Intercepting Love (Second Chances #5)(15)

“Sure there is,” he added. “He wants you and I want you. You’re not promised to either one of us, so that right there makes us competing for you.”

“Did you have to compete for Claire?” I asked softly. I knew he didn’t want to talk about her, but I also didn’t want to put him in the same situation that hurt him.

Tensing in his seat, he gripped the steering wheel tight and released a heavy sigh. “No, that situation was completely different.”

“How is that?” I asked.

“Because I didn’t have a chance with her, Kate. I wanted to believe that I could make her happy … but I couldn’t. I saw it in her eyes.”

“And what do you see in mine?”

Patting me on the knee, he turned to me with his mischievous blue eyes and grinned. “In your eyes I see exactly what I want. You’re not here with me because of my money or because of what I do. You actually see the people you’re around and the goodness inside of them. That is what gives me hope.”

“Hope for what?” I asked breathlessly, mesmerized.

He brushed my hair away from my face and smoothed his thumb along my jaw. “Hope that one day you will see in my eyes what I see in yours. There’s a craving deep inside of you that I can see each time I touch you. It burns brighter every single time. I’ve never seen that with anyone, and that is how I know I have a chance.”

“Now,” he continued, staring out at the road, “where exactly am I going? I’m curious to know what I’m up against. Care to enlighten me?”

Closing my eyes, I laid my head against the seat, my stomach in knots. “If you take a left at the next light, you’ll see a sign for the restaurant. You’ll be enlightened soon enough.”





When we pulled into the restaurant parking lot I saw Luke’s blue and black Suzuki GSX-R1000 sitting in the front. I was hoping we’d get there first so I could get Cooper seated, and then find Luke to explain. The last thing I wanted was for there to be a problem at my friend’s restaurant. Quickly, I pulled out my phone and texted Lara.

Me: I need you to make sure Luke sits at the bar ASAP.

Lara: Already done. I knew when he said he was meeting you that there had to be some sort of mix up.

Me: Thank you. We are coming in now.

Cooper and I got out of his car and walked side by side up to the door. For some reason, I didn’t believe him when he said he’d play nice. Please don’t let them fight.

“Why are you fidgeting?” Cooper asked. “I mean, it’s not like there’s something to hide, right? Maybe you should ask him to join us?”

Narrowing my gaze, I froze in place as he opened the door. “Are you serious?”

He’s testing me, I can see it. Better yet, I’ll just test him. “You know what,” I said, smiling innocently up at him, “I think that’s a great idea. Thank you for letting me include him.”

Annoyance flashed in his gaze for only a second, but I caught it. He didn’t want Luke joining us, but if I didn’t have anything to hide then it wouldn’t matter. They could both sit at the table and I’d be perfectly fine because they were both just my friends.

Yeah, right.

When we walked in, Lara met us at the door with a big smile on her face and her blue eyes twinkling with mischief. “Hello and welcome,” she announced, glancing back and forth between us.

She had on a soft, yellow sundress, and her hair fell perfectly straight, slightly past her shoulders. Lara was such a people person; she was perfect at talking to the customers and making them feel at home. All of the locals who came in every week loved her.

Holding out her hand, she said, “You must be, Cooper. I’m Lara. It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Really?” Cooper took her hand, but then lifted a brow at me and said, “What have you said about me?”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Don’t look at me. Apparently, Lara knows more about you than I do.”

“Actually,” Lara cut in, glaring at me, “I think we know some people in common. I’ll tell you all about it later, but right now I have your table all ready for you.”

We followed her to the back, where there was a private room that was used for special guests or when people requested it. I should’ve known Lara would put us back there, or maybe she put us there in case Cooper and Luke made a scene.

“Thank you, Lara,” I said sweetly before turning to Cooper. “If you want to get a drink, I’m sure Lara will keep you company while I go talk to Luke. I’ll be right back.”

Cooper nodded and took a seat while Lara winked and shooed me off. The bar was on the other side of the restaurant, and when I finally made it there I instantly saw Luke, dressed in a pair of jeans and a red T-shirt, his blond hair tousled from his helmet. He was talking to Grayson—who was the co-owner of The Carolina Tavern—and the brother of Summer’s deceased husband. Grayson was a good looking man with closely cropped auburn hair and green eyes, and the sweetest personality of any guy I knew. He could also talk your ear off, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Lara asked him to keep Luke occupied until I got there.

Luke must’ve seen me approach because he immediately turned my way, smiling and getting to his feet. Grayson also looked my way with a sly smirk on his face. Oh yeah, Lara recruited his help.