Page 75 of Unhinged

“Like what?” His expression was the epitome of innocence, and she rolled her eyes.

“That. You examine me like some specimen under a microscope.”

He lifted one shoulder. “I like looking at you.” He rolled off the bed and moved to stand in front of her. “C’mon, babe. Let’s get you fed.”

He tugged on his clothes and followed her downstairs to the kitchen. “Not sure how this is going to taste now,” he warned. “I hope it won’t be too bad reheated.”

She glanced toward the table and saw the jar candle flickering softly, surrounded by her good China. A single rose lay on her plate. “Looks like you had this all planned out. Sorry I ruined it.”

“Hey.” He closed the oven and pulled her into his arms. “No apologies. I just wanted to do something nice for you. You deserve it.”

She melted into him as he kissed her long and slow. After that day’s argument with Andrew, she needed the physical reassurance from Luke. There was no way he could be as bad as Andrew said.

Luke released her with a wink. “I have to admit, though, I did have an ulterior motive.”

“Oh? What’s that?” A shiver of apprehension moved down her spine, and she crossed her arms over her middle.

“How would you feel about meeting my parents? I was thinking maybe we could go up there one weekend soon and you could meet them and my sisters.”

He threw a grin over his shoulder, and she forced a smile. “That sounds… nice. But isn’t it a bit soon?”

Hearing her hesitation, he turned and rested one hip against the counter. He studied her for a moment before speaking, his face unreadable. “It was just a thought.”

She wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about this turn of events. “I can see what I have going on.”

He relaxed a fraction and smiled. “I know things have been a little hectic. Once this is all over, we can focus on you and me.”

She nodded, not entirely convinced. This was the last week that he was scheduled to work security at the health center. What would happen when this was over?

“What do you think of the country?”

She blinked at him. “It’s fine. Why?”

He studied her. “I think I’d ultimately like to find a home with a little bit of space, a big yard for kids to run around.”

“Okay…”

Luke smiled at her obvious confusion. “It’s just something I’ve been thinking about, especially after someone broke in here. What if we moved in together?”

That was the last thing she expected. She probably should be glad he planned to stick around, since she’d been wondering just moments before what would happen between them after his contract at the health center was up. But this? It was all a little too much.

“I just…” She held up a hand. “Can we take a step back for a minute?”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry, I knew it was too soon. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

No, she needed to hear it. She just wasn’t entirely sure it was what she wanted to hear. “We’ve only known each other for a few weeks. Why do you want to move in together?”

“For one,” he ticked it off on his fingers, “I think you’ll be safer. And two, I like being with you. I like spending my nights with you, having dinner together, waking up with you.”

“Yeah, but… it’s too soon.”

Wasn’t it? Andrew’s words from earlier resounded in her mind and she struggled to push them away. Luke wasn’t like that.

“Do you think so?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I just… Someone told me today to take things slow, make sure it was what I wanted.”

“Andrew.”