Bidding Wars (Love Strikes)(15)

Luke smiled at her. She wanted to smile back, but she caught Leslie in the corner of her eye watching Molly very carefully.

“That was nice.” Luke nodded toward Molly.

“Can we get ice cream?” Sammy looked at his mom now.

“I don’t know sweetie,” Leslie said.

“I can take him and then bring him back to you in an hour if you have something you need to do.”

Leslie squinted her eyes. “Don’t you have something you need to do?”

Molly wasn’t positive, but she felt that comment was referring to her, sexually. Part of her wanted to step in and let Leslie know she wasn’t invading her territory, but she didn’t know where things hung with her and Luke.

“My afternoon is free. I’m not sure what Nurse Molly’s plans are.” Luke looked at Molly.

Molly did her best to suppress the giggle that was begging to escape.

“I really want some ice cream.” Sammy pouted. “If you two are going to fight about it, then maybe Nurse Molly will take me.”

“I’m sorry, Sammy. We didn’t mean to make you think we were fighting.” Luke put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “This is your mom’s weekend, so it’s up to her. We have to respect whatever she decides.”

Leslie tossed her arms up in the air. “You’re so condescending—it’s just like you to put it all on me.”

“I didn’t mean anything by that.” Luke spoke in a quiet tone.

This was getting awkward fast. “I think I’ll let you guys figure this out. I should head home.” She turned to Sammy. “Great game, bud. You did awesome out there.” She turned and started to make her way across the ever-growing field toward the parking lot.

“Wait, Molly.” Luke was calling for her.

She stopped and looked over her shoulder. He said something to Leslie and Sammy and then jogged toward her.

“Don’t leave.”

“Luke, I can’t get in the middle of whatever is going on between the two of you. It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not fine. I was hoping to spend more time with you.”

Taking a deep breath, she wondered if she was about to say the right thing. “I’ll be at my car. When you’re finished, come find me.”

“Thank you.” He turned and went back to his son and ex.

Seeing the strain between Luke and Leslie almost made her happy she and Steven had never had kids. Her marriage with Steven had not been perfect. She often liked to think it had been, but it wasn’t. They’d swept a pile of problems under the rug during those last months together; a baby would’ve only made matters worse.

She leaned against her car and waited. Maybe it was good she was waiting on him. After all, she needed to make sure they were on the same level when it came to the home on Maple Street and the offers. Luke had to know she wouldn’t take kindly to him lowballing it. Or else she was walking away.

After a few more minutes, Luke came walking up, alone. He had a look of defeat on his face. Part of her wanted to reach out and comfort him. Tell him it was all right.

“Thanks for waiting. I’m really sorry about that. I never know how Leslie is going to react to things. But Sammy is getting his ice cream and he was fine with it coming from a drive-thru instead of the ice cream parlor.”

“That’s good to know.”

“Ice cream is ice cream, right?”

“I guess so. But parlor ice cream is always better than the fast-food places.”

“He did ask if you’d come to his next game.” Luke’s face brightened.

“How did Leslie take that?”

“Fine. She said she’d just like a heads up next time before I bring a girl along.” He rolled his eyes.

“This is new for her. If, like you said, I’m the first woman you’ve dated.”

Luke smiled and stepped toward her, closing the space. “Are we dating?”

“Uh…”

“Do you know how hard it is for me not to kiss you right now? You look so adorable when you panic.”

Kiss. Oh yes, a kiss would be really good right about now. But she had to resist. Placing a hand on his chest, she pushed him back a little. As close as he was, his aftershave was attacking her senses and causing her not to think clearly. If he didn’t move back, she surely would kiss him.

“I talked to Diane.”

He stepped back. She’d killed the mood, just as planned.

“Did she think you were batty?” Irritation was in his voice.

“Ha ha.” Molly crossed her arms. “And to answer your question, she did.”

Luke laughed.

“Anyway, she brought up a good point and I thought I should discuss it with you.”

“Wait, she agreed?”

“She’s going to discuss it with the seller’s agent, and in a few days I should know something.”

Luke looked genuinely surprised. “OK, go on.”

“If you get to submit your offer, you have to promise not to lowball it.”

“To be honest, it never crossed my mind. I didn’t expect your agent to agree to this.” He crossed his arms and leaned against her car.

“She did, and I need you to promise you’ll play fair.” Molly cleared her throat. “There is a slight problem, though. Others can put in offers as well.”

“What? You don’t seriously want to continue down this path, do you?”

“I’ve taken it this far. Anyway, back to your promise.”

“I’ll promise under one condition.”

Was he serious? “Luke…”

“What, we can’t only play by your rules. What fun is that?”

“I don’t know that I’d call any of this fun, but I’m game. What’s your condition?”

“Dinner at my place, tonight.”

She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Do you think it’s a good idea?”

“Be honest with yourself. You’re attracted to me and I’m very attracted to you. Come to my house and have dinner.”

“No funny stuff.”

He shifted close to her again. “I won’t make a move on you, unless you want me to.”

She gazed into his eyes. That seemed easy enough. All she had to do was get through dinner and then he wouldn’t lowball his offer. It seemed easy enough, but were things ever as easy as they appeared?





Chapter Twelve





Molly slowed her car down to a crawl as she passed the house on Maple Street. To get to Luke’s, she had to drive by it. And seeing it again made her wonder if she was doing the right thing, asking for Luke to put his offer back on the table. It was hers after all. He’d chosen to walk away.

She groaned aloud and then pressed down on the gas and sped off toward Luke’s home. He was located only a few houses down. If he ended up getting it, it would make moving expenses very minimal. She had to move across town if she got it.

She parked her car in his driveway. The home he was currently living in wasn’t as big as the Maple Street property. It was a ranch-style home, long and narrow. She imagined the inside was very spacious. As she walked to the front door, she knew she was about to find out if she was right.

After knocking, she stepped back and waited. It didn’t take long until she heard the clicking noise from the locks. The door opened to reveal Luke in a light blue button-down shirt, untucked over a pair of dark jeans. When her gaze finally made it back to his face, she encountered a warm, welcoming smile. And yes, he had noticed she’d checked him out. She could see that in his eyes.

“Come on in.”

She stepped inside, meeting a fragrance of spice as well as sweet. “It smells really good in here.”

“I just pulled dessert out. It’s a new recipe combining two of my favorite desserts. I hope you like cheesecake and red velvet. Meat’s on the grill too. Come on, follow me out back. After we eat, I’ll give you the grand tour.”

“Good. It smells great—I can’t wait to eat.”

“I’m starving too.”

Molly followed him through the foyer into a huge living room that held sliding glass doors. He opened the screen door, standing back so she could walk through first. On the porch, she saw a small table with two chairs. He had a candle burning on the table, illuminating two glasses of wine. She raised an eyebrow toward him.

“I thought a glass of wine might lighten the evening a bit.”

“It might. But don’t forget, no funny business.”

“And don’t forget I said I wouldn’t do anything you didn’t want me to. You don’t have to drink the wine.”

“What kind is it?”

“Zinfandel.”

“God, I hate you. That’s my favorite.”