eyes. “Right now I think he’s an ass, and that’s the truth. There are times when I think there isn’t a more thoughtless or daft person on the planet. He’s undisciplined and always takes the easy road. What’s worse is that taking the easy path almost always works out for him. It drives me insane.”
Rori didn’t see a need to mention that being insane and being in love were close cousins. Kris seemed smart enough to have picked up on that.
“Being with Luke can be like babysitting a really big two year old,” Kris added. “But he’s also the most charming, optimistic, and openhearted guy I know. When you’re with him everything seems like it will be okay, and that’s his charm. Whenever you slip too far into the mire of life, Luke can pull you out as easy as breathing. It’s the bonus flip side of him being thoughtless 99% of the time. It’s a weird balance.”
“Clearly,” Rori said, watching the woman very carefully. “May I ask one more personal question?”
Kris shrugged. “Why not? We’re on a roll, it seems.”
“Do you plan on bringing your feelings to Luke’s attention and making him choose between the two of us?” The way Rori saw it, that wouldn’t be such a bad thing. But still, she needed to know.
Kris looked at her then, her expression solemn. “The way I see it, Rori, he already has. So no, I won’t be creating any dramatic situations. I’ve got a boyfriend. I’m good.”
Rori wasn’t quite so sure, but she let it go. She had her answer, and Kris seemed happy enough to close the door on the discussion.
“You should have room for your clothes in the closet,” Kris said opening the closet door. “There’s still some stuff in there for storage, but feel free to unpack. This is your home until you and Luke tie the knot. Settle in however you like, and sleep tight.”
“Thank you,” Rori said, as Kris opened the door again. “Especially for the honesty.”
For a split second Kris actually looked self conscious. “It wouldn’t be fair to have you walking around in the dark while everyone shares covert looks. It’s gotta be hard enough as it is.”
“Yeah,” Rori agreed, wishing she could say something to brighten up Kris’s wan smile. Unfortunately nothing came to mind.
“Sleep tight,” Kris said, and shut the door behind herself. Alone at last, Rori fell back on the bed without unpacking a thing. Without a doubt, she had a lot to think about.
Chapter 12
Once she was safe in her own room, Kris fell back on her own bed, choosing a bitter chuckle over tears to deal with how the day had played out. Definitely not even close to what she had imagined while lying in the exact same bed twenty-four hours earlier. She couldn’t have been more off in her planning if she’d tried.
A fiancée? And not just any fiancée, but a woman that clearly out of Luke’s league. No offense to Luke, but Kris had known him all his life. If he had met Rori anywhere where English was the native language and Rori had no reason to come to the rescue, things would have played out much, much differently. Kris knew, because she’d watched Luke crash and burn more than once with certain amount of glee.
Luke wasn’t smooth. He was enthusiastic and playful and endearing, but as smooth as a puppy that hadn’t grown into its paws yet. Rori’s quiet elegance was so opposite that it was a marvel they could share the same space. Smooth, cool, calculated, with a mannered refinement Kris had seen while at college back East on a few occasions. Always among the rich.
The practiced way Rori kept a conversation going with well-placed questions that never required to disclose information about herself. The natural way she learned everyone’s name and referenced them in conversations to make them feel special . The way she laughed brightly even as her eyes retained an awareness that she was being judged and that everyone would talk about her once she left. Dozens of other details hinted to Kris that Luke’s new fiancée wasn’t as unassuming as she seemed.
The whole situation was a nightmare. What was worse, it didn’t feel real. More like one of those nightmares where everything is so bizarre that you realize mid-dream that there’s no way any of it could be happening. And the worst part of it all? Kris liked Rori.
That was a first. Luke was dating—no engaged to—a girl Kris