No wonder her mom didn’t come into town much anymore if this was how people acted. It came from a good place, but it was … uncomfortable, to say the least.
Laden down with bags, her hands were going numb from the loss of circulation. Luckily, she’d opted to drive into town earlier. It had been her intention to replace anything she needed that she’d left in New York, as well as to buy anything that caught her eye, so she’d known there would be no way she could walk home with everything.
Sitting in the coffee shop that morning had made her think about the small pleasures in life. It had been a long time since she’d really treated herself, so she hadn’t held back in the shops and, true to her word, she’d made sure to grab cakes and other goodies to bring back for her mom. Her savings were pretty robust, partially because of the small inheritance she’d received from her dad, but mostly because she hadn’t gone out much in New York and anything she had done was usually paid for by Tyler. He wasn’t the kind of guy who felt comfortable with “his woman” paying for things. At first, she’d found it kind of sweet when heinsisted he pay for her coffee or for dinner, but after a while she’d felt increasingly stifled by Tyler’s need to be the “provider” in their relationship. But whenever she challenged him, he used the same old argument: that April was just being ungrateful and that other women would kill to have a man pay for their stuff. Eventually April had been worn down by it, too exhausted to have the same argument over and over.
As she headed back to her car, there was a spring in her step that had everything to do with her newfound freedom to buy whatever she wanted without fear of Tyler’s feelings.
Unable to see the ground in front of her thanks to the barrage of bags, she nearly tripped when the sidewalk ended and a dip indicated where the road began.
Catching herself just in time, she let out a breath of relief, as a shadow fell over her.
“Need some help?”
April’s head whipped around at the deep voice laced with amusement as Luke Pointer held out his hand to her.
CHAPTER SIX
Of courseLuke had been there to witness her nearly bite the dust.
“I’m OK, thanks,” she replied, fighting to keep her voice neutral. She ignored his outstretched hand and kept walking without making eye contact.
Her temper was already feeling slightly raised just from his appearance and she had to monitor her breathing to keep any hint of frustration out of her posture. She couldn’t show weakness. Not around Luke.
He began walking alongside her, his smooth chuckle making her grit her teeth. “Come on, Jones. You’re going to hurt yourself. Just give me a bag.”
“Is this a robbery?” She halted in place, her temper spiking just slightly too high for her to contain. “Because I should warn you, everything in these bags is far too lacy to look good on you.” Breath heaving, April raised a brow as she glared at him. Their eyes met and her annoyance was a jolt in her stomach, demanding she move closer to him, let him experience the full extent of her ire.
Luke smirked as he gently pulled three bags from herhands, an almost knowing gleam in his eyes. “Nonsense. I look good in everything.”
Huffing in irritation, though she could begrudgingly admit that it was easier to walk now she could see her toes, she continued on toward her car.
“Noah said you and your fiancé split. That’s rough.”
Incredulous, she shot Luke a glare. Couldn’t he see that she was already in a bad mood? And he, what—wanted to rub salt in the wound? April wasn’t sure if she was more mad at Luke for bringing it up, Noah for blabbing, or Tyler for … Well. Screwing his secretary, for one.
She didn’t voice any of that out loud, though, and, after several more paces in silence, Luke spoke again just as she spotted her car. She’d parked in the church lot, which had been out of habit rather than convenience.
“I also just wanted to say … I’m sorry. About your dad. I came to the funeral, but I didn’t want to join the queue of people waiting to see you when you already seemed so overwhelmed—understandably. And I know I was there for Noah afterward, but I didn’t get the chance to talk to you. So …” Luke set her bags down on the ground as she popped her trunk. One hand pushed through the thick mass of his dark hair, the gesture nervous. Was Luke Pointer rambling? “So, I’m sorry. And I hope you’re OK, but if you’re not, that’s OK too.”
It was probably the longest conversation they’d everhad that didn’t include a single cuss or insult. Unlike the others who’d inadvertently smothered her all day, Luke’s words were surprisingly fine. There was no pity in his deep-blue eyes, just understanding and a sincerity that made her uncomfortable in the way it seemed to pierce every part of her.
“Thank you,” she said after a tense moment. “It’s hard, being here without him,” she found herself adding, not really certain why she was opening up to Luke of all people but somehow just knowing that she could. That he wouldn’t judge her. “And thank you, for the help with the bags,” she finished reluctantly.
“You’re welcome.” His lips parted, like he was going to say something else but was trying to hold back the words. “If you ever want to talk … I don’t know, maybe we could get dinner sometime?”
“Dinner?With you?” It slipped out of her mouth before she could think twice and she grimaced. “Sorry, that was rude.”
He laughed. “It’s OK. Yes, with me.”
She hesitated and then shook herself. Why was she even considering this? “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Everything with Tyler just happened and I’m still trying to deal with losing my dad and I—” Suddenly, her breaths were coming too fast, her hands tingling abruptly, until a weight on her shoulders steadied her.
“Hey, it’s OK.”
One breath. Two. April nodded as the panic receded as quickly as it had come. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Luke’s hands were still on her shoulders, his warmth in her space and his scent in the air. As if realizing as much, he dropped them and moved back. “If you change your mind, let me know. A girl’s gotta eat, right?” His lazy half-smile coaxed a small one from her, too, and when he backed up a few more steps and lifted his hand in goodbye, she couldn’t help wondering how it was that Luke Pointer had pulled her out of a panic attack with just one touch.
It was warm inside the car, or maybe she was just overheating from the anxiety attack she’d half succumbed to moments ago, so she stripped off her sweater and fished out her phone from the overall’s deep pockets.