Page 25 of Tangled in Temptation

“I can understand that.” I smiled.

“So before this gets awkward or dangerous, do you have a boyfriend?” he asked. “I got the impression there is a man and maybe your father doesn’t like him.”

I hesitated. “No, I don’t.”

A part of me yearned to say more, to reveal the complicated situation with Timothy. Luke seemed to sense there was more to the story, but he didn’t pry.

“I apologize if I’m crossing the line here, but if that man doesn’t know what he’s missing out on, then he’s a fool.”

Surprised by his boldness, I let out a small laugh. “Thank you, Luke, but it’s not that simple. Life rarely is.”

“I guess you’re right,” he said, looking down at his hands before glancing up at me again. “But you deserve happiness, Catherine. Don’t let anyone rob you of that. I won’t hound you, but if you’d like to go out some time, I’d be up for it.”

“Thank you.” I smiled. “I’ll tell my dad to back off.”

“I’m not worried,” he chuckled. “He cares about you. He’s obviously trying to look out for you.”

“Always.” I nodded. “I think it’s payback for me constantly nagging him about what he eats.”

“You two have a good relationship.”

“Very good,” I agreed. “It’s just been me and him for a long time.”

“I can tell,” Luke said, his eyes softening with understanding. “My mother raised me on her own, so I know a thing or two about close family ties.”

“That’s nice to hear.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. His openness was disarming. I had thoroughly intended to keep things professional, but the more I got to know him, the harder it was to see him strictly as a coworker.

Luke’s name was called, and we left with the sandwiches. As he drove back, we talked a bit about his time in the city. He seemed like a really good guy.

Good guy, wrong time.

When we got back to the shop, my father’s meddling wasn’t over.

“Stay and have lunch with us,” he insisted.

I gave him a frustrated look but felt obligated to stay since Luke had bought my sandwich. We took our food to the small picnic table out front. It was my dad’s way of advertising some of the projects he did. There weren’t always big construction projects, and he needed to keep the money coming in.

“It’s a nice day,” Luke commented.

“I was just thinking it’s going to be fall soon.” I smiled. “Seems like the summer flew by.”

“You were so busy the whole summer,” Dad commented. You barely had time to enjoy it.”

“I did enjoy my summer,” I replied, shutting him down before he could get into the Timothy drama which was where I knew he was going.

I finished my sandwich and managed to escape without being one half of a shotgun wedding.

Chapter Twelve

Timothy

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THE BUSTLING STREETS and towering skyscrapers of Manhattan were a stark departure from the serene surroundings of Sleepy Hollow that I had been enjoying. I dreaded my trips back to the city, but this one was necessary. The hired car dropped me off in front of my building. I nodded at the doorman before making my way to the elevator. I used my key to take me up to my penthouse apartment. It was a bachelor pad that I had acquired after the divorce. It lacked the grandeur of Gloriana Manor, but it was spacious and luxurious, the exact opposite of the Manor. The penthouse was my life in the city. It was a representation of my old life. I kept the apartment because there would be times I needed to stay in the city for work.

I walked in and dropped my bag in the foyer before using the touch pad to open the blinds. There was something to be said for technology. The smart apartment had all the bells and whistles. The only thing missing was a robot servant to wait on me hand and foot. I moved to stand in front of the windows and look down at the city below. I had an excellent view of Central Park, although I couldn’t see much from the fifty-sixth floor.

As I stared out the window, my thoughts went to Catherine. I wished there was a way to make Regina disappear. She was so insistent on making my life hell. I didn’t know why. She was the one that had cheated. She was the one that had remarried and supposedly moved on, but somehow I was the bad guy. She’d wanted out of the relationship. Rather, she wanted to have her cake and eat it too. I couldn’t believe she actually thought I was just going to sit back and let her continue to fuck whoever she damned well pleased and not say anything about it.