Outrageously in Love by Jen Morris

43

Luke slips his hand into mine, squeezing gently. “There’s nothing to be nervous about.”

“I know. I just hope everyone loves it as much as I do.”

It’s been three weeks since Luke arrived back—three weeks of living at his place and finishing off my cafe. I’ve worked my butt off and I’m so pleased with how it’s turned out. The exposed brick wall behind the counter looks really good, and the solid oak countertop has been polished to a fine finish. The hardwood floors are gleaming with a stain and polish, and the wall opposite the counter is painted golden yellow, lined with heavy wooden shelves that are packed with games. A row of warm, low-hanging bulbs run the length of the space, and with the leather sofas at the back, it feels like someone’s living room. It’s exactly the vibe I imagined when I scribbled on that napkin, believing this could never be more than a fantasy.

Tonight we’re having a soft opening, inviting friends and family to celebrate before I open the doors to the public. After all my hard work, all my dreaming… Gah, I’m about to crawl out of my skin with nerves. But Luke, bless him, has been doing everything he can to keep me calm.

He drops my hand and cups my jaw, tilting my face up to his. “They’ll love it,” he murmurs, smiling, and the certainty in his tone relaxes me. His gaze tracks over my face, dipping down to my dress. “You look gorgeous. I wish I’d gotten here earlier so we could have celebrated privately.” There’s a raw edge to his voice and his eyes flash with heat, sending a shiver of desire through me.

“Ugh, no thank you.” Alex sashays past, setting down a tray of nibbles. “I know I was instrumental in getting you two together”—she gives a self-satisfied smile—“but that doesn’t mean I’m used to seeing this yet; my sister and my—”

“If you say ‘my brother,’ I’m going to kill you,” I mutter. It’s nice that Luke and I don’t have to hide now, but Alex thinks it’s hilarious to joke about our unusual situation.

She smirks. “You said it, not me. But it is nice to see you both so happy.” She squeezes Luke’s shoulder, then pulls me into a hug. “I still can’t believe you’re staying in New York and that you’ve made this place! It’s awesome, Harri. I’m so proud of you.”

I smile, hugging her tight. I’ve never felt closer to my sister.

“Is everything ready?” Michael asks, appearing beside us. “Should we open the doors?”

I glance between him, Alex, and Luke. Henry is munching a brownie, with chocolate crumbs on his chin and a grin on his mouth.

Paula wanders over and sets down another tray of food, looking at me. “We’re ready. Let’s do this!”

I nod, taking a deep breath to settle the tornado in my stomach. Luke catches my hand again, pressing his lips to the back of it as Michael opens the doors.

Here we go.

* * *

“This place is amazing!”Cat says when I join her, Myles, Geoff, and a few others I don’t know at a table.

“Thanks.” I smile modestly, looking around. The turnout has been great; Cat invited some friends, Geoff and Alex brought people they know through the bookstore, and Luke and Michael invited others too. Even Isaac is here with his wife, Julia. Having all these people here to celebrate, playing games and enjoying themselves, means the world to me.

“I love the brownies,” the girl beside me says. “It’s hard to find good vegan brownies.”

“Thanks! They’re Paula’s specialty.”

“I’m Josie.” She sticks her hand out and I shake it, noting her short, dark hair and green eyes. She has a sprinkle of freckles across her nose and I hesitate, sure I’ve seen her before. “I work at Bounce,” she adds at my bemused expression.

“Right!” I chuckle. “I knew I recognized you.”

“You’ll be seeing a lot more of me now that I know there’s delicious vegan baking here.”

I grin. I knew getting Paula on board was a good idea.

A loud cheer goes up a few tables away and I turn to see Henry looking triumphant. I don’t know what game he’s playing, but apparently Luke and Michael aren’t doing so well. I giggle at the expression of dismay on Luke’s face.

Steph waves to me across the room and I excuse myself, heading over. I decided to repay her generosity with a ticket to New York for my opening night. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her helping me find my courage. And, you know, forcing me onto a plane.

“Okay, who is that?” she asks with a flick of her hand. “He’s hot.”

I follow her gaze to take in Cory’s tall, fit frame, short beard, and disheveled dirty-blond hair. I’m not going to disagree with that assessment. He gives a friendly wave in our direction and Steph swoons. I’ve never seen her swoon in my life.

“That’s Cat’s brother,” I say with a laugh. “He owns a bar in the East Village.”

“Fuck,” she says softly, and I laugh again, elbowing her in the side.

“You have a boyfriend.”

“I know.” A resigned sigh trickles out of her. “But the men here are something else.” Her gaze darts to Luke and she tilts her mouth into a sly grin. “You’ve done well for yourself, Harri. Luke is gorgeous and he seems really sweet.”

“Yeah, he is.”

“And,” she says, dropping her voice, “he must be pretty good in bed. Have you had any more—”

“Steph,” I hiss, cutting her off before she can say “orgasms.” My face warms at her knowing smile, and she snickers.

“That’s a yes.”

This time, I can’t stop the grin that creeps onto my lips. “Yes. He’s very… Yes.” That’s an understatement. Luke went to all that trouble to redo his apartment—our apartment—and we’ve hardly left the bedroom. But he doesn’t seem to mind.

Actually, living with Luke is better than I could have imagined, and not just because of the sex. When I’ve come home exhausted from setting up the cafe all day, we’ve ordered take-out and spent the night on his sofa—him playing his games and me working my way through the books from his shelves I haven’t read. I missed reading, and while I now have an exciting life of my own in the real world, I know it’s okay to get lost in make-believe worlds from time to time, too. Especially when Luke is eagerly waiting for me to finish a series so we can chat about it.

I meet his gaze across the room. His mouth curves into a sexy smile, his eyes filled with affection as he gazes back. I still can’t believe this gorgeous, nerdy man is in love with me. Without his love—his belief in me—I would never have created this place. It was my vision, and I chose to do it for myself, but having him push me along the way meant everything.

And as I look around at everyone having fun in this dream I made a reality, my heart feels like it will overflow.

* * *

The door clicks shutand I turn to Luke, grinning. “I think that went well.”

“It was fantastic! Everyone had a great time.”

I glance at the tables behind him. I sent everyone home, insisting they didn’t need to help me clean up this late, but now I’m having some serious regrets. There are glasses and empty bottles and food trays scattered everywhere.

As if reading my mind, Luke grabs a few plates from a nearby table. “Let’s get this cleaned up then we can head home, okay?”

Home. Home, with Luke. It’s like I’ve traveled through space and time into some parallel universe where I have everything I want. I’m worried I’m going to wake up and find myself back in my old flat, back in a life that—in hindsight—was only making me miserable.

But I won’t. I’m here, and this is real. Luke is real.

He sets about collecting discarded glasses and bottles, but I’m rooted to the spot, watching him. I don’t want to clean, or even go home. I want him right here, right now.

He pops out from the back, gathering more glasses together, pausing to look at me when I don’t join him. Whatever he sees in my eyes makes him abandon tidying, and he takes my face, sliding his fingers into my hair and stroking the pad of his thumb across my cheek. “I’m so proud of you, baby.”

My body hums at his touch, his words. “I couldn’t have done this without your help. Thank you.”

“I might have given you a nudge, but you did this. It’s all you.” He shakes his head, glancing around us before returning his gaze to mine. “I can’t believe you think you don’t take risks or do big things. You’re everything you think you’re not, you know that?”

I look up at him, at the warmth and love in his eyes, and I see myself reflected back. I see myself the way he sees me, and it’s pretty freaking awesome. “Thank you,” I whisper, tightening my grip on his back. My heart is glowing like an ember in my chest as he lowers his mouth to mine.

He skates his hands down my back, over my butt and under my thighs, lifting me up so I wrap my legs around him. Then he carries me to the counter and sets me down, leaning his body forward into mine. His hand caresses my jaw tenderly, then trails down across my collarbone.

“I’m never going to stop kissing you,” he murmurs against my lips, and I smile.

“Good. But…” I pull back. “Could you stop and go turn the lights off? And maybe lock the door?”

He frowns, puzzled, then I see the understanding dawn on his face. And he’s off—flicking the lights and pushing the bolt through the door—and back faster than I would have thought humanly possible. When he takes my mouth again, his tongue laps hungrily at mine and he grinds the hard bulge below his waist against me.

I moan into his mouth, sliding my hands down his front and unbuckling his belt to take hold of him, remembering the first time I touched him on the plane and how that changed the course of our lives forever. I thought it was Harriet 2.0, but it wasn’t. It was me. It was always me.

“I love you,” I breathe, stroking him, kissing his ear.

I can’t see his face in the darkness, but I don’t need to. “I love you more,” he says gruffly, before claiming my mouth again.

And for the next hour, we don’t leave the darkness of the cafe. We don’t leave that counter. And it is very outrageous, indeed.