A Tender Touch: A Donnelley Brother's Novel (Logan Point Book 4) by Alannah Carbonneau

bath?”
    I stiffened. “I did not kick you out.”
    He leaned against the door. “Yeah, Ember, you did.”
    “I didn’t.” I argued pointlessly. “I just didn’t want you to be late for work.”
    “I was already late for work.” He took a step closer to me and I felt my heart rate climb to a legendary high. “A few minutes later wouldn’t have made a difference.”
    “I’m sure those few minutes got a lot of work done.” I defended. “I mean, I saw the horses in the stalls. You got them ready for the ten o’clock ride.”
    “No.” He shook his head. “I called Randy and asked him to get the horses ready for the tour.”
    “You did?” I frowned.
    “Yeah.” He nodded. “I went home for a shower.” He grinned mischievously. “I also took chicken out for those enchiladas you promised to make me tonight.”
    I palmed my forehead. “I totally forgot about that!”
    Luke winked. “Then it’s a good thing you’re a keeper of your word, isn’t it?”
    “Luke, I really shouldn’t.” I sighed. “I should go to bed early tonight - I’m probably still slightly intoxicated.”
    Luke shook his head. “You’re fine, pretty girl. And you’re making dinner.”
    “Luke!” I protested as he turned for the door.
    Pausing beneath the threshold of the door, Luke turned. “I took chicken out of the freezer. I have everything for enchiladas - I know because I Googled it. You promised, Ember, and you keep your promises. So, you’re making dinner.”
    I thought about arguing, but decided against it at the last second. I didn’t know if it was the hopefulness in his grin, or his very well pointed argument, but I mumbled a grunted, “Fine. I’ll cook.”
    Luke chuckled. “My place. Bring a bathing suit.”
    “Wait!” I hurried to ask as he turned to leave. “Why?”
    “I’ve got a hot tub.” He winked. “We’ll have ice cream for desert in the hot tub after dinner. It’s awesome.”
    At his bubbling excitement over something so simple, I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re such a big kid.”
    His eyes roamed over my body, disproving my claim entirely. “Whatever you say, pretty girl.”
    ***
    The mouth-watering aroma of enchiladas pulsed in constant waves from the oven to circulate in the air throughout the entirety of Luke’s house. I’d been working on pure adrenaline and nerves since I’d first walked through the door of his house. As soon as he’d opened the door for me, I’d made a beeline for the kitchen, eager to get my trembling hands onto something solid - like food. Now that the food was in the oven, and the kitchen was cleaned, I was finally forced to look up from the countertop.
    Immediately after work, Luke had driven me home to my tiny cabin retreat. He’d reminded me to bring a bathing suit multiple times even though I assured him I hadn’t forgotten. I’d had a quick shower to wash the stable from my skin, changed into a comfortable cream colored, flowing maxi dress and blow dried my hair before meeting Luke in his truck where I’d left him to wait. All the while, my mind had been buzzing with nervous thoughts I couldn’t quiet.
    Now, I was standing in Luke’s kitchen. By myself.
    The man had tried to show me around his house when we’d first walked in, but I hadn’t been able to numb my nerves enough to turn away from my task of making enchiladas in the kitchen, long enough to look around his house.
    I vaguely remembered Luke telling me he was going to take a shower, and I hadn’t seen him since, so I assumed he was doing just that. Slowly, I spun around in his kitchen, for the first time since I had entered his house, I was seeing it.
    I had been expecting it to resemble the house Kami had described to me when she’d announced every nook and cranny that Kyle’s house had - but it didn’t. Actually, it was entirely different.
    Luke’s house was big, but it wasn’t so big that it lost its cozy-cabin-feel comfort. The walls weren’t exposed log like Kyle’s