Intercepting Love (Second Chances #5)(35)

Putting my arm around Lara, I briefly squeezed her shoulders and let go. “Yeah, but she’s not as hot as you. I’m surprised Kate hasn’t set you up with one of the players. Are they not your type?”

“Actually, no,” she replied, gazing out in the distance. “I tend to go for the ones who never notice me.”

I followed her gaze until I spotted who she was looking at … Luke.

“Lara, please tell me you’re joking? Is that the reason why you helped me with Kate; to get her away from him so you could go after him?”

“No,” she gasped halfheartedly. “I mean, not exactly. I never told Kate I had a thing for him. Besides, I haven’t really had much time to date anyway with helping my sister at the restaurant. Also, Kate meshes well with you. You two fit together,” she said, and turned to look at them, “… they don’t.”

“But the guy has some serious issues. You read the letter, Lara.”

“Yes, I know, but I’ve had a thing for him for a long time now. When I look at him, I don’t see him as being like that.”

“Yeah, well, looks can fool you,” I argued.

Kate’s eyes went wide when she saw us, and she tapped Luke on the arm and said something to him before starting our way. Unfortunately, he followed, scowling the whole time.

“Hey, guys, I didn’t know you two were coming together. What happened to Lindsey?” she asked, glancing curiously from me to Lara.

Luke scoffed and mumbled in her ear, “She probably changed her mind.”

“Actually, it was the opposite,” Lara snapped. “Cooper turned Lindsey down because he knew it would piss Kate off if he brought her. So instead, he asked me to be his date and I accepted.”

“Also,” I added, putting my arm around her. “She’s a lot hotter than Lindsey, and a much better date.” In her ear, I quickly whispered, “I need you to get Kate out of here for a few minutes.”

Lara nodded and hurriedly reached out to grab Kate’s hands. “Kate, can you show me to the bathroom? I really need to go.”

“You know where it’s at,” Kate exclaimed incredulously. “You’ve been here plenty of times.”

Lara huffed. “Yeah, but I already forgot. You know how my mind is. Please, come with me. I really have to go.”

Exasperated, Kate flung her hands in the air and chuckled. “Fine, I’ll go. Just don’t pee on yourself before we get there.”

As soon as they walked off, Luke glared at me before taking off in another direction. “Not so fast,” I said. “We need to talk.”

Luke scoffed, “I have nothing to say to you.”

Taking the note out of my back pocket, I opened it up and thrust it at him. “So I guess you said it all here, huh? Kind of lame if you ask me.”

Narrowing his eyes, he took the letter and read it. “What the hell is this?”

“I was hoping you’d tell me.”

He shoved the letter right back at me. “What? You think I wrote it? Why would I do that?” he asked incredulously, eyes wide and full of anger. “If I was going to threaten you, it wouldn’t be in a f*cking letter. How do I know you didn’t write it so you could blame it on me? Then Kate would think I was some kind of psycho.”

“Sorry, but that’s not my style. I wasn’t planning on telling her, but if this shit happens again I’m coming straight for you.”

Shaking his head, Luke chuckled and stalked closer. He was about two inches shorter than me, and I had to admit he had some serious balls to step up to me. “Is that supposed to scare me, douchebag? What are you going to do when you find me, try to kick my ass?”

It was my turn to smile down at him. “Why don’t you write another note and find out?”

We stared each other down for a minute before the sound of Lara’s laugh echoed across the yard; we quickly stepped back. Kate knew something was up because she glared at us both as she walked toward us.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

Luke was the first one to answer. “Yep, but now I need to prepare for the race. You ready?” He took her hand and thought she’d follow along with him, but she stood firm.

“I’ll join you in just a minute. I need to talk to Cooper for a second.”

Gritting his teeth, Luke narrowed his eyes at me and huffed before turning on his heel and stalking off. Over his shoulder, he growled, “Fine, you know where to find me.”

“Luke, don’t be like that,” Kate yelled back at him. He kept walking as if he didn’t hear her. I guess I couldn’t blame the guy for wanting to sulk; he knew what her choice was because I could see it in his eyes. I’d be pretty pissed if Kate chose him over me.

Looking uncomfortable, Lara backed away from us and waved, heading in the direction Luke stalked off to. “And I’m just going to disappear, too. I’ll be around if you need me.”

Once Lara was out of earshot, Kate crossed her arms at her chest and grinned. “So Lara’s your date for the night, huh? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why? Are you jealous?” I teased.

She laughed and shook her head. “Maybe. Although, I do have to say that I’m really happy you’re not with Lindsey.”

Yeah, me too.