Anything but Love

He’d once thought her a tortured soul. He still sensed she was damaged somehow, guarded. The soldier in him wanted to save her. But tonight he’d also gotten a glimpse of her fighting spirit. A quiet confidence. And under and through it all, that gentle heart. The entire package was a turn-on.

As for his hound-dog cousin, Luke had sworn to Sam that he didn’t have feelings for Rae. That she’d been upset that night and the kiss Sam had walked in on had been Luke’s lame way of trying to comfort her. Which sounded like Luke, balls on. The younger man viewed sex as a cure-all.

If Luke had lied, if he was hot for Rae, then he and Sam were going to butt heads in a big-ass way. He wouldn’t feel great about kicking the shit out of a family member—literally or figuratively. But he wouldn’t shy from it either. Luke had never made a serious commitment to a woman in his entire life.

Sam was ready to go all out.

SIX

Luke woke up the next morning just like every other morning these last few months—alone and broody. He’d bailed on the Cupcake Lovers meeting early. Yes, he was happy for Chloe and Monica—Chloe’s baby would be his niece or nephew and Monica.… Hell, Monica and her husband, Leo, had been trying for a baby for almost a year and then when they stopped trying, bam, she’d conceived. Twins! Everyone in Sugar Creek had celebrated that news.

Luke was also thrilled for Rocky and Jayce. Theirs had been a long and stormy relationship. That they’d finally settled in the love zone and were actually getting married was a big deal. He just wasn’t up for hearing the gory details. Who knew his tomboy sister would turn all sappy girly when it came to planning her wedding?

Overall the night had sucked. His cupcakes had flopped and the Cupcake Lovers had pegged him as depressed, bored, and lonely. Never mind that it was true. It’s not like this was a permanent state. He’d bounce back. At some point.

Maybe he would call Ellie Tate.

For the time being, he’d driven home and thrown back a couple of beers while watching late-night ESPN. He’d gone to bed thinking about Rae. He’d woken up thinking about her, too. So when the stylish redhead walked through the front door of the Sugar Shack just shortly after opening, he was certain she was a figment of his imagination.

Until Kane Brody whistled low.

His brother, Adam, looked to where Kane looked. “Holy … Is that … Shit.”

Luke, who’d been pouring cups of coffee for the Brodys, carefully abandoned the glass carafe before he dropped it. He was that shocked to see Reagan Deveraux.

In Sugar Creek.

In his freaking pub.

The last time she’d been in this room, a randy college boy had grabbed her ass and Luke had gone ballistic. The unwanted attention had reduced Rae to tears and Luke had hustled her into his office. He’d meant to comfort her. He’d ended up kissing her. Sam had walked in and that’s the moment Luke’s happy-go-lucky existence started swirling down the toilet.

He relived the entire scene twice by the time she made it through the maze of tables to the bar. Except that night he’d been defending and falling for Rachel Lacey—a shy, self-conscious, and supposedly down-and-out teaching assistant. This was Reagan Deveraux—the heiress who’d screwed him just to get him out of her system.

In the words of his bud, Adam … Shit.

The Brodys swiveled full around to greet her.

“Hey, Rachel,” Kane said.

Adam elbowed him.

“Sorry. Rae.”

“So you guys know my real name. My background,” she said in an even tone and without looking at Luke.

“Whole town knows,” Adam said.

Not from me, Luke wanted to say, but bit his tongue.

“I heard it from Nash, who got it from Leo, who heard it from—”

“Monica.” Rae smiled a little as she unzipped her coat. “I know how it works, guys.”

The brothers fell quiet, appreciating a glimpse of the curves beneath the coat. Luke knew exactly what Kane and Adam thought of Rae’s figure. They’d ogled her lush breasts and trim waist the first night she’d shown up in her waitress uniform. Since she’d been keen on making big tips, Luke had suggested she ditch her preferred baggy style for something more formfitting. At the time he hadn’t been aware her form was so fine.

Now he knew.

Even better than Adam and Kane.

Luke’s hands had been all over that hot body.

“Buy you a drink?” Adam asked.

“Coffee?” Kane offered.

Luke’s mouth went dry as he imagined Rae shooting tequila. Lick, drink, suck.

“Water would be nice. Thanks.”

Luke turned away and reached into the fridge. She probably liked sparkling or mineral as opposed to spring. Then again, anyone who slammed back shots wasn’t exactly a beverage snob.

“Why are you back in Sugar Creek?” Adam asked.

“Business.”

“Staying long?” Kane asked.

“That depends,” she said just as Luke returned with Perrier and a glass. “Could I speak with you?” she asked, meeting his gaze head on. “In private?”

Which meant his office. The cramped, messy room where they’d shared their first kiss. Not that Adam and Kane knew. No one knew, aside from Luke, Rae, and Sam. And no one knew about their disastrous shag in L.A. Unless Rae had spilled the beans. It’s not something Luke was inclined to talk about. If only he could forget.

Their fingers brushed as she reached for the uncapped bottle. Luke cursed the tingle that zipped up his arm and tightened his chest. Maintaining a casual expression, he called over to Willa, the only waitress on the schedule this a.m., and asked her to cover the bar. “Be right back,” he said to the Brodys who were looking at him like he was the luckiest shit in town.

Yeah, right.

“She’s new,” Rae said, referring to the petite blonde waitress as they made their way to his office.

“You know how it goes,” Luke said as he opened the door. “People come and go all the time.”

He thought he heard Rae sigh, but she didn’t comment. She set down the Perrier long enough to shrug out of her expensive-looking down coat. He automatically helped her with it. He’d been raised to do stuff like that. Help women in and out of their coats, open the door for them, pull out the chair for them. Most women, at least all of the ones he’d dated, appreciated the courtesy.

Rae thanked him, although that sounded sort of automatic, too. “Mind if I sit?” she asked while gesturing to his secondhand couch.

“Knock yourself out.” Luke, however, perched on the corner of his desk. He was wired. He was curious. He was wary. “What kind of business?”

She blinked then focused. On him. Gaze steady. Four months ago, she’d gone out of her way to avoid eye contact. With Luke and most everyone else. He’d assumed it was because she was shy. Now he knew it was because she’d been living a freaking lie. Eyes were the window to the soul and all that.

“Without going into great detail,” she said, “I’m here to save Sugar Tots. And, if they’ll let me, I think I can help the Cupcake Lovers with their publishing date glitch.”

“How did you—”

“Sam told me.”