Page 104 of Wag More Bark Less

“Believe it or not, he’s not always a stick in the mud. He takes good care of his team, and they respect him for it. His problem is he cares too much. Shoulders too much responsibility. I think this break’s been good for him.” Joe looked at me. “Heard he’s even got you watching Star Wars with him.”

“We’re watching Episode VI tonight.”

“Ah, Return of the Jedi. That’s my favorite one.”

“You’re a fan too?”

Joe leaned against the table, lowering his voice. “It was my idea to name him Luke. But his mom didn’t catch on until I tried to name Connor Han.”

Luke was named after Luke Skywalker. “No wonder he gets so bent out of shape when people call him Darth Vader.”

Joe cackled at that.

“I’m guessing you wanted Kira to be Leia?” I asked.

“Brenda vetoed that one the second they told us we were having a girl. I never stood a chance.”

Joe looked over at Luke who was animatedly talking to Officer Hudson, both with smiles on their faces.

“It’s nice seeing him like this,” Joe said.

“Like what?”

“Happy.” He lifted his frosted beer mug and took a sip as Luke turned back toward the booth. “I don’t know what you’re doing, but don’t stop.”

“I’m not⁠—”

Luke slid in next to me, patting my knee as he moved in close once again. As though it were the most natural thing to do. As though we were . . . together. But we weren’t, obviously. Luke wanted to knock down walls and convert his duplex into one home. He was preparing for a family. One that wouldn’t—and couldn’t—include me.

Was it irrational to be jealous of a woman I didn’t even know? The same woman who’d someday be curled beside him on the couch watching Star Wars, sleeping in his bed every night, and raising kids with him?

Maybe.

Probably.

Okay, so it was completely unreasonable.

If I stayed . . .

I shook the thought away before it could fully take root. I’d already done the mental gymnastics where staying was concerned. Planning my future around a man I’d known for a little over two weeks was more impulsive than agreeing to marry a man I’d only ever spent time with on actual vacations. I’d made enough poor decisions when it came to my love life, thank you very much. I needed a beat before I leapt into another one.

“If you don’t finish that, I will,” Luke said, bumping my shoulder again. I met those light blue eyes head on, and a quiver stirred low in my belly.

I couldn’t stay.

But we could enjoy the time we had left together.

My gaze locked with Luke’s, I lowered my voice and said, “I’m saving room for dessert.”

After showering and getting Ellie settled for the night, I changed into Luke’s Star Wars T-shirt, deciding to forego any other layers. Would we end up watching any of the movie when he discovered I was missing panties?

A wicked smile curled my lips.

I doubted it.

I slipped out the back door, hurried across the deck, and invited myself into Luke’s kitchen because it was too cold to stand outside and wait for him to let me in.

I followed the sound of running water all the way to the bedroom. The bathroom door was cracked, steam escaping from the gap. I nearly gave in to the temptation to strip and step under the stream of hot water with him until I spotted the bookcase in the corner. I was suddenly overcome by curiosity. What sorts of books did Luke Mason read?