He leaned back, his shoulder brushing hers. “Yeah . . .”
At the reflective note in his voice, she looked at him. Gazing into those mysterious green eyes, she still saw the boy he’d been. But they were more solemn these days, as if life and its trials had drained away a bit of the fun. She made a note to fix that.
But something else simmered in those depths too. Something warm and inviting. Something that made it hard to breathe.
The air seemed to crackle around them, electrified. It had been this way before. But no other man had made her feel the way Luke had. All these years she’d written it off as the flush of adolescence. That magical elixir of hormones that somehow allowed a person to reach emotional levels never again achieved.
But no. It was still there, this incredible, wonderful pulling and wanting. It both compelled and frightened her at once.
His gaze dropped to her lips, making them tingle.
She’d always loved his mouth. That perfectly arched upper lip. The lower one almost too thick for a man’s. Those lovely lips of his knew just what to do.
He leaned toward her, the space between them shrinking. Allie’s eyes fluttered shut, the magnet of desire irresistible.
“Koda, get back here!” someone shouted.
Allie and Luke jumped apart just as a black Labrador burst into the clearing. A middle-aged couple was on its heels. Koda found Walter and clearly wanted to be best friends forever. Walter tolerated the other dog’s enthusiasm with a slow blink.
Allie’s eyes bounced off Luke’s in one of those awkward “we almost kissed” looks. Her heart still beat out a wild tattoo.
Then she stood and greeted the couple with a wide smile as if she didn’t want to hurt them just a little bit for interrupting the moment.
Chapter 10
They were only thirty minutes away from Bedford. Luke slid the gear into fourth and gave it more gas, the engine practically purring. Man, the Chevy sure did drive out nice. And now that she was sparkling clean again, he could sit back and enjoy the ride.
Beside him Allie fiddled with her playlist. The old songs were starting to grow on him—as was Allie. They’d spent the last six and a half hours catching up—and carefully avoiding mention of the almost-kiss.
Luke’s only regret was the interruption. Allie got to him in a way no other woman had. She was fun and funny, and she helped him loosen up a little. Reminded him schedules could be broken and new things could be exciting.
And now that she’d forgiven him, he couldn’t help but wonder if they could be more than friends. He couldn’t help but wonder if the Adamses would be okay with that. Was he good enough for their little girl?
He pushed back the niggle of worry and palmed the back of his neck where tension gathered.
“Hey, mister, both hands on the wheel.” Allie tossed him a smile that almost made him forget he was driving.
Allie might be fun and impulsive, but she sure was serious about keeping this car safe. Then again, so was he. He gripped the wheel with both hands, his gaze falling to the gas gauge.
“We should probably fill up. There’s only a quarter tank, and we should leave it full for your grandparents.”
“Good point.” She started a new tune: “All Shook Up.” “We’ll be getting there as the party is starting, but that’ll make our arrival even more exciting. There’s a gas station a few minutes up the road.”
The sun was low in the sky, they were surrounded by woods, and the country road wound around the hills. Beautiful country. Beautiful day. Beautiful woman in the seat beside him. She was singing along to the song, completely unaware or uncaring that she sang out of tune. The wind blew through her open window, making her hair wave behind her like a flag.
Eyes on the road, buddy. You’re not home safe yet.
A few minutes later he saw Allie was right. Despite the lack of civilization, there was a mom-and-pop gas station with four pumps and a sign reading Country Store—hunting licenses, permits, ammo.
For such a small place, it was doing good business. One of the pumps was taken, and two cars were parked in front of the store.
Luke pulled up to a pump and filled up while Allie waited in the car. When he was finished he put Walter on his leash and took him for a quick walk behind the station.
Allie joined him a minute later. “It’s pretty back here.”
Her honey-colored hair was windblown, and her cheeks and shoulders were sun kissed. “Sure is.”
“We’re doing okay on time. I might run inside and restock my snacks.”
“Wouldn’t want to run out of Ho Hos.”
Her eyes smiled. “Right? And you already blew through my peanut M&M’s.”
“I’ll buy you another bag.”
“Nah, you drove all this way for me—I’d say that evens things out.”
Walter finally found a suitable tree and lifted his leg.
“I’ll agree to that,” Luke said. “But only because I got to drive a ’57 Chevy.”
“Through storm floods and hail. Not exactly the joyride you expected, huh?”
It had actually been so much more.
“Hey, mister!” The woman from the store came around the building. “Is that your old Chevy out front?”
“Yeah . . .” Luke walked toward her, tugging the leash.
“Some kids just took off with it.”
“What?” Luke jogged toward the front, dragging Walter behind him.
Allie reached the parking lot first and screeched to a dead halt. “It’s gone!”
“Like I said.” The woman shelved her hands on her hips. “Those boys who were inside a minute ago just took off with it. They bought cigarettes and . . .”
She recited a list of goods purchased, but Luke couldn’t hear any more. He laced his hands behind his head, staring at the empty spot where the beautiful ’57 Chevy sat only moments ago. He tried to imagine telling Bill and Becky what had happened, and a fist tightened in his gut. Sweat beaded on his neck.
That car was irreplaceable—and Luke had lost it.
* * *
No, no, no.
Allie paced in front of the store, staring at the empty spot where the car had just sat. The store clerk had disappeared inside to call the cops. Allie couldn’t believe this was happening.
She palmed her cheeks. Her parents were going to kill her—and she deserved it. When Luke blocked her path she stopped, dropped her hands, and met his gaze.
His jaw was knotted and a furrow split his brows. What was he so worried about? The car was her responsibility—this catastrophe her problem.
“How could this happen?” She’d only been out of the car two minutes. Could someone hot-wire a car that quickly? “How could they have made off with it so fast?”
“Do you have the keys?” A bite sharpened his tone.
“No . . . Why would I have them? You’re the one driving.”
“I left the keys in the car, Allie. Because you were in the car.”
She gasped. “Well, I didn’t know that! You didn’t tell me.”
“So you left the keys in the car.”
“No . . . You left the keys in the car.” She glared at him.
He glowered right back. “Didn’t you think to check the ignition before you followed me out back?”