Sunset Seduction - By Charlene Sands Page 0,14
you ready to sit down to eat?” Sophia asked. “I made paella Valenciana. I hope you like it, Audrey. It’s my mother’s recipe and Logan loves it.”
“It’s one of my favorites, too,” Luke said. “I can’t wait to dig in.”
“It smells delicious,” Audrey said. The flavorful scent of saffron and spices rose up to tickle her senses. She peeked at the concoction on the stove. A mixture of vegetables, rice, tomatoes and what looked like pork pieces filled a cast-iron skillet. “Can I help?”
“Sure,” Sophia said. “Why don’t you help me dish it into the plates and serve?”
“I’d love to do that.” Audrey was glad to work beside Sophia in the kitchen. It made her feel like part of a family, like she belonged.
Audrey filled the plates for Luke and herself and set them onto the table while Sophia portioned out enough for her and Logan. “Audrey, if you could toss the salad, I’ll put the bread on the table.”
“I’d be happy to.” Audrey took hold of the teak salad bowl and used the utensils to give the ingredients several good tosses. Once it was ready, she brought the salad over to the table set with earthen stoneware and very simple stainless-steel cutlery.
Luke opened a bottle of red wine. “Paella goes down easy with merlot.” He poured wine into all four goblets and everyone took their seats. Sophia sat next to Logan, which left Audrey to sit beside Luke.
It wasn’t a hardship being close to Luke. Somewhere between the paella and a half a glass of wine during the meal, her heartbeats had slowed to normal. The conversation was lively as she became better acquainted with the Slades and Sophia. She’d learned about Sophia and Luke’s tight friendship as children and how Logan had felt left out and jealous about it. Sophia didn’t go much further into detail but it was something Audrey was curious about. She planned on finding out more one day if Sophia was willing to share the information.
What a sucker she was. Or was she a glutton for punishment? Everything about Luke’s life outside the rodeo fascinated her.
“Luke’s still my best friend,” Sophia said. Logan gave her a nod of approval. “And I hear he was like a big brother to you, too, Audrey.”
Audrey gulped the last drop of her wine. Not the brother thing again. Mercy, she was tired of it, but Sophia was just making polite conversation and couldn’t possibly know how much Audrey hated the subject, so she answered her with equal politeness. “Yes, when Casey wasn’t around, Luke watched out for me.”
She glanced at Luke and found him staring, his gaze focused and piercing. Was he remembering that night when he’d rescued her by the bonfire? The night he’d nearly flattened Judd Calhoon on her behalf. Was he remembering all the other times he’d been there for her? His eyes stayed on hers for a few long moments and then swept down to her mouth. Heat curled in her belly and a memory flashed of that nothing-yet-everything kiss from this afternoon.
“My brother is the Goody Two-shoes in the family,” Logan said. “In this case, I’m glad he watched out for you two ladies.”
“Hey,” Luke said. “If a beautiful woman needs my help, I’m there.”
A moment ticked by. Then it hit Audrey. Luke had called her beautiful.
Good gracious. She had to stop banking on his every word. It wasn’t the first time he’d paid her a compliment. He was Mr. Nice Guy, she reminded herself.
After dinner, they had a second glass of wine, and though the men offered to help with the cleanup , Sophia shooed them into the family room to watch the baseball game.
“The paella was delicious,” Audrey said, bringing the empty dishes to the counter next to the sink.
“Thank you. I’ll share the recipe with you if you’d like.”
“I would love that. I just don’t know when I’d have time to try it out. Once my job is done here, I’ll be starting veterinarian school again.”
“Luke told us what you did for your brother when he broke his back. You dropped out of school to care for him.”
“Casey needed me. I wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s done so much for me and it was the least I could do for him. Of course, I’d hate for him to hear me say that…he and I butt heads a lot.”
Sophia rinsed the plates and nodded. “That’s what family is all about.” A hint of longing touched her voice. “I never