Back to Luke (8 page)

He shook his head as he stared into the foundation. Jayne Logan was a runner—she’d run from him in New York, and hadn’t she just escaped California when another issue had come up? Nope, he had to keep his distance, because chances were she’d run again if things got rough. And he didn’t want to deal with the emotional fallout.

Feeling better, he reached into his pocket and took out today’s to-do list. Hmm, they’d have to decide about the changes she’d suggested. He hadn’t really given her plans serious consideration a few days ago. Maybe he’d better take another look.

Walking over to the trailer, he unlocked it and stepped inside. As coffee perked in the corner, he spread out the plans for the kitchen, put her notes next to them, and did a few preliminary sketches to see whether what she had in mind would work. He was vaguely aware of the trucks and cars arriving outside, the voices of his men, and the rumble of more lumber and equipment being unloaded.

After a while, he heard from the doorway, “Oh, hi.”

He glanced up and his body jolted. She was wearing faded jeans that made her legs look a mile long. Her shirt was white and sported a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge. Under it was the slogan I “heart” My Architect. The soft-looking cotton accented her breasts.

Oh, yeah, sure, he was in control!

Struggling to stave off his physical reaction, he uttered, “Hi.” The word came off gruffly, so he dialed down his tone. “You okay?”

“Yes. I got some sleep yesterday, and a good night’s worth. Things always look better when you’re rested.”

“I know. When Timmy died, I became an insomniac. It wasn’t until I started sleeping that I could see things more clearly.”

She gave him a half smile. “Did your sisters engineer that, too?”

He couldn’t help matching her smile. “Yeah, they wore me out with chores at their houses and babysitting their kids. They even forced me into some racquetball.”

“Your sisters play?”

“Belle does. She beat the pants off me during that time.”

“I saw her and the other three at Eleanor’s party. They’re all beautiful.”

He stiffened.

“What’s wrong?”

“Belle and Naomi are best friends.”

“Ah. I guess I don’t want to meet her, then.”

Jayne was right about that. He hadn’t told Belle about encouraging Jayne to stay in town. It hadn’t been the time or place at his parents’ Sunday dinner. Besides, he hadn’t exactly worked out what explanation he could give without sounding like a traitor.

“So,” he said in an effort to change the subject, “I’ve been looking at the suggestions you made for the interior layout of the houses.”

Her face lit up, and Luke was hit with a blast of pure desire.

“Really? You were upset about my interference.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like meddling. But I also want what’s best for the people who will live here. Before we can go further, we have to decide if we’re going to make any of the changes. I came in early and took a look.”

She nodded to the legal pad. “What do you think?”

“Come over here. I’ll show you.”

She crossed the room and stood behind him. Damn, he thought she’d sit down. He could feel her whole body close to his, feel her breathing in, smell something on her—not perfume, perhaps shampoo or soap. It was feminine.

“Luke?”

He cleared his throat. “See this wall here you want moved?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Snow in the winter will stress the joists too much if we change it.”

“Ah, I should have thought of that. I’m not used to designing for this climate.”

“But we can section off this part by adding a wall…” He pointed to the kitchen. “And then make a laundry/mudroom.”

“That would work just as well.”

Finally she took a seat beside him, which was a hell of a lot better. They spent the next hour discussing the changes to the rest of the house before Jess came in.

“Hi, guys.”

Both looked to the doorway. Jess stood there, haggard and hunched, and anything but rested.

“Hey, buddy.” Luke checked his watch. “You’re late. Not like you.”

“I took my girls to school.”

“How’d it go?”

“They’re confused. And scared.” He stuck his hands in his pockets. “I hate that they’re afraid because of something I did.”

“Fear’s a terrible emotion.” This from Jayne.

“Let’s not talk about it.” He approached them. “What are you doing?”

When they told him, he dove right in. By nine, they had compromises worked out. Jayne objected to some of Luke’s nay-saying, but he won and she agreed to do the schematics after she consulted with plumbers, electricians and a few others on the changes.

“What should I do today, Jess?”

“I got the volunteer list on my way in.” He drew a paper out of his pocket and scanned it. “Mick O’Malley needs somebody to measure lumber for the downstairs. Want to do that until I find the contact information for the people you need to talk to?”

“I don’t think she should—” Luke began.

But Jayne interrupted. “I can handle that.” Standing, too, she reached for a hard hat from a stack on a nearby shelf. “Thanks, Luke, for listening to my opinions. See you guys later.”

Luke watched her leave.

Jess said, “Thanks for being nice to her, buddy.”

Luke grabbed his own hat and said, “No big deal.” But before he left, he faced his friend. “Anything I can do? About Naomi?”

“Nah. It’s all up to us.” He nodded to the doorway. “Making Jayne’s life easier would help me not worry so much about her, though.”

“I think I can do that.”

All morning Luke tried to ignore her. And all morning
he scanned the area to see where she was. He kept watching Mick O’Malley with her. And his temper began to seethe with each little observation—laughter coming from their direction several times, especially when Mick was the one to elicit it; Mick staring at her chest when she dropped the tape measure and bent over to pick it up. But when lunchtime came and Mick slid his arm around her and said something, making her smile, Luke had had enough. Angry, he stormed toward them. Even as he did, he wasn’t sure exactly what he’d do or say.

“Um, no thanks,” Jayne was saying. “I have some errands to run.”

“You sure?” Mick asked smoothly. “I got enough lunch to share.”

“You’re sweet to offer, but no.”

Both stopped talking—flirting—when Luke reached them. “How’d it go?” he asked.

Mick snorted. “As if you didn’t know. I’ll see you after lunch, Jayne.” He squeezed her arm and left.

“What did he mean by that?” Jayne asked Luke.

“I have no idea.” Which was a bald-faced lie. Mick had caught Luke staring at them. It burned him up to be so transparent, and so he snapped at her. “But a word of warning. Maybe it isn’t a good idea to be so friendly with the guys on the site.”

“What do you mean?”

“They’re not used to working with women.”

He could see her tense. “You’re kidding, right? There are several female volunteers, and you’ve brought in a lot of women carpenters and construction workers in the last week. I…admired that about you.”

“Yeah, but you’re different.”

She shook her head. “Damn it, Luke, I thought we were past this.”

We were, until I saw you with Mick.

“You have to be one of the moodiest, most mercurial men I’ve ever met.” When he didn’t respond, she scowled fiercely, said, “I’m going to lunch,” and stalked away.

As he watched her go, Luke cursed himself. Goddamn it, when
had
he become so clumsy and tongue-tied?

When Jayne had come back, that’s when. Hell, he was jealous of Jess moving into the same house with her, and he’d been livid when Mick had fallen all over her this morning.

This was a fine mess.

F
UMING
, Jayne left Luke with long, angry strides. That man was infuriating! Why the hell would he be so nice to her on Friday night and this morning, then turn on her so quickly? He’d never been like this in New York. He wasn’t like this around anyone else. If she hadn’t been convinced before that she had to control this stupid attraction to him, she was now. She’d just reached the parking lot when a black Mercedes sports car pulled up beside her Lexus. Its sleek lines and inherent class matched its owner, who slid out of the front seat with the grace of a gazelle.

Jayne recognized Luke’s girlfriend right away. She was dressed in a lovely brown and black print dress that was both sophisticated and sensual, with high black heels. Diamonds sparkled at her ears. Her red hair was drawn back in a clip that emphasized her high cheekbones. “Hello. I’m Elise Jenkins.”

Suddenly self-conscious of her jeans and T-shirt, Jayne gave her a weak smile. “Hi. I’m Jayne Logan.”

“Yes, I know. Luke was talking about you at the party Friday night.”

That was something to think about.

Elise’s pretty auburn eyebrows furrowed. “He’s been in a mood since then,” she said as she bent over, slid up the front seat and drew a picnic basket out of the back seat. “So I brought him lunch.”

“Sorry, but he’s still in a foul mood.”

“Oh, dear. Well, maybe I can—” she smiled slyly “—cheer him up.”

Though her heart hurt at how Elise might make Luke feel better, Jayne managed to say, “Good luck with that.”

“Thanks. Nice to meet you, by the way.”

Elise’s genuine warmth made Jayne feel bad for her negative thoughts. Hell, the woman was nice as well as glamorous.

“What’s going on here?”

They both turned to see Luke a few feet away from them. His black T-shirt was damp and his hair mussed; he looked so good that a bolt of lust hit Jayne square in the stomach. All that masculinity approached Elise, and he enveloped her in a hug so warm and sexy it made Jayne’s already bruised heart clutch in her chest.

Over Elise’s shoulder, Luke stared right at Jayne. The creep. When he drew back, he bestowed an approving smile on the other woman. “Nice to see you, gorgeous.”

“Really? Jayne said you were still in a bad mood.”

“Jayne’s wrong, I guess. Now that you’re here, anyway.”

Jayne wanted to cry. She wanted to throw something. She wanted to run from this scene. She decided on the latter. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.” She
gave as gracious a smile as she could to Elise. “Nice to meet you. Stick around if you can. Luke’s almost human when you’re here.”

With that, she got in her car, started the engine and backed out. In the rearview mirror, she saw Elise slide her arm around Luke’s trim waist and lean into him.

Jayne also saw Luke staring after
her
retreating car.

L
UKE CHECKED
the rearview mirror so he could see into the back of his dad’s SUV. Behind him sat Teresa’s three boys in the last row, ages ten, eleven and twelve. In front of them was one of Corky’s girls with Maria’s daughter, Analise. Belle’s kids, Kasey, Karl and Kenny, were catching a ride to the ball field in Jess’s van, along with Jess’s girls. Luke had asked his best friend to help him drive the little ones. Man, he got a kick out of playing uncle.

“Ready, troops?”

“Yes, Uncle Luke,” they chanted in unison.

“Rules of the road? Mikey,” he called out to Teresa’s oldest, “you give them.”

“No yelling, slapping or mean words.”

“Gotta be careful driving,” Analise said. Truth be told, the towheaded eight-year-old was his favorite, because she was the spunkiest. He had a way with her, though.

With such precious cargo, Luke took it easy on the trip to the stadium where the Riverdale Royals, a farm team for a professional baseball outfit, would hold their first game of the season. Everybody loved baseball in his family and had passed the tradition down through the generations. He was doing his part today.

He was also doing penance. As he drove along side
streets, he thought of his confrontation with Belle, when she found out what he’d done…

Her face had flushed with anger. “What the hell are you doing, Luciano, telling that woman to stay in town?”

He’d asked himself the same thing a million times this week, when he’d tried to stay away from Jayne but hadn’t managed to stop thinking about her. Still, he went to her defense with his sister. “She’s at the lowest point in her life, Belle. She’s about to lose the only thing she has left.”

“Naomi’s about to lose Jess.”

“I don’t think so. She and Jess will work this out.”

“You don’t know that. Damn, I can’t believe…” Then that all-knowing gaze zeroed in on him. When they’d been young, Belle had been the sister who always sensed when he was up to something. “Don’t tell me you…oh, God, Luke, you aren’t interested in her, are you?”

“No!” But he reddened, and doing so belied his words.

“Hell! This is all we need to muck things up.”

He agreed with Belle on that. He’d made a fool of himself at work this week, especially with his disastrous playacting with Elise. He couldn’t believe he’d done that for Jayne’s benefit.

“Damn it!” he said aloud.

“Ooo, Uncle Luke,” Analise said. “No bad words.”

“Right, sweetie. Sorry.”

The little girl smiled at him in the rearview mirror. He knew she’d been corrected for her repetition of things she wasn’t supposed to say.

When they arrived at the stadium, herding the kids
out of the van distracted him. Once in the stands, they paraded to their seats. When they neared their row, the first thing Luke noticed was Jayne, sitting next to Jess, with little Kasey on her lap. What the hell? Was someone trying to torture him by throwing her in his way?

The cousins greeted one another with cheers and high fives. “Okay, troops, sit.” They filed in immediately. Despite the sour note of Jayne’s presence, he had to smile. He loved how his nieces and nephews obeyed him.

Kissing Miss Ellie’s cheek, he said curtly to Jayne, “I’m surprised to see you here.”

To which she replied, “I was invited.” She nuzzled Kasey’s head. “Besides, I had to see the legendary Pied Piper in action.”

There was a bit of jockeying for positions, but Luke managed to settle them all and make sure his own seat was down from and behind Jayne. When the game started, he kept one eye on the field and one on the kids. He did not look at Jayne’s cargo shorts and the long legs they bared, or her white top with the lace neck, or the chain she wore—and where it nestled.