You'll Think of Me (28 page)

C
arrying a few shot glasses, Luke walked over to where Olivia was sitting.

The distressed jeans were dropped low on his hips, the lip of his boxers peeking out and begging for her attention. Could the black crew neck shirt get any tighter on his arms? Even after all these years, Luke still made her heart speed up.

Luke’s eyes were apologetic as he handed her a glass of amber liquid. Olivia decided after the appointment with his parents today that there could never be a relationship, friendship, or whatever, now. How could there be?

“Take it, Livy,” Luke drawled, his eyes locked on hers.

Olivia glared at Luke.

“Livy,” Luke said between clenched teeth. “Take the damn whiskey. Consider it a peace offering.”

Not uttering a single word, Olivia grabbed the shot and threw it back, her eyes never leaving Luke’s gaze as she did. She let the burn of the spicy liquor soothe her. Olivia commended herself for not clenching her eyes shut as it moved down her throat and warmed her belly.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me, Luke. I wasn’t taking it as a peace offering. I just wanted it. You can go now.”

Man, she was really pissed at him. Guess she wasn’t impressed with his kiss. He’d have to try harder next time.

“Well then, would you consider this one a peace offering?” Luke inquired as he gave her the second glass.

“No. What are you doing here, Luke?”

Luke shook his head at Livy’s stubbornness. Instead, he took the shot and threw it back. How she drank this stuff straight he didn’t know. After a few beers it wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t his choice of poison. It tasted like gasoline.

Placing his hands on his hips, he waited for her to say something, anything, but Livy never did. Her brown eyes peered from under her heavy lashes as if she was trying to burn a hole through his head. Luke turned and walked back to the bar to order a few more shots. He’d get her to open up soon enough, even if he had to coerce her with whiskey.

Holding up two fingers, Luke shouted over the music to the bartender. “
Yeah, can I get two more rounds!”

Grabbing the four shot glasses, Luke positioned them between his fingers and went back to Livy. He placed the drinks on the table then took one of the chairs and flipped it around to straddle it. Leaning over the back of the chair, he slid one shot to Livy, keeping one for himself. He watched as she eyed the glass, knowing his whiskey girl couldn’t say no. As if he didn’t know her.
Please.
She fought with herself, biting that lip of hers then reached for a glass. As she reached for it, so did Luke.
That’s my girl.

Their eyes locked and they drank at the same time.

“Why are you here alone tonight?”

“How’d you know…?” Luke smiled as soon as Olivia spoke. He knew the Fireball would work. He cocked his head to the side, lifted his eyebrow and waited for her to respond.

Luke could be so exasperating at times. After two shots and a 7&7, Olivia didn’t have it in her to fight anymore. She tried to ignore Luke, but could only do so much with him sitting just inches from her. She felt her resolve breaking down, herself loosening.

“Nate,” she emphasized his name, “had to back out to help his mother.
I
needed to get out for a bit, so here I am. Why are
you
here, hmm? Not like it’s that close to you.”

“Heard you on the phone. Knew you’d be here, so here I am.”

Olivia’s eyes narrowed to slits. There had to be more than just that. “You were listening to my conversation?”

“Not exactly.” Luke shrugged nonchalantly. “The exam room door wasn’t shut all the way and your voice carried.”

“So you followed me here? What are you? A stalker now?”

Luke gave Livy a droll stare. “Like I need to stalk you, Livy.”

“Oh, that’s right. You’re a famous country singer now.
Excuse me
.
”
Her voice heightened as she placed a hand across her chest, her southern accent coming out. “I’m sure you have women flocking to you in droves. In fact, the night I had to call you to come pick your drunk ass brother up, I’m pretty sure I heard a woman in the background. Why don’t you go back to your flavor of the week and leave me be?” Olivia grabbed the last shot and tipped it back. When she’d heard the sound of a woman in the background that night, her heart churned with bitterness.

Well, this just got interesting. A slow and methodical smile curved his lips. If she only knew how fabricated those tabloids were. “Is that jealously I hear,
Care Bear
?”

Her jaw set tight, teeth clenching. Olivia was pretty sure she’d ask him before not to call her that again.

“What do you want, Luke? There’s not really anything left to say. We’ve said it all. We can’t be…friends or whatever this awkwardness is between us.” Venom dripped from her words. The whiskey was not only loosening her up, but heating her blood.

Taking the last of the shots, Luke didn’t want to fight with Livy. He wanted to explain his actions but knew he would get nowhere trying tonight. Instead, he decided to try a totally different route.

Luke held his hand out while looking at her.

“What?”

“Come dance with me.”

Scoffing at his request, Olivia glanced around the bar before she replied. “No. I don't think,
actually I know
, it’s not a good idea.”

“Stop using that big brain of yours for a minute and dance with me. Old friends hanging out. Nothing more.”

Old friends...
old lovers
, she thought.

“I really don't think so, Luke.”

Absolutely nothing good could come from being that close to Luke. Nothing.

“Don't you ever just cut back and relax?”

Olivia shrugged and leaned back into the booth. “Not really. Never had much time to relax.”

“Well you do now and you have no excuse. Take my damn hand and dance with me woman. Let’s go,” he demanded thickly, his southern drawl coming out heavier from the liquor.

Reluctantly, she placed her hand in Luke's inviting palm. His hand was solid and firm as he closed it around her small hand. This wasn't a good idea and she knew it, but she didn’t stop herself either.

Sliding out of the booth, Olivia made her way over to the semi-crowded dance floor with Luke. He turned and grabbed the belt loops of her jean shorts and hauled her to him, brushing into his body. She could smell his old, yet familiar scent as she came face to face with his chest. Taking a deep breath, she inhaled. Goodness, he smelled just like she remembered: woodsy, sun-kissed skin.

Reaching up, she rested her arms on Luke's shoulders as he spread out his hands on the small of her back and drew her in closer. The hot touch of his fingers against her back shot sparks throughout her entire body. Her heart pounded against her ribs. Olivia needed to get herself under control.

Trying not to make eye contact but not wanting to stare at his chest either, Olivia looked up at the ceiling. The bar radiated warmth and comfort with its southern charm, the dim lights setting the relaxed mood as they began to sway. Vintage looking crystal chandeliers sparkled all around, reflecting the wood tones. From tawny pink to espresso, the earthy colors shined all around the room making it look like the crystals were in fact those colors.

“Why are you really here, Luke?”

He shrugged. “After hearing about my mother, it was a lot to take in. Once I took my parents home, I watched as my dad took her to their room. I knew he was putting on a brave face for her. When he didn’t come back out of the room, I went home. But once I was there, I couldn’t take the silence in the house any longer and I needed to leave. I didn’t want to be alone. So here I am.”

“But why not call one of your friends?”

He shrugged. “You were my friend once.”

All around them the air suffused with tension. Her heart ached at the sound of Luke’s confession. They had been more than friends. She knew it was a lot for him to deal with.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here then. I mean, I was surprised when you walked in and it confused me to see you, but I understand why you’re here now.”

“I didn’t want to be around anyone else but you tonight, Livy. You were the first person who popped in my head when I ran out of my house. I wanted you.”

Chris Cagle’s
Miss Me Baby
streamed through the speakers as they rocked from side to side. Listening to the lyrics, the chorus hit her chest like a ton of bricks. Tightening his arms around her waist, Luke began crooning near her ear along with the song, breaking down her resolve. The deep, raspy southern drawl melted her on the inside, making her body flare to life.

Continuing to sing only for her, Luke placed emphasis on certain words and pulled her tighter to him, almost as if he was afraid to let her go. His stubble would graze her face each time he got too close to her ear. The cracking in his voice was not something he could stop. He was aching inside, not just with her in his arms, but also because he was stressing big time over his mother and he needed someone to comfort him. He needed his Care Bear.

Olivia could feel the heat radiating from his body, the muscles tense in his arms. There was nothing better than listening to Luke sing. Even when he wasn’t singing, just watching his fingers caress the bronze cords when he played acoustic guitar was enough for her. Aside from the undeniable chemistry, music was what pulled Olivia and Luke together and locked them in. They would lose themselves in the moment, the sound of the strings being thumbed. At times he’d stop to tune his guitar if a string was off, and it was like he was tightening her to him even more. Music had always been everything for Luke early on, but now she couldn't help wondering if he was like that with other women after she’d left.

In that moment, deep down Olivia regretted ever leaving South Fork. The regret was like shards of glass roughing up the scar tissue every time his songs came on the radio. It sat heavy in her stomach, fermenting with each thought. She tried to keep space between them as they slow-danced, but as the whiskey took root in her belly she felt herself moving closer to Luke. Something was different tonight with Luke, she couldn’t quite place it, but she could feel it in his hold. He needed her, and she wanted to be there for him.

Luke watched Olivia closely. He could feel how tightly coiled her body was enveloped in his arms. It was written all over her face. She was like an open book to him when it came to her emotions, so easy to read yet she still tried to conceal them.

“Livy,” Luke said. Olivia gazed up at him with wide eyes full of question.

“Don't think,” he demanded. “Just feel. Just feel the music and let it run through you. Feel it up in here,” Luke drawled as he placed the back of his knuckles to the side of her face and began a tantalizing downward spiral. “And let it flow slowly through you here,” he finished grazing over her heart.

His voice was a steady deep hum of intense desire as he ran the back of his hand down her neck and over her chest, then around the curve of her breast exceedingly slow. His thumb swept out and grazed the fullness of her breast, lingering while he stared into her eyes and then moved down to her waist. Olivia’s body alighted with hunger as she struggled not to tremble from his touch. It wasn’t right, yet she couldn’t control her body’s reaction. She shouldn’t be craving his touch, yet she burned for it badly.

Not breaking their stare, he lifted the back of her shirt and began gliding his hand back and forth just above her shorts.

“Let it take you away and live in the moment with me,” he tugged her closer to him, tightening his arms around her.

Gently and effortlessly, like honey sliding down hot butter, Luke touched her so softly that her lips parted and her body ignited. A flush crawled up her chest and into her cheeks as she forced her eyes not to shut at the stroke of his knuckles caressing her.

Luke knew he needed to stop touching Livy, but fuck, he just couldn’t. His dick was struggling to keep calm with her so close, aware of every inch of her lush body pressed against his. Having Livy back in his arms was something he never thought would happen, and to be quite honest, he was going to take advantage of the moment. Screw everything else.

His touch must have affected her because he noticed a tremor work itself across her body. Goosebumps were plainly visible on her arms even in the hot and stifling bar. Her eye lids were heavy as she replied, “With you. Live in the moment with you? Hmm…that’s not so easy.”

“Yes. With me. Two old friends, remember?” Luke reaffirmed once again.

He pulled Olivia to him so they were now hip to hip, pressing his aching lower half into her. He leaned his head down to the curve of her neck and rested it there.

“I’ve missed you, Livy,” Luke whispered thickly against her neck. And he did. He could swear he heard a purr escape her lips as she let out a gasp. Olivia's breasts smashed against him when she tightened her hold around his neck knowing she felt what he admitted. Hell, he did miss her. She turned her head to the side and laid it on his chest, causing her long hair to dance across his arm. At this point he could hardly think straight. He was going to have blue balls for sure.