“I do have heavy-duty boots. I was just in a rush this morning to get to the bakery. Usually I’m snow ready.”
He makes a sound of approval as we stop by the front passenger door. The automatic locks go off and Luke opens the door for me. I give a hesitant smile of thanks. Thinking that he’s going to leave me and head for the driver’s side, I gasp when his hands clasp my waist and guide me up to the seat. My jacket hikes up with the movement, revealing a small sliver of skin to the frigid night air. The sudden shock of cold is immediately replaced by Luke’s warm fingers skimming the area. My entire body shakes.
Pulling my legs in, I twist in my seat, catching Luke looking at me in a funny way.
I may be reading into things, but I swear the look was…desire? I’m not sure. I just know I’ve never seen him look at me that way before.
Although a lot has happened between us and he’s been gone the last year, Luke and I were still friends. We always would be. Our families were close, and he’s best friends with my brother. I could let the past go and move forward like nothing happened…probably.
Giving my body a scan with his piercing gaze, he shuts the door before quickly walking around the SUV. Getting in, he turns the car on and cranks the heat. We sit in silence.
At least I hope it’s silent. I can feel my heart beating erratically in my chest, the thumps echoing in my ears. As quietly as I can, I take a deep breath.
“I almost forgot how cold the city can get.”
“You’ve only been gone a year,” I say, not believing he could forget a Canadian winter.
“I know,” he laughs, “but where I was, there were only two seasons. Hot and superhot.”
“Where were you?” I ask, my voice quieter than I want it to be.
Luke turns to me but doesn’t say anything. His body is tense and the hand that is resting on the steering wheel has formed into a fist. Has my question upset him? I watch confused as he seems to have an inner battle with himself. Then, as if the words pain him, he speaks.
“Austin. I’ve been in Austin.” My mouth forms a small O.
He slowly pulls out of the back alley where the bakery has employee parking. The crunch of the snow under the SUV’s tires is oddly soothing in the strained silence.
I clear my throat. “I don’t live with Brendan anymore. Do you know where you’re going?”
“Yeah, I know where your apartment is.”
I wasn’t going to read into that.
A small buzz, followed by a vibration against my leg, has me hunching over for my backpack. Pulling out my cell, I see Babcia has texted me again, wanting confirmation that I’m with Luke. I send her back a quick response, knowing she won’t relent until I tell her I’m okay.
Shoving the phone back into my bag, I fold my hands on my lap, looking up to see if we’re almost to my place. “Umm, you’re taking the long way. You realize that, right?”
“Yes,” is all he says, his focus still on the road. The snow has stopped falling but the wind is going strong.
Is he doing this on purpose? Taking the long way at a snail’s pace to my apartment because he wants to spend more time with me? No, that can’t be right. If he wanted to spend time with me, hell if he wanted an update on my life, he would have found a way to reach out to me over the last year. You didn’t just disappear for a year and then turn up thinking that everything would be the same. That isn’t going to happen. At least not overnight.
“So, tell me, how long have you been working at Bake, Rattle & Roll?”
Not pulling any punches, I give him the truth. “Almost a year. I got the job the day after you left.”
His head dips forward and his jaw flexes in the shadows cast by the streetlights. A zing of satisfaction zips through me at his acknowledgment of his leaving.
“Well,” he begins, straightening up again, “that’s really great, Bee. I always knew you’d follow your passion of baking. And you teach too?”
Damn it. He’d zeroed in on my weak spot. I love talking about the pastry classes.
“Yeah, though the classes just started. It’s something new we’re trying but I really love it. Tonight’s class was my third.”
“What are you teaching them to bake?”
“Right now, because of the season, it’s traditional Christmas cookies. Like sugar cookies and crackle cookies.”
“You teaching any Polish cookie classes? Damn, those little ones you used to make with that gun-thingy were amazing.”
“Spritz cookies,” I answer, amazed that he remembers. “No, I haven’t included those in the class. Maybe I should…” My voice trails off.
“Everything you make is delicious but those were always my favorite.”
I can’t help the smile that takes over my face at his comment. I tuck my chin to my chest so he can’t see. The last thing he needs to think is that we’re on good terms. I’m still very confused over all his actions.
“So,” I say, infusing my voice with a nonchalance I don’t feel, “I didn’t realize you were home for the holidays.”
“I’m not.” My heart falters, then stutters back to life in my chest. “I’m home for good.”
Home Not Just for the Holidays
Luke
The second the words are out of my mouth the atmosphere in the car changes. She’s trying her hardest not to seem too interested or too attentive. And I can understand why. I had been a bastard to her a year ago.
It’s taking everything in me not to spill my guts to Belinda. So much has happened over the last year, not all of it good, and most of it had to remain confidential. I shouldn’t have told her where I’d been, but I guess that small detail is okay. Everything else would have to wait.
I just hope to God she’ll give me the time.
“For…for good?”
I nod, glancing at her quickly before focusing on the road again. The weather is too unpredictable right now to not be on top of my game. I need to keep her safe, even if I’m the last person she wants to be around. “Yeah. I even started looking for an apartment today. Slim pickings though around the holidays.”
“He’s looking for an apartment,” she whispers to herself, not realizing I can hear her entire inner dialogue, a habit she’s had since childhood. “It’s fine. You’re fine.”
I have to press my lips together to hold back my smile. Tonight is turning out better than I could have ever planned. No sooner had I dumped my bags in Brendan’s guest bedroom than I was out the door, needing to find out where Belinda was. The one person who I knew I could depend on to not rat me out for asking questions was Grandmother Effnert. The woman loved to talk about her granddaughter. She’d opened her door to me with a big smile…and then had smacked me over the head.
“’Bout time you got your butt back here. My girl won’t wait forever.” I swear my heart dropped at her words. Even thinking about Belinda with some other faceless guy has my hands tightening on the steering wheel. Leaving hadn’t been my choice a year ago but once the case was closed and everyone was safe, I got back here as soon as I could. I’d told Grandma E that, leaving out some details that Belinda deserved to hear first, and she’d lifted her chin before ushering me in.