"

"No. I moved her into a cute little duplex on the other side of town. She loves it. Her church is nearby, and she's made a group of friends. They play bingo every Wednesday, and I visit her for dinner most Sundays."

"That's cool. I can't remember the last time Meg or I saw our dad, and we have to flip a coin to see whose turn it is to go check on Mom."

I gave him a sympathetic smile. "I know. Best friends with your sister, remember?"

The waitress returned with the burgers, which were freakin' delicious. We ate while I wondered if I should ask for another tequila shot. My head told me no, but the fun side of me—the side I hadn't seen in years—was into it.

"So, do you always have to do this? Eat in a private room?" I finally ventured, deciding against the tequila shot. I guess the stick was still up my ass somewhere.

"Yeah." His voice was apologetic. "Ever since the album hit number one. Everywhere me and my bandmates go, we get bombarded by people who want pictures and autographs. I'm sorry we can't eat in the main dining room like normal people."

I smiled at him and shook my head. "I don't mind. I like being back here. Feels cozy."

Just then, the double doors from the kitchen came flying open and a young woman rushed in. "There's a rumor that Luke Knightley is back here," she squealed.

The moment the words left her mouth, her gaze fell on us. I stood as the girl rushed forward, but one of the security guards intercepted her before she made it to Luke.

"Luke!" she screamed. "Luke!"

Luke waved at her and said, "Just trying to enjoy a lunch with my friend here."

"Is that your girlfriend?" the girl asked. "Will you sign my butt cheek? I want to get it made into a tattoo."

By this time, her screams must have set off the rest of the dining room because the other guard was pulling the doors shut and blocking them. But we could see the shadow of people outside the doors and hear them screaming for Luke.

I turned to Luke with wide eyes. "Does that happen a lot?"

He winced. "Uh, more than I care to admit."

"Wow. No wonder you need security."

After a few minutes, the crowd was dispersed. As we finished our lunch, I couldn't help but think that if Luke Knightley had been popular with the ladies back in Milwaukee, he was now a player on a whole other level. I may have been momentarily lulled into thinking he was a normal guy when it was just the two of us alone in his house, but that wasn't true. At all. Luke now had a mob of women after him wherever he went. A mob of women who apparently wanted him to sign their butt cheeks. Which meant I needed to avoid catching feelings for him at all costs.