Good Girls Do (30 page)

“Cute?” Luke growled.

Algee’s dark eyes twinkled. “Adorable?”

Luke wore his war face, the one that made grown men tremble with fear. It made Algee grin with glee.

“Forget I said anything,” Luke ordered.

“No way. I can help you out. You’re planning to do this Monday night, when Maguire’s is shut, right?”

“That was the plan, yeah.”

“That’ll work. You’re gonna need visual bling-bling.”

“Huh?”

“Decorations.”

“I can manage on my own,” Luke said.

“Manage, maybe. But excel at pulling off an incredibly memorable occasion?” Algee made a rocking motion with his hand that indicated the answer to that question was doubtful.

“What are you now, a party planner?”

Algee fixed him with a stare. “Do you want my help or not?”

Luke made the same rocking motion with his hand.

His friend was not offended, his thoughts clearly already on possibilities for the event. “You’re gonna surprise her with this, though, right?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s good.”

“I’m so glad you approve,” Luke drawled.

“Hey, you came to me for help.”

“A momentary lapse in judgment on my part.”

“Ha-ha.” Algee slapped him on the back with a force that would have made most men stumble.

“I should have asked Adele,” Luke muttered.

“She’s doing the cooking for this event, right?”

“Uh, I guess.”

“You didn’t think of food, did you?” Algee shook his head. “I’m telling you, that’s why you need my help with this project. The devil is in the details.”

“Fine. You can help. But lay off the
cute
or
sweet
adjectives when referring to me.”

“You got it. So what have you done about the music?”

“Not much yet.”

“Man, you’re hopeless, you know that?”

“I don’t have much experience with this kind of stuff.”

“You need a theme.”

Luke frowned. “A theme?”

“Yeah. I’ll be in charge of that, too.”

“A Harley theme would be good,” Luke suggested.

Algee stared at him with pity. “Hopeless, man. You’re just hopeless. But never fear. Big Al is here.”

 

 

Julia had no idea what Luke was up to, but she knew he was up to something. She’d catch him conversing quietly with Adele, and they’d stop the minute they saw her. Or Luke and Algee would be off whispering and then deny they were doing anything other than talking about sports.

Valentine’s Day was coming up, and Luke had invited her to dinner at Maguire’s—just the two of them on Monday night when the place was closed. A romantic evening she’d never forget, he’d promised her—which made her wonder if he had plans involving more pool lessons in the back room.

“Wear something special,” he’d told her.

Did that mean Victoria Secret thong and a Wonderbra? Exotic lingerie?

Wanting further clarification, she’d asked, “Special?”

“Your best dress.”

“Okay.” She didn’t really have one, but she quickly went out and bought a stunning little black number. Well, it wasn’t that little. It covered her nicely, the hem of the skirt falling demurely to her knees. But the material draped across her body the way really expensive outfits managed to do without looking tacky. The wrap-around bodice showed just the right amount of cleavage, and the antique Victorian garnet necklace and drop earrings she wore added a nice touch, as did the velvet cape she added.

She was surprised when Luke picked her up in a black Lincoln Towncar, looking sexy in the dark suit he’d worn for Christmas.

“I borrowed the car from Algee,” Luke explained as he held open the passenger door for her. “I couldn’t really pick you up with the Harley. It’s too cold.”

Before starting the car, he said, “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks.” She felt as nervous as a teenager during the short drive to Maguire’s.

Just as they were about to enter the pub, Luke told her, “Close your eyes.”

“Why?”

He gave her a look.

“I won’t be able to see if my eyes are closed,” she explained.

“I’ll guide you in. Now close them and keep them shut. No peeking.” He walked her inside, keeping his arm around her waist as he removed her velvet cape. “Okay. Now open them.”

She did. Her jaw dropped. “What is this?”

“Welcome to your senior prom.” Luke slid a wrist corsage of white carnations over her wrist as the sound of Vanessa Williams singing “Save the Best for Last” filled the room. “Algee informed me that proms have a theme, so we went with ‘Paint the Town Red.’ ”

“You sure did.” The dining room at Maguire’s had been completely transformed. They were standing beneath a ten-foot-high red-and-gold corrugated star that welcomed them to the magical room where twinkle lights added extra sparkle. Starry gossamer banners soared from the floor to the ceiling, creating a starry-night effect. Red cardboard lamp posts created a walkway to a spotlit table in front of a backdrop of a city skyline.

Julia was totally overcome. “Is this what your prom at Serenity Falls High looked like?”

Luke shrugged. “I never went. I didn’t have the money or the inclination. I hated that kind of pep-rally, school-spirit classmate crap.”

She turned to face him. “If you hated it so much, then why . . . ?”

“Because I thought you’d like it. You sounded so sad when you said you’d missed your prom because you moved.”

“I did always wonder what it would be like,” she admitted.

“Now you’ll know.”

“I can’t believe you did all this.”

Frankly, Luke couldn’t believe it either. He’d thought a little crepe paper tossed around would do the trick. Instead, this had turned into a huge production, and he’d gone along with it all.

Why? Why had he done all this? Julia was supposed to be a distraction. She wasn’t supposed to drive
him
to distraction.

He couldn’t even use the excuse that he’d done this to get her into bed with him. They’d already had sex. A lot of sex. Awesome sex. It only made him want her more, not less.

That left Luke feeling very unsettled when he let himself think about it, which wasn’t very often. He had a lifelong track record of ignoring stuff he didn’t want to deal with. Why change now?

A sudden flash of light from his left had Luke going on automatic pilot, reverting to his law enforcement days. Some things you never forgot. Like not standing in an open doorway because the back light frames you as a perfect target.

In an instant he had the offender in a choke hold, back against the bar.

“Yo, man, chill out!” Algee gasped.

Luke immediately set him free.

“If I’d known you had such an aversion to having your picture taken, I wouldn’t have done it,” Algee said.

“Sorry about that,” Luke muttered. “You startled me.”

“Ditto.”

The flash had come from a Polaroid camera, not a weapon.

“Here.” Algee handed him the now almost fully developed photo. “Don’t you kids look cute.”

Algee had taken the shot right before Luke had reacted, so he didn’t look like a maniac on the attack. But he did look like a guy falling for a girl who was gazing at him with stars in her eyes. Or maybe that was the flash?

“I can’t believe all these flowers,” Julia was saying.

“Algee told Pam about this and she donated them,” Luke absently replied, still uncomfortable with what the photo in his hand showed.

“Pam knew? She didn’t say a word.”

“She wasn’t supposed to. This was all meant to be a big surprise.”

“Normally I don’t like surprises,” Julia admitted, “but this . . . this is . . . I don’t know what to say.”

“Then don’t say anything.” Luke dropped the picture on the table and took her hand. “Just dance with me.”

“Luke has assured me that he doesn’t look like a frog in a blender when he dances, so you should be okay,” Algee reassured Julia.

Luke glared at him in exasperation. “Don’t you have someplace else you have to be?”

“No, not really.”

“I can’t believe you went to all this trouble,” Julia said.

“I was glad to do it,” Algee replied.

“She was talking to me,” Luke said.

“He was glad to do it, too,” Algee quickly added. “It was his idea to begin with. Even if he didn’t have a clue. The man was going to go with a Harley theme.” Algee just shook his head. “Then he was going to go with a glitter ball and some crepe paper. I expanded on that theme somewhat.”

“Quite a bit. I’m stunned. Is this what your prom was like, Algee?” she asked.

“I didn’t go.”

“Only because he’d asked two girls and they both found out and dumped him,” Luke inserted.

Algee shrugged. “What can I say? I find it hard to say no to a pretty face.”

“Maybe you should have an event at Maguire’s for everyone who missed their prom,” Julia suggested with the excitement of someone who’d just had a lightbulb moment. “Then you could use the decorations again.”

“How did this supposedly romantic evening turn into a business discussion? Come on, let’s dance. They’re playing our song.” He wasn’t really listening to the music, he just wanted her in his arms.

Julia grinned. “ ‘I’m Too Sexy’ is our song?”

“I had no idea you were a Right Said Fred fan, Luke,” Algee noted from his position near the bar.

“I don’t need an audience here,” Luke growled.

“You mean I can’t stay and make fun of the way a white boy dances?” Algee looked crushed.

“Affirmative, squid.”

“Roger that, jarhead.”

“Am I missing something here?” Julia asked, confused by their conversation.

“Algee was just leaving,” Luke said.

The big guy had no sooner walked out the door than Adele joined them from the kitchen. “Pretty fancy stuff, huh?”

Julia nodded. “It’s incredible.”

“Wait until you eat the dinner I’ve prepared for you two. It’s ready now if you are.”

“I guess we can dance later,” Luke said, holding a chair out for Julia.

They dined on filet mignon, baby asparagus, and Adele’s famous sweet potato fries, which Luke hand fed her. Dessert was a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate mousse accompanied by a bowl of cherries.

Luke took great pleasure in placing a cherry between her lips and then kissing her, nibbling on her and the fruit. She felt it was only fair to reciprocate. Meanwhile, the music from her high school years continued with Elton John’s “The One.”

“We never did get that dance,” Luke murmured once the cherries were all gone. “Come on.” He gently tugged her to her feet and into his arms.

At seventeen, Julia never imagined she’d ever be dancing with a hottie like Luke. The first time she heard “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin, she hadn’t envisioned being held like this—so close to Luke that she could feel every breath he took. Even then, it wasn’t close enough.

Adele cleared her throat. “Uh, I’m leaving now. Just thought I’d let you know.”

“Thanks, Adele, for the delicious meal,” Julia said without leaving Luke’s arms.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Good night.”

“Our chaperon is gone,” Luke whispered against Julia’s temple. “Want to make out?”

“Make out?”

“Mmmm. You know how to make out, don’t you?”

“Put your lips together and blow?”

He cracked up. “I’ve turned you into a wanton woman.”

“Are you complaining?”

“No way.”

“Good.”

“I just want this night to be special for you.”

“It already is,” she whispered.

“Then maybe we should continue this upstairs . . .” He swept her off her feet and lifted her in his arms to carry her upstairs. He had to lean down so she could open the apartment door, then he pretended to almost drop her, making her clutch her arms around his neck even tighter.

“I’ve gotta say, the view from here is great,” he noted as he carried her inside.

“Are you looking down my dress?”

“Guilty as charged.” He set her on her feet next to his bed.

“Maybe you should take a closer look,” she suggested.

“Maybe I should.”

Luke took his time with her, celebrating each moment as if it were the first. The first time he’d kissed her collarbone. The first time he’d nibbled on her earlobe. The first time he’d tickled the roof of her mouth with his tongue.

His hands moved to her dress, slowly undoing the ties that held the wrap-around bodice together. He unwrapped her as if she were the most precious and valuable of gifts. Where before they’d often tossed their clothes out of the way, now they lived in the moment, building the anticipation step by step. He slid the dress off one shoulder, kissing every inch of skin as he revealed it.

She responded by undoing his tie and slowly sliding it . . . bit by bit . . . out from under his shirt collar.

Luke slid her dress off the other shoulder as their mutual slow-motion striptease continued. Now every inch of bare skin revealed on that side had to have equal attention, his mouth caressing the rounded tip of her shoulder.

Julia unbuttoned his top shirt button and slipped her index finger beneath to trace his collarbone with the tip of her nail.

He moved to her lacy black bra.

She undid more of his shirt buttons.

He toyed with the bra’s front fastening, trailing his fingers along the edge of her lingerie.

She tugged the shirt from the waistband of his pants.

He lowered his head and kissed his way from the hollow of her throat down to the shadowy valley between her breasts.

She shoved his shirt off one shoulder.

He placed his open mouth directly over her lace-covered nipple.

She moaned with pleasure and threaded her fingers through his dark, silky hair.