“You two took off together last night,” Risk said, “and today, you can’t take your eyes off her.”
“Leave it alone. Okay?”
Risk seemed to read the emotion on his face. “Okay, I’ll back off.” He slapped Luke on the shoulder. “But if you run into a problem, I’m here for you.”
“Appreciate that. Why aren’t you hanging with your fiancée?”
“Seems the girls won’t call it quits on their bachelorette party until the plane touches down in Boone Springs.”
Risk eyed April, giving Luke a chance to seek out Katie again. And there she was, trying her best not to spoil everyone’s fun, trying to smile and conceal the pain she must be going through. The thought that he was the cause of her pain ate away at him. It was the last thing he wanted. But he couldn’t let her go. Not now.
She was the girl who shared a love of horses with him, the girl he’d danced with most of the night, the impossible girl who’d been in his dreams for the past five years.
He needed a chance with her, and this was the best he was going to get.
One chance.
Was that too much to ask?
A Boone limo picked up the entire wedding party at the airport, taking everyone directly to their homes on the outskirts of town. Katie was among the last to be dropped off since she lived in the heart of Boone Springs, her apartment just above the bakery. It was a modest place, with one bedroom, one bath, but the rooms were spacious enough and her large home kitchen served as a backup when orders in the bakery exceeded their limit. That didn’t happen often. Katie ran an efficient place and there was nothing like rolling out of bed at 4:00 a.m. and working in her jammies downstairs until the bakery opened at seven o’clock.
As the limo pulled up in front of the bakery, she was struck with a pang of relief. “This is my stop,” she said to her friends remaining in the limo. “I hope you all had a great time.”
Drea gave her a big hug. “It was wonderful. Amazing girl-bonding, my friend. Thanks for all you’ve done. Love you for it.”
“Love you, too.”
Katie glanced at everyone and waved a farewell. “All of you made the party for our dear friends something to remember.”
“After last night, I’ve forgotten more than I remember,” Mason said, smiling.
“You had the best time with your friends and family, especially with your fiancée.” Drea gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Just ask me, I’ll fill in the blanks.”
Katie had some blanks she’d like to have filled in, too.
“One thing I do know, Luke and Katie worked hard on organizing this. Thank you,” Mason said. “You two make a good team.”
A rush of heat crawled up her neck. “Thank you. It wasn’t that hard, really, and it was fun.” The only difficult part had been working with Luke. Her husband. Oh God.
The limo driver grabbed Katie’s bags and opened the door for her.
“I’ll get off here, too,” Luke told the driver.
Katie glared at him.
“It’s a short walk to the office,” he explained. “And I need to check up on something. Benny, if you could drop off my bags at the ranch I’d appreciate it.”
The limo driver nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Katie climbed out, Luke right behind her.
“I’ll take those.” He grabbed her bags from the driver’s hand.
Katie noticed some raised eyebrows in the limo and wanted to melt right into the cement. What on earth was Luke doing? She didn’t want to arouse suspicion. It was bad enough she’d had to lie to her best friend about where she’d been last night. But Luke was oblivious as to how his behavior appeared to everyone.
“Bye,” Drea said. “Thanks again, hon. We’ll talk soon.”
“Okay,” Katie said, giving her friend a smile.
When the limo drove off, she turned to Luke. “Give me my bags, Luke.”
“I’ll carry them up for you.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“I know, but I’d like to.”
“Why?”
“Your hangover is hanging on. You’re pale and looking a little weak.”
“The only reason I look ill is because of what happened between us. Makes me sick to my stomach.”
His mouth twitched, but she wasn’t at all sorry she’d been so crude. Well, maybe she was a little bit sorry. This was just as much her fault as it was his.
“All the more reason for me to help you. I feel responsible.”
“Don’t.”
“I can’t help it, Katie. C’mon, you need to rest.”
She didn’t like him telling her what she needed, but his jaw was set stubbornly and they couldn’t stand here all day arguing. “Okay, fine.”
He had the good sense not to gloat at winning the point. He nodded and walked over to the front door with her bags.
She opened up her shop and walked in first. The bakery had been closed for three days, yet the scent of vanilla, cinnamon and sugar flavored the air. The smell of home. She sighed and her body relaxed.
“Smells like you in here,” Luke remarked, as if reading her thoughts.
“How’s that?” she asked.
“Sweet.”
She let his comment hang in the air for a moment. She didn’t feel sweet right now. She felt horrible and guilty. She kept wishing she could escape from this horrible dream. Waking up wed to her sister’s ex was truly a nightmare. And the sooner they rectified it, the better.
“The stairs are in the back, through the kitchen.” She led the way and he followed.
He stopped to take a look at her baking area. “So this is where the cupcake magic happens. I’ve always wondered what this place looked like.”
“Yep, this is it. This is where I spend a good deal of my life.” She couldn’t keep the pleasure out of her voice. She was proud of her shop, proud of what she’d accomplished. And she loved her work.
Luke took in the huge mixer, bowls and cupcake tins, the bins of flour and sugar and the industrial-size refrigerator. Yes, this was home to her.
“I see you here,” Luke said, as if he was picturing her at work.
“It’s not glamourous.”
“I would imagine it’s darn hard work. But work that you enjoy.”
“True.”
“Your bakery is the best in the county, everyone knows that. But I’ve only known you as a horse lover. You spend a lot of time at Red Barrel. How do you find time for both?”
“You run a multimillion-dollar company, how do you find the time?”
He grinned. “You’re quick, I’ll give you that.”
“Apparently, not quick enough,” she mumbled. Or else she wouldn’t have gone to bed with him.
Luke ran a hand down his face. “I wasn’t lying when I said it was mutual, Katie. I know that for a fact. Don’t blame yourself too much.”
She