Luke’s frown grew darker, and he dragged a hand through his hair. “Listen, I think we may have more of a problem with Fred Garner than I thought.”
“Yes, I know,” Kate said, already filling the next box. “Linda told me after school that he’s doing a thriving business.”
Luke knelt on the floor beside her. “You’re not upset?”
“Would it do any good? I mean, you obviously did your best and that just seemed to encourage the betting. As far as I can see, the only thing that will resolve this issue is time.” She kept her gaze averted and added, “When six months pass and we’re still not married, everyone will accept that nothing’s going on between us.”
“Nothing?” Luke asked bitterly.
Hope stirred briefly within her. “I like to think we’ll always be friends.” An absent smile touched her lips. “Now that I’ve decided to distance my emotions from this lottery nonsense, I find it all rather comical. You should do the same.”
“This amuses you?”
“The good citizens of Nightingale are amused. Everyone seems to assume that because Clay and Dad both got married and the ranch has been sold, I should swoon into your arms.”
“Personally, I don’t think that’s such a bad idea.”
“Oh?” She chuckled and tucked a few more books in the box. Her heart was racing. If Luke was ever really going to declare his love, it would be now. “That wasn’t the message I got the other night. I tried to have a serious talk with you about my evening with Clay and Rorie, and all you could do was glower at me.” She glanced up, shaking her head. “Like you’re doing now.”
Luke walked away from her. He stood staring out the window, although Kate suspected the view was of little interest to him. “I just wish you’d be sensible for once in your life,” he snapped.
“I didn’t know I had a habit of not being sensible,” she said conversationally, disheartened by his attitude. She rose and walked over to the larger bookcase, but even standing on her toes, she couldn’t quite reach the trophies stored on the top shelf. Not to be defeated, she rolled the ottoman in front of the empty bookcase and climbed onto the thick cushioned seat. She stretched up and her fingers were about to grasp the first trophy when she heard Luke’s swift intake of breath.
“Kate!”
Just as he spoke the ottoman started to roll out from under her. She flailed her arms in a desperate effort to maintain her balance.
Kate had never seen Luke move faster. His hands closed around her waist in an iron grip. Her cry of alarm caught in her throat as she was slammed against his solid chest.
“Of all the stupid, idiotic things I’ve ever seen—”
“I would’ve been perfectly fine if you hadn’t called my name.” Her heart was pounding so hard she could barely breathe.
Luke’s hold relaxed. “You’re all right?”
She nodded.
He closed his eyes, exhaling a ragged sigh. When he opened them, he assessed her carefully; apparently he concluded that she was unhurt because he gave her an impatient little shake. “Whatever possessed you to climb up on that ottoman in the first place?” he demanded.
“I couldn’t reach the trophies.”
“Couldn’t you have asked me to get them for you? Why do you have such a difficult time accepting help from me?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted softly.
Still he held her and still Kate let him, trying to resist the comfort she felt in his arms. Her hands were braced against his powerful shoulders, but then she relaxed, unconsciously linking her fingers behind his neck.
Neither moved for a long moment.
Slowly Luke ran a provocative finger down the length of her cheek, and Kate’s eyes drifted shut. She felt herself drawn inexorably toward him. Her lips parted and trembled, awaiting his kiss. When she realized what she was doing, she opened her eyes and broke away from him so quickly that she would’ve stumbled had his hands not righted her.
Embarrassed now, she stepped back. Luke brought down the trophies and handed them to her, but she saw that his eyes had become distant and unreadable.
“That’s enough packing for tonight,” she murmured, her voice breathless even while she struggled to sound cheerful and bright.
He nodded slightly, then without another word stalked from the room. Kate didn’t know what possessed her to follow him, certainly the last thing she should have done.
“Luke?”
He stopped halfway through the kitchen and turned toward her. His eyes were steely and intense, and just seeing that harsh edge drove her to take a step backward in retreat.