Back to Luke by Kathryn Shay Page B

of jockeying for positions, but Luke managed to settle them all and make sure his own seat was down from and behind Jayne. When the game started, he kept one eye on the field and one on the kids. He did not look at Jayne’s cargo shorts and the long legs they bared, or her white top with the lace neck, or the chain she wore—and where it nestled.
    The game was good. The home team was running away with the score. Then Analise said, “I’m bored.”
    Luke suggested, “Come sit with me, then. We’ll play I Spy.”
    The little girl climbed over her cousins, but instead of going to him in the next row up, she stood out on the steps and watched him. She made quite a picture in her denim jumper and bright pink sneakers, which matched her shirt. Defiance emanated from her very stance.
    “Analise,” he said softly.
    “I don’t wanna sit. I’m staying out here.”
    He stared at her.
    Blue eyes stared back at him.
    He cocked his head.
    She raised her chin.
    Then he gave her a half smile.
    Finally, one appeared on her face. She threw herself onto his lap and he hugged her tightly.
    After Analise sat, he glimpsed Jayne. Apparently she’d been watching the whole thing. She smiled—a big, beautiful smile filled with soft approval.
    Damn it if he didn’t bask in her reaction.

CHAPTER SEVEN

    A FEW DAYS LATER , Jayne was unloading bags of plaster at the site when she saw Luke’s truck pull into the lot. He was late this morning—very late—which was unlike him. As he climbed out of the front seat, she noticed right away what he was wearing. The most threadbare jeans she’d ever seen gloved his legs, and a ratty T-shirt with torn-off sleeves covered his torso. Even his hair was mussed. It hit her that he’d probably just rolled out of bed.
    Whose? she wondered. The almost certainty that it was Elise’s made her ill.
    He crossed to her. “’Morning.”
    “Rough night?” she couldn’t help asking him, but she hated the quiver in her voice.
    “Not like you mean.”
    She cocked her head.
    “Kenny, my sister’s oldest, got in some trouble. He was caught drinking in the park with some other boys. I bunked at their place so Belle and Nick could go to the police station and deal with this.”
    Reaching out, Jayne squeezed his arm briefly. “Oh, Luke, I’m sorry. Is everything all right?”
    “Yeah, he got off with a warning. But he’s in hot water from drinking and being with kids he wasn’t supposed to hang out with. Belle’s furious.”
    Luke glanced down at his outfit with disgust. “Nick’s clothes are too small for me and this is all I had left at her house.” He ran a hand over his jaw. “No time to shave, either.”
    Which made him look dangerous. And sexy. What was it about that scruffy look on men?
    “Everything okay here?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    He eyed the bags. “That too heavy for you?”
    Instead of getting angry, she was amused. “You just can’t help yourself, can you?”
    Before he could answer, another truck pulled up, this one battered and rusted; out of it slid Mick O’Malley, carrying two tall disposable cups. When he saw Luke, his gaze hardened. Ignoring Luke, he said, “Good morning, beautiful,” to Jayne and handed her a cup. “Thought you’d like this.”
    “Why, thank you.”
    “I saw what you drank before.” He gave her a small smile and walked away without acknowledging Luke’s presence.
    Jayne watched Luke as he stared after his best friend’s brother, who hated him. Instead of peevishness, which she’d seen in him all week, his face was incredibly sad. “It must be hard dealing with his animosity every day.”
    “Nothing I don’t deserve.”
    “You don’t, Luke.” When he didn’t answer, she added, “Hey, what did you tell me the other night about making mistakes?”
    He shrugged.
    She arched an eyebrow. “It only works one way, huh, hotshot?”
    His grin, framed by the growth of beard, was a killer. Jayne’s whole body responded.
    Trying to ignore her reaction,