Temptation Ridge (Virgin River #6)(40)

“I am,” he said with a nod.

“So let me ask you, Art—at the group home, who did the laundry?”

He shrugged and said, “We had to sign up for it.”

Luke was perplexed. “Sign up? I don’t get it.”

“On the clipboard,” Art said impatiently. “You have to sign up on the clipboard when you want to use the washer and dryer.”

“No kidding? So you did your own?”

“We did our own.”

“And did you have other chores at the group home?” Sean asked him.

“Make the bed, put away the clothes, keep a neat room. Dishes. Vacuum. Bathroom cleaning.”

Luke lifted a brow. “I think you are ready for your own house. With some OJT on the washer…”

Art frowned. “OJT?”

Sean slapped him on the back. “On-the-job training, buddy. Come with me. I’m going to show you how to scrape the dead paint off the outside of this cabin so we can prime it.”

“OJT?” he asked.

“Exactly.”

When Art was settled into his chore outside, Sean went inside and asked Luke, “What are you going to do with him?”

“He just got here, Sean. He just needs to feel safe right now.”

“He’s going to get attached to you.”

“Maybe.” Luke shrugged. “Look, the guy had a job. And from what he says, he took care of himself. Sounds like all he needs is a little supervision. Since I’m not going anyplace, what’s it hurt if he just hangs out here?”

Art stuck his head in the door. “Sean? Can I have some more OJT?”

Luke looked at his brother. “He’s going to get attached to you.”

“I won’t be here long enough.”

Between the three of them, they managed to get a lot done. At the end of the day, Luke fixed Art a grilled cheese and some soup and then, at Luke’s insistence, he took Sean to Jack’s for dinner again. Shelby and her uncle, as well as Muriel, the Booths’ new neighbor, were there. Before leaving, he was briefly and wonderfully in possession of her lips. But Sean, unfortunately, had nothing to do with his lips but talk.

The next day Sean said, “Tonight we’re going over to the coast or at least Fortuna. I’m only here another day and I’m tired of entertaining your girlfriend for you.”

“She’s not my girlfriend, but I’m tired of you doing that, too.”

“I bet you’ve already got a girl someplace else—a girl with girlfriends. Do a brother a favor and make a call.”

“I’m not doing that, man. You go. Knock yourself out.”

“What is your deal, Luke?”

He took a deep breath. They had managed not to talk about this, though it was as obvious as a punch to the gut. “You know what my deal is, Sean. And I don’t need you to jam me up right now.”

“Come on, Luke. You can pick up your threads when I’m gone.”

“Not interested. I have things on my mind.”

“Yeah—Shelby things. Since we can’t share the girl, let’s go find some action. Besides, her uncle is watching her like a hawk.”

“I’m working that angle,” Luke said. “Brother, you have to get out of my way here. I have things to do with the girl.”

“You are heading for something not so good,” Sean said. “She’s young and innocent, anyone can see that. She’s sweet. And she’s got that look—like she’d bruise easily. You’d better think about this.”

“It’s under control,” he said. But it wasn’t. He felt about as far from control as he ever had. There was just no way in hell he could stop this now. He was like a runaway train where Shelby was concerned.

“She’s vulnerable. Maybe needy,” Sean stressed.

Luke knew this. Ordinarily twenty-five wasn’t too young, but Shelby, despite everything, seemed much more tender than the average twenty-five-year-old woman. Maybe it was the fact that she’d spent the years from nineteen to twenty-four held hostage, taking care of her mother, and had limited worldly experience. And he was more than a little aware of her vulnerability, that soft underside that a man like Luke, with his careless ways, could damage. And yet, even knowing all that, he wasn’t having any success at cooling himself down.

“I’m going to have to go pick up some supplies,” Luke said. “I’m going to get a hot-water heater and new sink for Art’s cabin. You do whatever you want and tonight I’ll take you out to a nice dinner, not at Jack’s,” Luke said, because he wasn’t in the mood for any more of Sean’s interaction with Shelby. “But I’m not interested in women. We’ll take two cars.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Sean said. “A pathetic plan, but a plan…”

It was executed in exactly that way. They had a steak dinner at the Brookstone in Ferndale and while Sean retired to the bar, Luke headed home. Sean returned to Luke’s in the early morning. He was smiling privately and there was no question he was more relaxed than when Luke left the bar the night before. The Riordan men carried the tension of abstinence in their necks and shoulders.

Luke was surprised he could still turn his head.

“If you don’t mind me saying so, I’ve never seen you like this,” Sean said.