Page 79 of Twice as Tempting

“My name is Luke Donovan, and I’m here to pick up a special order.”

“Oh, I spoke to you on the phone last week, when you placed the order. I’m Kelly,” she said and reached over the counter to shake his hand. Old habits die hard.

Luke looked slightly perplexed, but he graciously shook her hand. “Nice to meet you,” he said.

“Your book is right under the counter,” Kelly said, and when she handed it to him, her surprise must have been evident. It was a romance novel that she had never heard of, with a rather racy cover. So, Damian wasn’t the only guy to read romance after all!

“I don’t usually read these types of books, but someone I know wrote it,” he said proudly.

It might have been a lie, but for some reason, Kelly believed him. “I have to admit that I’ve never heard of Kate Stephens,” she said, glancing down at the cover again.

“This is her first book, and it just came out a few weeks ago.”

“Well, it looks…interesting. I hope you enjoy it.”

Luke chuckled. “I think I need to pay you,” he said, his bluish-green eyes sparkling.

“Oh, yeah. That’s right. I don’t know where my head is at today.” Kelly quickly rang up his purchase and placed the book in a bag.

“Thanks a lot, Kelly,” he said and then turned and strolled out the door.

“Have a good day,” she called, but she doubted that he even heard her. The minute he stepped outside, he pulled the book out of the bag and stared at the cover as he walked over to his car. She watched him drive away with a smile on his face and idly wondered what his story was.

Just then, the phone rang, and Emma’s name flashed on the display. “Hey, Em.”

“Hey. Did he call you yet?”

“No. The jerk.”

“Well, if it helps at all, he’s avoiding Zack too. Zack’s called him at least three times, but he hasn’t answered.”

“When I left for work this morning, his truck was already gone. I’d guess that he went to the shop, but who knows.”

“How are you doing today?”

“Honestly, I’m all over the place. I’m angry and frustrated, but I want to see him, to talk to him. I thought things were going so well, but now it’s like we took a giant step backward. I just don’t understand what Damian and I have to do with her. Why would he let something that happened years ago come between us?”

“I wish I had the answers, Kell, but I guess you’ll have to wait to hear it from him.”

“Well, he can’t avoid me forever. We live right across the parking lot from each other, for Pete’s sake!”

“You could always hide behind a tree and ambush him when he comes home.”

“I don’t think I’ll go that far, but it’s not a bad idea! Oh, and get this. Some gorgeous guy came in the store today and bought a romance novel! A romance novel, Emma.”

“Please tell me that you didn’t exchange phone numbers.”

“No, but in the past, I would have been all over that!”

“Oh, I know. So, what stopped you?”

“A certain pig-headed Greek man, that’s who. Oh my God, Emma. What’s happened to me?”

“You’re in love. I hear it’s been going around these days.”

“Well, it’s kind of hard to be in love when it’s one-sided.”

“Patience, Kell.”