Chapter 46

 

 

 

Afton

 

 

“I didn’t plan on having a sleepover.”

Luke glances at me out of the corner of his eye. “Sleepover? That sounds innocent. Unless I was dreaming, nothing we did last night or this morning was innocent.”

I huff out a laugh. “Just thinking about it makes me blush.”

He grabs the front of his pants. “It makes me hard. If we had time right now, I’d take you back to bed.”

“We’ll have time after work.”

“You’re a brilliant woman.” He leans forward to kiss me softly. “It’s one of the reasons I’m crazy about you.”

I love the sound of that, and I love this.

We’re in his kitchen, sharing a bowl of cereal and drinking coffee.

It’s not an Instagram-worthy set up for breakfast for lovers, but it’s our reality.

There are dirty dishes in the sink and overripe bananas on the counter.

I know Luke feels comfortable with me. He doesn’t put on any pretenses. The man I see in front of me is one hundred percent authentic.

“What’s on your agenda for today?” he asks before he spoons more sugary cereal into his mouth.

I take the bowl from his hands. “I’m meeting with the owner of a bistro in about an hour, and then I’ll stop by the restaurant to see your grandma. We’re going to talk business. I’ll tell you all about that the next time I see you.”

He laughs. “Marti will beat you to that. She knows I like you. I told her.”

That warms me from the inside out. “You told her?”

“When she looks into my eyes, it’s like truth serum.” He leans forward to stare into my eyes. “Maybe I have that same power. Tell me how you really feel about me, Afton?”

I love you.

Those three words stay on my lips for now, so I opt for three others. 

“You smell incredible.”

He shakes his head. “You like my cologne? There has to be more of me that you like.”

My gaze trails slowly down his body until I pin it on the front of his pants.

“The cock?” He grabs it through his pants. “That one was obvious judging by the way you swallowed it last night.”

“You weren’t complaining,” I point out before taking another spoonful of the cereal.

“I was too busy coming down your throat.”

“Touché,” I quip.

“Touch you?” he questions with a perk of one dark brow. “I swear I just heard you tell me to touch you.”

“I want that,” I admit. “But we have to leave for work.”

“Right,” he says quietly. “I put your bag by the door along with a bottle of water and a banana.”

I scrunch my nose. “I’ll pass on the banana.”

He stalks toward me. “I gave you the last fresh one because I’m that guy. I’ll do whatever I can for you.”

I don’t move as he rests both hands on the counter, boxing me in. “Thank you, Luke.”

“It’s my pleasure, Afton.” He runs his lips along my cheek. “There is nothing better than making you happy.”

 

***

 

“Online things aren’t for me,” Marti explains as she places a glass of iced tea in front of me. “I know you emailed me some pictures, but I couldn’t find them. I looked everywhere on my computer.”

I smile because I emailed her a link to a private online gallery hosted on my website. “I understand.”

“I don’t.” She laughs. “Dante was trying to explain it on the phone to me. I finally told him I would wait to see the pictures in person.”

“I’m glad you did.” I glance toward the kitchen of the restaurant. “If you grab your laptop, I can open the online gallery and show you. That way, you’ll have it available to look at whenever you want.”

She shakes her head. “It’s at home. I don’t bring it to the restaurant.  It’s just one more thing for me to misplace.”

“I’ll show you the pictures on my laptop.” My hand dives into my laptop bag, but I come up empty.

I turn to where it’s sitting on the chair next to me. I open it wide and peer inside. “Oh, shoot.”

No wonder it felt so light when I left Luke’s. It didn’t register then that the bag was missing its most important cargo.

My morning was rushed. I went home, showered, and changed into red jeans and a white blouse after I left Luke’s apartment. I made it to Lise just in time for my meeting with the bistro’s owner, but she was frantic because one of her ovens wasn’t working, so we rescheduled to next week.

When I left there, my laptop bag was strung over my shoulder, along with my red tote bag as I ventured through the city.

“I left my laptop on the coffee table at Luke’s,” I say softly.

“You did?” Marti’s face lights up.

I keep my head turned because I don’t want Marti to see the blush that I know is creeping up my cheeks. “I was working there last night.”

“Before sleeping there?”

I finally turn to look at her. “Yes.”

She lifts her butt off her chair so she can lean far enough ahead to kiss my cheek. “I like that my Luke is with you.”

That brings a smile to my lips. “I can pull up the online gallery on my phone to show you the pictures.”

“Okay, good.” She grins. “I’m excited to see.”

I open the browser on my phone and navigate to the online gallery. I click on the first photo. I turn my phone’s screen so it’s facing her.

She squints behind her glasses. “That’s so small.”

I turn the phone back and adjust the image. “Is this better?”

Still squinting, she shakes her head. “Old eyes.”

I let out a small laugh. “Small phone screen.”

“I have an idea.” She pats my hand. “I have a key to Luke’s apartment. You can run and get your laptop. I’ll cook brunch for you while you’re gone. Then, we’ll sit and eat and look at the pictures.”

That’s an invitation I can’t pass up. One on one time with Marti is exactly what I need today.

“I can make it there and back in under thirty minutes.”

She moves to stand. “I’ll grab the keys.”