“Half brothers,” Luke corrected.
“Yes, of course.” To her credit, the old gal didn’t even try to pretend she was offended by his bluntness and continued as if he hadn’t pointed out the obvious. “Arielle is coming with me from San Francisco to fly into Nashville and I’m certain your twin brother plans to come from Los Angeles for the occasion. Will I be able to count on you, as well?”
He should have known when they all agreed to Emerald’s offer that it would come with a considerable amount of strings. “I’ll have to check my calendar and get back with you,” he hedged.
“Wonderful. I’ll expect to see you at eight on Saturday evening in the main ballroom at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.” Before he pointed out that he hadn’t committed to anything, she added, “And of course it goes without saying you’re more than welcome to bring a guest.”
“Of course,” he repeated, rolling his eyes once more.
“I look forward to seeing you again, Lucien. Goodbye.”
As he hung up the phone, he shook his head. He had to give her credit for one thing: Emerald Larson was damned good at getting what she wanted. Unless he missed his guess, Jake had been fed the same line of bull about her being certain Luke would be attending and now they’d both been roped in.
But the more he thought about it, the more it could work to their advantage. If Arielle was going to be there, maybe he and Jake could pull her aside and get to the bottom of what was going on with her.
And Luke had no doubt she was hiding something. She’d been avoiding his calls the past couple of weeks and that was the longest they’d ever gone without talking.
Checking his watch, Luke turned off his computer and rolled down his shirt sleeves. Haley had left an hour ago to run a couple of errands and it was time he called it a day, as well. He had a soft, sweet woman waiting on him at home. And he couldn’t wait to get their evening started.
Chapter Eight
“I t’s negative,” Haley announced, peering at the results window on the little white stick in her hand.
“Are you sure these things are accurate?” Luke asked, looking over her shoulder. “Maybe another brand would be better.”
“From everything I’ve read, this test is the most accurate,” she answered, checking the back of the box for the second time.
She picked up the instruction insert from the early pregnancy test and read through it again. “It says to retest a few days later if there are doubts about the results.”
“You might still be pregnant.” He grinned as they walked out of the master bathroom and over to the bed. “And in the meantime, all we have to do is relax and enjoy each other.”
She smiled. “I’m sure you’re up for the challenge.”
Wrapping her in his arms, he rested his forehead against hers. “I can’t help myself. You’re just so damned desirable when you wake up. And when you walk into my office with my coffee. And—”
“I think I get the idea,” she said dryly as she crossed the room to remove her robe and get into bed. “You’re blaming me for your insatiable needs.”
“I didn’t have this problem before we started making love,” he countered, walking over to remove his watch and place it in a small tray on top of the dresser. His grin turned positively wicked. “Do you know why I spend so much time sitting behind my desk at the office?”
Propping her pillow against the headboard, she leaned back against it. “I assume it’s because you’re working.”
“Nope.” He walked over to his side of the bed. “It’s because I’ve been watching you or thinking about making love to you and I’m too aroused for people not to notice.”
“So you’re saying we can’t go out in public together anymore?” she teased.
He shook his head as she watched him lower his boxers. “No, but when we are out, I find that I’d rather be here making love to you.” He paused. “And speaking of going out in public together, I almost forgot to tell you about the reception on Saturday evening at the Opryland Hotel.”
“For anyone I know?” she asked, shamelessly watching him. She loved his body, loved watching the play of muscles as he moved. It was just so darned sexy.
“You don’t know her, but you do know of her,” he commented, climbing into bed. “It’s Emerald Larson.” Turning on his side to face her, he pulled her close. “But I don’t want to talk about her now. I have more exciting things on my mind.”
“Oh, really?” Haley couldn’t keep from smiling at the promise on his handsome face and completely abandoned all thought as his firm lips nibbled and coaxed with a skill that stole her breath.
But when his tongue parted her lips to deepen the kiss, it felt as if he’d ignited a pyrotechnic display within her soul. A flickering light danced behind her closed eyes and a delicious warmth flowed through her veins as he stroked the inner recesses of her mouth, then encouraged her to explore him in kind.
Tasting and teasing him as he’d done her, her pulse quickened when she felt him reach for the lace hem of her gown. The feel of his palm as he slid it up her thigh and over her stomach to the underside of her breast, sent a searing current of heat dancing over every nerve in her body. But when he cupped her fully and lightly brushed his thumb over her hardened nipple, the heated desire swirling inside her quickly turned into a hungry flame.
She wanted him with a fierceness that she never imagined and running her hands over his side, then his hip, she took him in her palm to explore his length and the power of his need for her. She felt his entire body shudder a moment before he broke the kiss, then leaned back and shook his head.
“It’s been brought to my immediate attention that one of us is overdressed for what we’re about to do here,” he said, sounding winded.
“Since you’re the one not wearing anything, I suppose that would make me the guilty party.”
Toying with the neck of her gown, his smile turned into a wicked grin a moment before he used both hands to rip the light cotton fabric all the way down to the hem.
“I’m not going to have any nightgowns left,” she complained, not in the least bit upset.
His promising grin stole her breath. “Not that you’re going to be needing them anytime soon, but if you insist, I’ll buy you new ones.” Quickly dispensing with her tattered nightgown, he hooked his thumbs under her panties. “And we definitely don’t need these, either.”