Chapter 35

 

 

 

Luke

 

 

“You’re not an easy man to track down.” My oldest brother wraps an arm around my shoulder. “You’ve been avoiding me, Luke.”

“Rocco,” I say his name with a grin. “Always riding my ass about something.”

He lets out a deep belly laugh. Those have been more frequent since the birth of his son, Bryant. My brother is acing this father stuff. It’s good for him, and his little boy lucked out.

I’ve always told Rocco that his name suits him since he’s been my rock for as long as I can remember. He’s never more than a phone call away, and he’s made it clear that if I need anything, be it money or time, it’s mine.

I earn my own money, so his time is the only currency I need.

I didn’t ask for this meeting, but I won’t turn him away, even though I’m dead tired after pulling a double shift.

He drags a hand through my hair. “Tell me what’s going on.”

I motion for him to sit on the couch in my living room. “Work is going on.”

He steals a glance at the screen of my open laptop.

Before he can ask what he’s looking at, I slam it shut.

“Afton Neal,” he says the name of the woman I can’t stop thinking about. “Let’s talk about her.”

I tug on the waistband of the black sweatpants I’m wearing before I take a seat across from him in a chair. “What about her?”

“She’s going to work on Marti’s site.” He narrows his gaze. “The recommendation came from you because you like her.”

The goofy grin on his face tells me that Marti had a hell of a lot to say about Afton, and not all of it was related to her skills as a food photographer.

“I do like her,” I admit. “She’s great at her job.”

“And good to Marti,” he adds. “She couldn’t keep her business afloat if she gave all her clients that same deal on imagery.”

I haven’t been involved in that aspect of Marti’s dealings with Afton, but I’m not surprised.

“She knows what she’s doing, Rocco.”

“You interrupted her wedding.” He leans back into the couch. “That’s who she is, right?”

No good comes from lying, so I sigh. “That’s how we met, yes.”

“There’s a story that will be yours to tell for years.”

My gaze shoots up to him. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“You met the woman you’re falling for when you stopped her wedding.” He taps his finger against his jean-covered thigh.

“I said I like her,” I clarify. “I didn’t say I’m falling for her.”

“You didn’t have to.” He cocks a brow. “It’s the way you said you like her that gave it away.”

Fuck. I’m not going to win this battle, so I hold my hands up in surrender. “Okay, fine. I’m falling for her.”

“You’ll take it slow,” he says.

It’s clear from his tone that it’s not a suggestion. It’s an order.

“I am taking it slow,” I half-lie.

I’m trying to, but I’m feeling things I’ve never felt before, so it’s damn hard to press on the brakes when I’m already in free fall.

“Brooklyn put you through the wringer.” He raises a hand to stop the protest that he knows is about to fly out of me. “I want you to find what I have with Dexie. You deserve that depth of love, Luke. If Afton is that for you, I’m in your corner.”

“This is new,” I remind him. “I’m enjoying being with her. Time will tell if it turns into more.”

Time better be on my side because I do want more with Afton. I want a hell of a lot more.

 

***

 

Six hours of sleep does a man good. More would be better, but I can think of better ways to spend my time than alone in bed.

All of them involve Afton.

I’m due back at work within a few hours, so I need to shave and shower before I seek her out. I want to see if she’s available to hang out with me until I head back to the firehouse.

I push up from my bed just as my phone chimes.

I reach for it on my nightstand.

I yanked the blinds closed before I fell asleep. I’m accustomed to sleeping at all hours, but I needed the darkness to help quiet my mind since I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Afton.

I curse under my breath when I see the text message that’s popped onto my phone’s screen.

Corrine:I wanted to let you know that Auggie is good and doing fine.

I’m grateful for an update on August, but I don’t need it this way.

This feels too familiar and not in a good sense.

Corrine often became the go-between when my relationship with Brooklyn was on the rocks. Corrine would contact me regularly to let me know that Auggie was all right.

Eventually, those text messages shifted to her telling me about Brook and how much she missed me. More than once, Corrine’s interference was the impetus that brought Brooklyn and me back together.

I’m not looking for that, so I keep my response to the point.

Luke:Thanks.

By the time I’m on my feet and halfway across my bedroom, my phone chimes again.

Corrine:How are you doing, Luke?

Shaking my head, I turn back around and toss my phone in the middle of my bed.

I don’t want the past to contact me unless it’s about Auggie. I’m looking to the future, and from where I’m standing, it’s as bright as the sun.