Luke: Please let Seb stay with you. I hate the idea of you being alone right now. It’s for me just as much as it is for you.
I sighed, but it wasn’t because I thought he was being ridiculous. I loved that Luke was looking out for me and reaching out for reinforcements when he couldn’t be here himself.
Me: Fine. But only because you said please.
I walked back into the living room with a stupid smile on my face. Seb was sitting on my couch, already having taken off his shoes and turned on the television.
“Comfy?”
Seb didn’t miss the sass, but he also didn’t care. That was the thing about Seb. He was always down for a good timeand didn’t take anything too seriously.
“Meh. You could use a new couch soon, but it’s fine.” He winked.
“Want something to eat or drink? I guess we’re going to be hanging out for a while,” I said.
“Only if you’re making yourself something.”
I went over to the kitchen. My apartment had a combo living-dining-kitchen setup, so while I puttered around collecting the pan and ingredients to make a taco salad dish, I continued chatting with Seb.
“I hope Luke didn’t pull you away from anything important for this.”
“Nothing I couldn’t get out of,” he said. “And this is important, Scarlett. Luke was right to have someone with you if you’re being threatened. He said that someone left a note on your car. What did it say?”
I started browning the beef, adding the taco seasonings.
“It was a warning. To stay away from this case or else…” I paused, and when Seb looked over at me, I made a slashing motion across my throat.
“I’d like to see someone try to put their hands on you.” He huffed out a humorless laugh. “If Luke got into a fight over Jules, he’d decimate someone for you.”
I turned back to the stove quickly. I didn’t want Seb to see the way his words affected me. That wasn’t true, anyway. Juliet was his wife. I was just his friend. Sure, I believed he would protect me and keep me safe, but the way Seb made it sound… it sounded like so much more.
The beef was finished, so I layered the ingredients onto a sheet pan and put it in the oven. My heart was still in my throat when I took a seat next to Seb on the couch.
A few hours later, after Seb and I watched some terrible reality TV and ate our weight in taco salad, I heard the distinct sound of my entryway doorknob rattling. Then, a knock sounded. My eyes shot to Seb’s instantly. He moved to get up and check on it when Luke called from the other side of the door.
“Letty, it’s just me. You can open the door.”
“What is up with you guys not calling me ahead of time to give me a heads-up?” I whisper-yelled at Seb with a huff.
He just laughed, but when I went to get up to answer the door, he grabbed my wrist and tugged me back.
“Sit. I’ve got it,” he said. At my confused look, he added, “Just to make sure everything is good first.”
He cracked the door open, assessing the situation, before throwing it open fully. “For me? You shouldn’t have.” Seb’s voice was a high-pitched, bad imitation of a woman’s voice.
Luke strolled past him, my bouquet from earlier this morning in his grip. I had completely forgotten about my flowers, but seeing Luke present them to me made sure I wouldn’t be forgetting this arrangement again. Maybe not ever.
“I grabbed these for you,” he said, handing them to me.
“Thanks. How’d you make out today?” I pulled a vase from cabinet and filled it with water.
“I don’t have a suspect yet,” he complained. “There was an accident on Main Street that ended up taking me away from investigating this. But Letty,” he said, looking me in the eye intently, “I’m not done looking. I’ll find the asshole. No one’s going to hurt you.”
“I know. I trust you, Luke.”
We were standing so close. I wasn’t even sure when Lukehad moved into my space. His gaze roamed my face, a determined set to his jaw, his broad chest rising and falling in time with his heartbeat.
We stared at each other, neither of us speaking—neither of us moving—for a minute. I had no idea what was going on in his head, other than he needed to protect me. To keep me safe. But I wasn’t thinking about the danger from earlier. The only thing on my mind was what it would feel like to have Luke’s touch on my waist. His lips on mine.
