When Stars Collide (Second Chance Romance #2) - Sara Furlong-Burr Page 0,2
I observed, watching Luke and Peter quietly talking to each other just out of earshot.
“He’s doing a little better every day.” Elle’s face lit up. “We still have a long way to go. More physical therapy, perhaps. But considering where he was a little over a year ago, he’s nothing short of a walking miracle.”
“No, the real miracle is seeing that smile on your face. It wasn’t too long ago that I thought it was gone forever.” I looked over at Elle, noticing tears beginning to well in her eyes. “Just so you know, I’ve met my hug limit for the day. So, don’t go getting any ideas.”
“Noted.” She rubbed the corners of her eyes with back of her hands and held them up in the air. “Keeping my hands to myself.”
“What’s going on over here?” Luke asked as he and Peter walked back over to us after finishing whatever private discussion they’d been having.
“Oh, nothing. Elle’s just going all Full House on me over here. You know, the usual.”
I studied Luke, noticing that something seemed off-kilter with him. The confidence he usually projected had been replaced with a hesitation in his voice and a slight shake in his hand.
He’s nervous. Why, though?
“So, Sloan,” Luke turned his attention back to Elle, “should we go and see about those drinks we were talking about earlier?”
“Um, sure.” Elle made a motion to Peter and me. “There’s this little tiki bar on the south side of the beach—”
“Why don’t we let Monroe and Mena hold down the fort here while we go and get the drinks ourselves?”
I raised an eyebrow at Elle, only to be met with an equally as confused look from her.
“All right, then. I guess we’re taking orders.”
“I’ll take a John Collins. And don’t expect a tip.” Peter smirked.
Elle snickered. “Fine, just as long as you don’t expect your drink not to have a little spit in it.”
“I’ve had worse.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Elle pursed her lips, cringing. “What about you?” she asked me.
“I’d say surprise me, but after that conversation, I’m going to take a hard pass on that. A rum and Coke will be fine.”
Peter reached for his wallet in the back pocket of his shorts.
“I got this round,” Luke stopped him. “You can get the next one.”
“Looking forward to it.” The two shared another knowing look, revealing a glimpse of the secret to which only the two of them were privy.
More perplexed than before, I took Peter’s hand and climbed with him up to the top of the dune, taking a seat on Luke and Elle’s beach blanket. “Okay, spill it,” I pressed.
“What makes you think I have anything to spill?” His eyes shone, silently laughing at me.
My mouth pressed into a hard line, my frustration evident.
“Have I ever told you how cute you are when you’re on the verge of losing your mind?”
“You’re pretty cocky for a man who’s one butt cheek away from spending the night on the couch.”
“Oh, so it’s like that, is it?” Wrapping his arm around me, he pulled me into his body, rubbing circles on my arm with his thumb. “Just think about it; you’ll figure it out,” his voice whispered softly in my ear.
Let’s see. You whisked me away from the airport for secret plans with your friend, who’s acting just as strangely as you are, and Elle, who the best I can tell, has no idea what’s going on, either. We’re at one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever seen, and said friends are now walking hand in hand toward the lake and not the tiki bar …
“Holy shit!” I blurted out, my eyes widening. Below us, Elle and Luke paused mid-stroll, abruptly turning around. Luke shook his head; Elle stared at me, concerned. “Oh, never mind. For a second there, I thought I’d left my toaster oven plugged in back home, and then I realized I don’t even own a toaster oven. So, carry on.”
“Smooth, Inspector Clouseau.” Peter kissed the top of my head as we watched Luke and Elle return to their stroll down the shoreline.
“Maybe we should go after them.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You weren’t there the night they met. I basically did all the talking to set up their first date. And if Luke’s about to do what I think he’s about to do, we may be here for the rest of the day—hell, possibly into this evening—waiting for him to make a move while they awkwardly stare at each other, instead.”