Kate didn’t want to discuss Beth Hammond. For as long as she could remember, the other woman had been going out of her way to attract him.
“It’s beautiful out, isn’t it?” she asked instead. Instinctively she nestled closer to Luke, reclining against the lean strength of his body, seeking his warmth.
“Beautiful,” he repeated, running his hands down her arms.
How content she felt with Luke, how comfortable—the way she imagined people felt when they’d been married for twenty years. But along with this familiar sense of ease, she experienced a prickle of anticipation. Her feelings were contradicting themselves. Secure and steady, and at the same time this growing sense of giddy excitement. It must be that glass of champagne.
The band started playing again and the music wafted outside. Gently Luke turned her to face him, slipping his hands around her as if to dance. Her arms reached for his neck, resuming their earlier position.
“We should talk,” he whispered close to her ear.
“No,” she murmured with a sigh. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to stand on the tips of her toes and brush her moist lips over his. Then she realized what she’d done. Her eyes widened and she abruptly stepped back, her heart hammering inside her chest.
Neither spoke. In the light that spilled from the hall, they stared at each other. Kate didn’t know what her eyes told Luke, but his own were clouded with uncertainty. Kate half expected him to chastise her, or to tease her for behaving like such a flirt. Instead he reached for her once more, his eyes challenging her to stop him.
She couldn’t.
The warmth of his mouth on hers produced a small sigh of welcome as her eyes slid languidly shut; she felt transported into a dreamworld, one she’d never visited before. This couldn’t actually be happening, she told herself, and yet it felt so real. So right.
Luke’s kiss was surprisingly tender, unlike anything she’d expected. “My darling Kate,” he breathed against her hair, “I’ve dreamed of this so often.”
“You have?” To her own ears, her voice sounded far, far away. Her head was swimming. If this was a dream, then she didn’t want it to end. Sighing, she smiled beguilingly up at him.
“You little tease,” he said, and laughed softly. He rained light kisses on her forehead, the corners of her eyes and her cheek, until she interrupted his meandering lips, seeking his mouth with her own.
He seemed to want the kiss as much as she did, but apparently saw no need to rush the experience, as if he feared hurrying would spoil it. Kate’s mouth parted, inviting a deeper union. His willing compliance was so effective it buckled her knees.
“Kate?” Still holding her, he drew back, tilting his head to study her. Boldly she met his look, her eyes dancing with mischief. If he’d been kissing her out of pity, she was past caring.
A long moment passed before a slow, thoughtful smile played across his lips. “I think I’d better get you inside.”
“No,” she said, surprised at how vehement she felt about returning to the reception hall and the newlyweds. “I don’t want to go back there.”
“But—”
“Stay with me here. Dance with me. Hold me.” He’d said he wanted to take care of her. Well, she was giving him the opportunity. She leaned into him and sighed, savoring his strength and support. This was Luke. Luke Rivers. Her trusted friend. Surely he understood; surely he’d help her through this most difficult night of her life. “I want you with me.” She couldn’t explain what was happening any more than she could deny it.
“You don’t know what you’re asking me.” He stared down at her, searching her features for a long, breathless moment. Then the cool tips of his fingers brushed her face, moving along her cheekbones, stroking her skin as if he expected her to vanish.
Kate caught his hand with her own and gazed into his dark eyes. They glittered like freshly polished onyx, full of light and a deep inner fire.
“I want you to kiss me. You taste so good.” She moistened her lips and leaned closer to him, so close that she could feel the imprint of his buttons against her body. So close that the beat of his heart merged with her own. Excitement shivered through her in tremors so intense they frightened her. But not enough to make her pull away.
Her words spurred Luke into action, and when he kissed her their lips met with hungry insistence. Sensation erupted between them until Kate was weak and dizzy, clinging to him for support, her fingers bunching the material of his jacket. When he lifted his head, ending the kiss, Kate felt nearly faint from the rush of blood to her pounding temples.