Built To Last (Saltwater Springs #1) (7 page)

“
A
nother
!” Scarlett slammed the shot glass down on the counter with a loud clank. It only stayed there for a moment before it was whisked away. She whipped her head in Madison’s direction. “Hey!”

“I think you’ve had enough for now.” Scarlett narrowed her eyes at her. “Trust me, your liver and your head will thank me in the morning,” her friend said.

Madison was probably right. She already felt better anyway. The pain in her chest was now more of a dull ache rather than the piercing agony that had been there earlier.

Luke’s words kept rolling around in her head, and the worst part about it was that he was right. He
was
free to do whatever he wanted after she’d left, and even though she didn’t relish the thought of him and Phoebe together, he’d done nothing wrong.

She owed him an apology.

Scarlett blew air through her mouth. She supposed she’d have to apologize soon. Probably better to do it with a little liquid courage in her. She pushed her stool away from the center island and stood unsteadily.

“You okay?” Madison asked with genuine concern in her eyes. “Shelby told me what happened earlier.” Ugh. There was that look of pity that Scarlett couldn’t stand.

“I’ll be fine as soon as I go eat crow.”

Madison placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it. “We’re all happy you’re home, Scarlett. All of us. I’m sure of it.”

Scarlett huffed out a disbelieving breath. “Thanks. I’m glad I’m home. I am. I just have things I’ve put off for so long that need to be dealt with, that’s all.”

Madison nodded her head and let her hand drop to her side so Scarlett could go off in search of Luke. She walked through the house but there was no sign of him, so she decided to check out back.

Using the sliding glass doors in the great room, she stepped out onto the deck. The bonfire was set well away from the house, so she wasn’t able to decipher who was sitting around the flickering flames. She stepped off the porch and swayed a bit as she began walking across the grass toward her destination. She didn’t feel that drunk, but the lawn was uneven and had her working to keep her balance.

When she reached the circle of chairs, she scanned their owner’s faces and realized that Luke wasn’t there either. Some guy she didn’t know was telling a story that everyone was listening to with rapt attention.

Her shoulders sank. Luke must have already left.
Damn.
Getting this apology out would’ve been much easier with alcohol in her system.

Turning to head back into the house, she had only taken a few steps when she heard her name being called. She glanced back at the fire, but everyone there was still listening to the storyteller. “Lettie.”

It was Luke, and the way he said her name—like it pained him to even utter the word—cut at her. She looked to her left and saw him seated on the tailgate of a pickup truck, a beer dangling from one hand.

Drawing in a deep breath, she took the first step in his direction, then the next, then the next, her courage building with each one. Her gut told her this conversation, one that was long overdue, would change things—maybe for the better, maybe not.

“Hey,” she said as she took a seat beside him on the cool metal, careful to leave some distance between them. Scarlett wrapped her arms around herself, unsure if it was because of the chilled air surrounding her or the intense vibe rolling off Luke.

“Hey.” His voice was rough.

Gripping her arms tighter, she waited a beat before speaking. “I need to apologize.”

“Scarlett…”

So it was Scarlett again. She supposed she deserved that.

Looking out into the inky darkness of the night sky, she said, “No, I do. Everything you said was true. I had no right to be angry with you after what I did.” She lowered her head.

“Why?” he whispered.

“Why, what?” she asked, unable to look up at him.

“Why did you leave like that? I thought we were in love.” His voice was laced with pain and regret, and she hated that she was the cause.

If it were possible, her heart would have shattered in her chest. But that had already happened a decade earlier when she’d known she had to leave. What was left of the damaged organ merely sputtered underneath her ribcage before picking up its regular cadence.

Scarlett couldn’t tell him. Knowing would only bring him more pain, and it wouldn’t change the past or the future. They sat in silence for long moments.

“Tell me this at least. Did you love me? Was it real or was I a complete idiot?”

She couldn’t resist looking at him when she answered, wanting him to feel the truth of her words. “I never lied about my feelings. They were very much real.”

The reflection of the fire flickered across his skin, painting him with an almost orange glow. At her response, the lines straining across his forehead eased a bit. Luke placed his hand over top of where hers rested on the tailgate, his warmth seeping into every pore of her skin, causing Scarlett to shiver at the sensation.

“Hang on a sec.” Luke pushed himself off the tailgate and walked to the front of the truck. Scarlett turned her head to watch as he fished something out of the back seat. He returned a moment later, holding a sweater out to her. “Here, put this on. You must be cold.”

Scarlett gave him a soft smile, his thoughtfulness warming her fragmented heart. She wrapped the hoodie around her and then closed her eyes for a moment to enjoy Luke’s scent. It brought back so many memories of being wrapped in his arms, pressed against his hard body, the object of his fascination and all his attention.

Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to fall because of what Scarlett knew she wouldn’t experience ever again with the man sitting beside her—the man who still held her heart.

Luke’s hand touched the side of her face, gently turning it in his direction. “Why won’t you tell me what happened?” he said in a raspy voice.

Scarlett’s hand covered his on her cheek. She couldn’t help herself—she needed the contact with him. “Because it doesn’t matter. It won’t change anything.”

Luke dropped his head and his hand, appearing defeated. Scarlett’s chest constricted at the sight of his pain. She’d done this. Reaching out, she rubbed his back, attempting to comfort him. It was a trite effort she knew.

He lifted his head and without warning tossed his beer bottle across the lawn with an almost pained growl. Scarlett drew back.

“Luke, I—”

“Why did it matter?” he asked with wide eyes and a raised voice.

Not following, she asked, “What?”

“Why did you even care that I went out with Phoebe?” He pinned her with an intense stare, the firelight behind her reflecting and flickering in his eyes. Scarlett stared at him, unsure what to say. “Why?” he almost yelled.

She flinched. “Because…”

“Because you still have feelings for me.” He cupped her jaw with one hand and gripped the back of her neck with the other.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head.

“I know you, Lettie. Even after all these years.” He squeezed his eyes shut and ran his nose along her cheekbone. Scarlett’s eyes fluttered closed. “If you didn’t still care about me, you might have been pissed about Phoebe, but you wouldn’t have reacted the way you did.”

Scarlett swallowed hard, unable to refute his claim. He brought his lips to hers in a whisper of a kiss, his touch so light she couldn’t be sure they’d actually made contact. He held his lips over hers, not touching. Her heart rate increased and she yearned to embrace him as she fell under his spell.

“Admit it. You feel something.” Luke kissed her forehead. “This thing between us.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “It’s still there.” Then his lips were on hers and she couldn’t deny him. She sighed, her hands snaking around his hard body as she melted into the kiss. His tongue slipped between her lips and she moved her own in tandem with his. Luke’s hands were in her hair first, then roamed down to her waist before finally cupping her face.

She remembered how wonderful it was with him, and her body hummed as she fell further into the kiss. She knew how good Luke could make it if she let him. But too soon, he pulled away.

“Now tell me you don’t feel anything.” Luke’s breathing was heavy, coming in pants over her heated face.

“I can’t,” Scarlett replied, her voice cracking.

Luke leaned in and kissed her forehead, then dropped his own to hers so their noses were touching. He ran his thumb back and forth over her cheek. “Then you should know that nothing happened between Phoebe and I. We went out a couple of times and we kissed, but that’s it.”

A relieved breath left Scarlett’s lungs. “But she made it sound like you guys…you know.” She cringed.

Luke pulled his head back to look directly in her eyes. “I swear to you, that’s all that happened. You know she likes to stir shit up. I’m surprised you believed her.”

Heat rushed into Scarlett’s cheeks as she recalled her overreaction earlier. “I guess I thought she’d grown up some and wasn’t interested in playing stupid games with people’s lives anymore.”

Luke chuckled. “Not likely. But I am thankful to her for one reason though.” Luke brushed a stray hair from off her face, and Scarlett fought the urge to close her eyes and bask in the tender gesture. “She’s the only reason you admitted to me that there’s still something between us.”

Another reason to add Phoebe to her shit list. This wasn’t part of the plan. The plan was to keep things professional while he was helping her and then try really hard to never run into him again.

Before she could give it any more thought, Luke drove a hand back into her hair and kissed her. His lips were no longer tender and searching. There was fire in this kiss and she returned the sentiment.

Luke reached over, gripping her waist, and pulled her so she lay across his lap. He moaned when she came in contact with his arousal.

Their mouths devoured each other, a decade’s worth of pent-up lust and betrayal exploding between them. He pressed her tight into his chest so she wouldn’t slide off his lap while Scarlett’s hands ran through Luke’s hair until he pulled away.

“Come home with me,” he rasped.

Maybe it was the drinks she’d had earlier or perhaps it was that she hadn’t felt this way with anyone since the last time she’d been with Luke, but she didn’t hesitate. She nodded, and within seconds Luke had her off his lap and was walking her to the passenger side of his truck.

“Wait, my purse is inside.”

“Stay here. I’ll go get it.” He spun around and headed in the direction of the house. “Don’t go anywhere,” he said over his shoulder, as if he was afraid she’d change her mind.

“It’s the blue one in the kitchen. Oh, and tell Madison or Shelby that I’m leaving,” Scarlett called out after him.

He nodded and then disappeared into the night. With trembling hands, she stepped up into the truck and took a seat. Drawing in a shaky breath, Scarlett tried to calm her nerves.

She was desperate to know the feeling of Luke’s hands on her body again, and in this moment she’d take the pain that would come afterward, knowing nothing permanent could be between them.

It was a fair trade-off for the pain she’d already caused him.

L
uke glanced
over to where Scarlett sat beside him as he drove the truck around the final bend in the road before he’d reach his driveway. She hadn’t said a word since they left Buckie’s house, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she’d changed her mind.

If she had, it shouldn’t surprise him. Up until her admission in the back of his pickup truck, Scarlett hadn’t shown hardly any indication that she still had feelings for Luke. Her words had rocked him, leaving him shell-shocked and desperate to have her again. He’d have never thought it possible, but the intelligent and gorgeous woman beside him still felt something for him after all these years.

Luke took the turn into his gravel drive a little too fast, spinning the back tires. He was eager to see where Scarlett’s head was at once they arrived. She reached her hand out in reflex to steady herself and it landed on his upper thigh, causing Luke’s pants to feel more restrictive than ever.

He shifted in his seat and stole a quick glance at Scarlett before bringing the truck to a stop in front of his house. He heard her quick intake of air and she turned her head, locking eyes with him. There was heat in her gaze, but something else, too. Nervousness.

If he were a bigger man, he’d have the balls to admit to her that he was just as nervous as she was.

Finally, she blinked as if coming out of a daze and turned toward the house. “Wow, Luke…this is a beautiful home.”

Pride expanded his chest until it felt like a balloon with too much air in it, ready to burst at any moment. The upside of bringing her here—besides the obvious—was that she’d bear witness to the fact that he’d made something of himself. Scarlett knew he ran a contracting business, but Luke doubted she had any idea how successful he’d made that company.

He pushed open his door and the interior light caused him to squint. “Thanks. I bought this piece of land a few years back and tore down the piece of shit shack that was here,” he said, motioning to the house. “Built this one in its place.”

As Scarlett gazed upon the white plantation-style home with a tall front porch on the main level and a balcony spanning the width of the second level, he wondered if she remembered.

“You always said that you wanted a house like this some day…” She did. Of course she did. “…and now you have it.” Scarlett smiled, but something about it seemed sad to him. Almost somber even.

What he didn’t tell her—couldn’t tell her—was that after he’d finished building it, he’d never quite gotten the feeling of satisfaction he’d hoped for. A big part of the equation that made up that dream was missing.

Her.

And now here she was. Luke cleared his throat and stepped out of the truck. Scarlett had already exited the vehicle by the time he’d made his way around to the other side.

“I’m so happy for you. You’ve gotten what you really wanted,” she whispered. He’d left the lights on the front porch on and they cast shadows on the smooth skin of her face.

He brought his hand up and pushed it into her hair. “What about you? Have you gotten everything you wanted?”

She shook her head the slightest bit. “Not yet. But I’m working on it.”

So was he.

That was the only thought running through his head as he leaned in and brought his lips to hers. Scarlett wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her mouth, allowing him to taste her again. As the kiss heated, he grew so hard in his pants it was painful. When he pressed his arousal against her, Scarlett moaned. Her hands dove into his hair, and he damn near combusted when she gripped the strands between her fingers and pulled. Luke growled and picked Scarlett up so she straddled his waist, not once breaking the kiss. That was how good they were together, even after all those years.

Luke bolted to his front door, sending a small thank-you to the man upstairs that he lived in a small town where he didn’t have to lock his door. He would’ve hated to put Scarlett down to locate his key.

Fumbling for a second with the door handle, Luke was finally able to push open the solid wood door. Manners dictated that he should give her a tour of the property, but that would have to wait. No way in hell he was waiting one second longer than necessary to get inside her.

When they reached his bedroom, Luke tore his mouth away to set her down on the comforter. Scarlett shimmied up to the head of the bed and Luke followed, stalking her on his hands and knees as if she were his prey. Then he straddled her, resting some of his weight on her pelvis, and began undoing the buttons on her flannel shirt, one by one. Scarlett sucked her bottom lip into her mouth.

Luke gave a hoarse chuckle. “Don’t do that with your lip, Lettie. I’m sure you remember that it drives me out of my mind.” Her eyes flared for a second, but she didn’t release her lip. Luke grinned.

Once he’d undone the final button, Luke pulled her lip from between her teeth. He backed further down her body and dragged Scarlett’s hand with him until she sat up. Meeting his gaze, Scarlett shrugged off her shirt and let it fall to the bed behind her. Her generous breasts pushed against the pink lace cups holding them, giving him a glimpse of her erect nipples. She lay back on the bed again, her ebony hair fanned across his pillow.

Luke eased off the bed and undressed down to his boxer briefs. If he let the lower half of him control the action, they’d both be naked and he’d be thrusting into her in about five seconds flat. He’d waited too long to let that happen. Luke wanted to savor everything about this night. They were finally back where they belonged—together.

“God, Luke, you only got better with age,” Scarlett said as he lay beside her. She ran her fingertips down his chest and he suppressed a shiver. When she reached the tent in his boxer briefs, he wasn’t able to hold off any longer. Luke removed her boots then flicked the button on her jeans and unzipped them before pulling them down the length of her legs and discarding them carelessly beside the bed.

On his knees at her side, he hovered for a moment while his gaze swept over her porcelain skin.

“I want to look at you for a moment.” He needed to commit to memory the image of her lying in want in his bed. For too long it had only been in his imagination, and now that it was a reality, he needed a moment to wrap his brain around it.

The last time they’d been together, she’d only been a girl. A decade apart had turned her into a woman. Scarlett’s hips weren’t large, but they were more pronounced than they had been. Luke fought the urge to consider what she might look like with a swollen belly carrying his child.
Baby steps
, he reminded himself. He was lucky she was even here.

He leaned down to stroke the base of her neck with his tongue. “God, Lettie…I’ve waited so long for this.” He nuzzled into her hair and inhaled the cherry blossom scent of her shampoo.

As he pulled back and stared down at her, he knew that never again would he let her get away—she
was
going to be his.