Back to Luke by Kathryn Shay

or say.
    “Um, no thanks,” Jayne was saying. “I have some errands to run.”
    “You sure?” Mick asked smoothly. “I got enough lunch to share.”
    “You’re sweet to offer, but no.”
    Both stopped talking—flirting—when Luke reached them. “How’d it go?” he asked.
    Mick snorted. “As if you didn’t know. I’ll see you after lunch, Jayne.” He squeezed her arm and left.
    “What did he mean by that?” Jayne asked Luke.
    “I have no idea.” Which was a bald-faced lie. Mick had caught Luke staring at them. It burned him up to be so transparent, and so he snapped at her. “But a word of warning. Maybe it isn’t a good idea to be so friendly with the guys on the site.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “They’re not used to working with women.”
    He could see her tense. “You’re kidding, right? There are several female volunteers, and you’ve brought in a lot of women carpenters and construction workers in the last week. I…admired that about you.”
    “Yeah, but you’re different.”
    She shook her head. “Damn it, Luke, I thought we were past this.”
    We were, until I saw you with Mick.
    “You have to be one of the moodiest, most mercurial men I’ve ever met.” When he didn’t respond, she scowled fiercely, said, “I’m going to lunch,” and stalked away.
    As he watched her go, Luke cursed himself. Goddamn it, when had he become so clumsy and tongue-tied?
    When Jayne had come back, that’s when. Hell, he was jealous of Jess moving into the same house with her, and he’d been livid when Mick had fallen all over her this morning.
    This was a fine mess.
     

    F UMING , Jayne left Luke with long, angry strides. That man was infuriating! Why the hell would he be so nice to her on Friday night and this morning, then turn on her so quickly? He’d never been like this in New York. He wasn’t like this around anyone else. If she hadn’t been convinced before that she had to control this stupid attraction to him, she was now. She’d just reached the parking lot when a black Mercedes sports car pulled up beside her Lexus. Its sleek lines and inherent class matched its owner, who slid out of the front seat with the grace of a gazelle.
    Jayne recognized Luke’s girlfriend right away. She was dressed in a lovely brown and black print dress that was both sophisticated and sensual, with high black heels. Diamonds sparkled at her ears. Her red hair was drawn back in a clip that emphasized her high cheekbones. “Hello. I’m Elise Jenkins.”
    Suddenly self-conscious of her jeans and T-shirt, Jayne gave her a weak smile. “Hi. I’m Jayne Logan.”
    “Yes, I know. Luke was talking about you at the party Friday night.”
    That was something to think about.
    Elise’s pretty auburn eyebrows furrowed. “He’s been in a mood since then,” she said as she bent over, slid up the front seat and drew a picnic basket out of the back seat. “So I brought him lunch.”
    “Sorry, but he’s still in a foul mood.”
    “Oh, dear. Well, maybe I can—” she smiled slyly “—cheer him up.”
    Though her heart hurt at how Elise might make Luke feel better, Jayne managed to say, “Good luck with that.”
    “Thanks. Nice to meet you, by the way.”
    Elise’s genuine warmth made Jayne feel bad for her negative thoughts. Hell, the woman was nice as well as glamorous.
    “What’s going on here?”
    They both turned to see Luke a few feet away from them. His black T-shirt was damp and his hair mussed; he looked so good that a bolt of lust hit Jayne square in the stomach. All that masculinity approached Elise, and he enveloped her in a hug so warm and sexy it made Jayne’s already bruised heart clutch in her chest.
    Over Elise’s shoulder, Luke stared right at Jayne. The creep. When he drew back, he bestowed an approving smile on the other woman. “Nice to see you, gorgeous.”
    “Really? Jayne said you were still in a bad mood.”
    “Jayne’s wrong, I guess. Now that you’re here, anyway.”
    Jayne