He doesn’t sound as if he’s bragging. More like he’s making a statement he wishes wasn’t true.
I have no idea what to say next, which makes this moment feel very awkward, yet somehow…intimate, as if Luke creaked open a door kept hidden from the rest of the world. And I so much want to tug it open all the way and march in to see what’s inside.
My hand shakes as I pull my credit card out of the small wallet purse sitting in my lap. “What a week, right? I don’t know about you, but I’m beat. Sorry. That was silly. Of course, you’re tired. You’ve been practicing hard all week, getting ready for your first game. I should really get going.”
For the record, I don’t intend to sound like a babbling idiot. It just happens whenever I get nervous. And Luke seems to have a knack for unsettling me.
Amusement fills his gaze. That’s a step up from disdain, right?
Card in hand, I swivel my head around in a desperate attempt to hide my discomfort and find our server, who seems to have vacated the premises.
Luke grasps my wrist and gently pushes my hand down. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it.”
I can’t help but frown at his unexpected offer, which makes this feel almost like a date. “Why?”
His brows lift in surprise. “Because you said you’re tired and want to go?”
Or is he relieved I want to leave? Did I push the whole conversation thing too far? “I can take care of my own dinner, thank you.”
He lets out a small sigh. “I’m just trying to be helpful.”
Our server appears with her handheld reader and takes my card. Luke hands her his after she finishes with me.
I say my goodbyes to the rest of the guys andhead toward the exit, ready for some peace and quiet to sort out the chaos in my head. Luke has a knack for muddling my brain, and I’ve had enough tonight.
As I reach the door, it swings open. My eyes track the large hand planted on the wood panel up a muscular forearm to the man standing behind me. Luke’s clean, soapy scent mixed with a hint of something spicy fills my nose and whips the chaos in my head into high gear.
Yep. My brain is officially some kind of mousse at this point. All fluffy with imaginations of what those arms would feel like, wrapped around me.
He lifts one brow as if to challenge me to refuse his help this time.
His gesture unexpectedly stirs the romantic in me—that’s interesting, considering he seems to avoid me most of the time. He never replied to my email with the questions and suggested times so we could finish his interview.
And he could have stayed at the table until I left. Yet, he didn’t. Very interesting indeed.
Instead of brushing off his chivalry, I smile up at him. “Thank you.”
His expression shifts to one of surprise. Score one for Team Sophie.
“No problem.” His voice is gruff but not unkind.
The night air washes over me with a hint of coolness typical for this time of year. We may not have much visual change of season in this part of Florida, but we do enjoy the subtle shift in the temperature and the break in humidity, especially in the evenings.
Luke walks beside me but remains silent as I approach my car.
I stop at my rear fender. “Are you walking me to my car?”
He points to the SUV sitting next to mine. “My ride.”
My face heats, making me wish I hadn’t parked right under the light. Which any sensible woman does for her safety, right?
Though muted, the deep rumble of chuckle reaches my ears, which I’m sure are the same shade of red as my cheeks by now. “Making those assumptions again, are we?”
A guttural growl rises in my throat with my words. “Goodbye.”
I slide into my car as fast as I can with the intention of leaving without seeing or hearing Luke anymore, but his voice reaches me before I can shut my door.
The humor in his voice is unmistakable. “Night, Sophie.”
