whole new level. And don’t feel inclined to join in when the bets are placed. Actually, don’t join in. It can get ugly. All of them are sore losers.”
“Do I need to grab a wad of cash out of my safe?”
“Um, did you miss the part where I said not to join in when the bets are placed? And besides, they play with quarters. The most they lose is like three bucks. It’s not about the money, it’s a pride thing. The first time I won I learned the hard way that it wasn’t worth the bitching and moaning for days after. Now I throw the game on purpose.”
“You throw the game?”
“Hell yeah. Their fragile little egos can’t take that I’m better than they are.”
Luke stared at me a beat then stepped close and I realized we were still mostly standing in his entryway. This wasn’t a faux pas on his part; I’d simply started blathering before we’d made it into the house then continued before he could invite me in farther.
“Do you really think that?”
“Yeah. And you’ll see later how competitive they are and how the winner gets razzed the rest of the night.”
Something strange came over Luke, something I didn’t get, and his next inquiry confused me more.
“You strapped?”
“Come again?”
“You packin’?”
“Of course.”
I almost always carried; on and off duty I rarely went without my sidearm.
“Let me lock it up.”
“Why?”
“Because tonight you’re gonna throw a few back and I don’t want your weapon to be your excuse.”
“Luke—”
“Listen to me, Shiloh,” he interrupted. “Tonight you’re gonna relax, have a few beers, enjoy the company of the men you work with, and you’re gonna learn something.”
I wasn’t a fan of being told what to do. Echo called it oppositional defiance. River called it being hardheaded. Phoenix called it a pain in his ass. And my captain called it disobedience. Luckily, I mostly listened to my captain so he didn’t get in my face often. I’d never disobeyed a direct order. I just played fast and loose with the definition of ‘direct.’
What could I say? I was raised by three alpha men who thought their sole mission in life was to boss me around when I hit adulthood. I was basically feral.
“How about we learn something right now? That being, my least favorite thing is being told what I’m gonna do.”
Luke’s lips curved into a cocky smile and he didn’t miss a beat when he said, “Given the right time and circumstances, I think you’d very much enjoy being told what to do.”
“Well, playboy, I can safely tell you right now is not one of those times.”
“Right, then how about this?” Luke paused and the cocky left his smile and he gave me a sad smile. “You’ve had a rough week, have a few drinks and relax.”
“I don’t need to drink to relax.”
“You’re absolutely right you don’t. I know of far better ways to relax you. Unfortunately, those aren’t on the table and you’re wound up tight. You don’t wanna have a drink, fine, but do me a favor? Tonight don’t throw the game, kick their asses. And tomorrow when they’re giving you shit about it? Pay attention—they’re not giving you shit because of ego. They’re not complaining. They’re pulling you in. That’s what a team does. That’s friendship. That’s camaraderie. Having something to talk about.”
I was stuck back on the better ways he could relax me and why those were off the table. Luke had stated plain we were special friends. I’d kind of hoped the special part of that meant more of what had happened in the bathtub.
“Shiloh,” he growled and I blinked.
“Huh?”
Luke blew out a frustrated breath.
“You’re killing me.”
I did another slow blink. His groan indeed sounded like I was killing him. When my lids fluttered open Luke was in my space. His hands went to my face and I couldn’t remember a time I’d been touched so gently.
“Pay attention to this part, yeah?”
His question was strange but I couldn’t focus on that when his face was getting closer…and closer…then his lips were on mine.
Feather soft.
Chaste, yet the sexiest kiss I’d ever had.
Luke’s tongue came out and grazed my bottom lip. Mine came out and trailed behind his. There was something so weirdly intimate about the whole thing and it turned into something more when the tip of his tongue touched mine.
Then he pulled away and it was over.
Just a touch of tongues.
So slight that I could convince myself it never happened.