I can't help but to utter a soft laugh. "Shameless."
He grins as he turns to go.
As easy as it would be for me to take Luke up on his offer, I know I never would. I think about his hand on mine, his lips on my skin. As flattering as his attention had been, I hadn't felt anything. No real excitement, no spark, no achy butterflies dancing in my stomach at the prospect of taking things further. Just a vague sense of flattery that a handsome man was flirting with me. I sigh. Is something wrong with me? Why does it have to be Finn who causes all those fluttery feelings inside me? Why can’t it be someone I can have?
The rest of the dinner proceeds without any issues. Even the mother of the bride hasn’t complained once. The bridal party left in a party bus headed for the beach a half hour ago. The groom and his group are having drinks on the porch while they wait for their limousine to arrive to take them out for whatever debauchery they have planned. I can hear male laughter from outside as I supervise the cleanup in the dining room. My feet are killing me and I’m ready to get out of these heels. I check my watch. I have plenty of time left before I need to get home and relieve the babysitter who’s watching Liam. I spoke to him a half hour ago before he went to bed for the night.
I move around the dining room, stacking plates, moving chairs, anything to feel like I’m helping. In reality, I know the staff doesn’t need my help. They’ve done this dozens of times and have it down to a science. But I’m restless and I can’t leave until the job is done. I gather a stack of dirty plates and turn toward the kitchen. Luke is suddenly standing in front of me, a charming smile on his face.
“I’ll take those,” he says and takes the dishes from my hands before I can think to object. He turns in the direction of the kitchen. Confused, I follow him. Is he still trying to flirt with me? He has to know by now that it won’t work.
“Don’t you have a bachelor party to attend?” I call to Luke’s back as I follow him.
“They won’t leave without me. I’m the best man.”
I roll my eyes even though I know he can’t see it. “You’re a guest. Guests don’t help clear the dining room.”
He looks at me over his shoulder. “Rather elitist of you.”
I sigh. “You know what I mean.”
Luke enters the kitchen, looks around until he spots the sink and strides over to it. If the staff find it odd that a guest is in the kitchen, they don’t show it. Luke sets the stack of plates down on the counter next to a similar stack of dirty dishes and turns to face me.
“Maybe I just wanted an excuse to talk to you again,” he murmurs. “See if I could get you to change your mind about me.”
I narrow my eyes at him, studying him for a moment. “I don’t think that’s it.”
Now it’s his turn to study me. “No? Then what do you think?”
I cross my arms. “I think,” I begin, “that maybe you’re lonely. That you like the chase more than the catch. That you’re not that excited about going out with the guys tonight, even though you clearly want to be there for your best friend.”
Luke stares at me, curious. There’s something in his eyes that says that maybe I’m right. Maybe this game he’s playing just got more serious than he’d planned. He opens his mouth to speak, but before he can, I hear Finn’s voice coming from behind me.
“Is there some kind of problem?”
Luke doesn’t look away from me when he speaks, his voice low and unconcerned. “No problem at all.”
In contrast, Finn’s voice is hard, angry. “The kitchen is off-limits to guests. And I think your ride is here.” It’s clear that he’s all but telling Luke to leave, but Luke seems unfazed.
Luke smiles. His voice is still calm and unaffected. “So it is,” he says. “Miss Travis.” He nods once and strolls leisurely out of the kitchen. Finn glares at Luke’s back as he goes.
I turn to Finn and hiss, “What the hell was that?”
Finn’s face is still a mask of anger. “You let him lure you back here? What the hell were you thinking?”
“He’s a guest, Finn.” My own voice is growing harder, matching the anger I hear in his. “I was thinking that I’m an adult and I can handle myself. Oh, and also? There are a dozen people within earshot. Not to mention people coming and going every ten seconds. What did you think I was going to do? Let him take me right here in the kitchen? What’s wrong with you?”
Finn seems shocked into silence for a moment. Maybe I went too far with what I said, but I’m not taking it back. His blue eyes flash with anger as he glares at me. The sound of metal clanging on the tile floor draws both our attention. A startled server stands behind Finn holding a stack of plates, a fork on the floor by her feet.
“Sorry,” she squeaks.
Finn gives her what I assume is meant to be a smile, but I don’t think it has the effect he wanted. The server scurries past us to set the plates on the counter then walks quickly from the kitchen. Finn glances around as though realizing that our location isn’t private. He shocks me by grabbing my arm and pulling me along with him. His grip doesn’t hurt, but I can’t pull away without causing a scene in front of the staff which he knows I won’t do. Luckily, we don’t pass anyone on our way down the hall to
