Allie lifted a shoulder. “Don’t know. We didn’t talk about his family.”
“He didn’t kiss you good night.”
“It was a first date.” She tilted her head and used the flirty tone she’d practiced with some effect on other boys. “What’s with the inquisition, hotshot?”
Tell me now, Luke. Tell me you don’t want me going out with other boys. Tell me you want to—
“Just taking care of you, kiddo.” A smile suffused his tone. “Someone’s got to look out for you.”
Disappointment washed over her like a tsunami. Stupid, stupid girl. He’s not interested in you. Never was. Luke would never see her as anything but his surrogate kid sister. How many times did he have to call her kiddo for her to figure that out?
Her face flared with heat. “I’m not a kid anymore, Luke. And you’re not my big brother.” She’d never spoken so harshly to him. She suddenly needed to escape before the stinging sensation behind her eyes turned into tears.
She started to jump from the glider.
“Wait.” His hand caught hers.
She paused on the edge of the seat, heart beating so hard he could surely hear it. If he warned her off Derek or gave her some big-brother lecture, she was going to scream. Or burst into tears. She wasn’t sure which would be worse.
“Don’t go,” he whispered. He tugged her hand until she settled back in her seat.
Their shoulders touched once again, and she felt the warmth of him through her jacket.
She stared at him in the darkness, wishing she could read his face. But it was shrouded in shadows. His hand felt big and warm around hers—he hadn’t let go.
Don’t be stupid. Don’t start hoping again. But her heart missed the memo. Her lungs struggled to keep pace. The warmth of his breath brushed her lips, making them tingle with want.
“I know I’m not your brother,” he said softly. “I used to think of you as a kid, but . . . I don’t anymore.”
What did that mean? Hope swelled, despite her best efforts to tamp it down. They were only two years apart, but the three grades between them had made it seem like more sometimes.
“Allie.” He shifted toward her. “When I saw you at Thanksgiving . . .”
Her breath ceased, her heart halted, waiting. He sounded nervous and flustered, and she’d simply die if he didn’t finish that last sentence.
“What?” She didn’t dare move for fear the moment would evaporate.
“You looked . . . different. All grown up. I went away to college, and you grew up and now . . .”
His thumb stroked hers, stirring every cell to life, making her dizzy with need. “Now . . . ?”
“I—I see you differently,” he finished softly.
Moonlight glimmered in his eyes, and though she couldn’t read his expression, she felt the intensity of his gaze. Something hummed between them like a live wire, making her buzz.
Allie wasn’t sure which one of them leaned in. But then their lips were touching, and his were moving over hers so softly. Reverently. Like maybe Luke wanted this kiss as badly as she did.
He pushed back her hair, cradled her face. The arm she’d slugged so many times was warm and hard under her palm. The kiss was long and slow and growing more passionate by the second.
This was no boyish, fumbling kiss. It was a sensual exploration, a masterful onslaught against any reservations she might’ve had. A mewling sound escaped her lips just before he broke off the kiss.
He leaned his forehead against hers, his eyes opening lazily. Their breaths mingled between them.
He could probably feel her heart pounding against his, but she didn’t care—because his was beating just as hard and fast. She could feel it under her palm. The wonder of that thought made her breath catch.
It was finally happening. Finally, after all this time.
“Allie . . .” Luke’s exhale was loud in the stillness. “It was driving me crazy . . . being away at college, thinking of you. Knowing you were dating other guys.”
He was jealous of those immature, ridiculous boys? Silly him. “I was just having fun.”
He took her chin and gave her a look she felt to the tips of her toes. “Have fun with me.”
Her hopes and wishes had come true. Luke liked her. Luke had kissed her. He wanted to be with her.
A smile she could hold back no longer unfurled on her lips. “Okay.”
The door behind them slid open. Allie wasn’t sure who jumped away, but suddenly a cold canyon stretched between them.
“Allie?” Dad called. “You out there, honey?”
“Yeah, Dad. Me and Luke.” Even she heard a new softness in her tone when she spoke his name.
“We’re just, uh, stargazing.” Luke leaned forward, elbows on his knees, putting more space between them. “Want to join us?”
“No, that’s okay. I just had a call and noticed Allie wasn’t in her room.” Her dad took his pediatric duties very seriously. Every parent in his practice had his cell number.
Luke shifted. “She’s safe and sound, sir.”
Dread spread through her veins at his big-brother tone. Her dad said good night and slid the door closed. Did she imagine the new chill in the air? The new distance between Luke and her that had nothing to do with proximity?
Her mind spun. Did Luke think she was too young for him? That her parents would be angry if he wanted to date her? She seemed to wait an eternity for him to speak.
“Listen, Allie . . .” He turned toward her, his voice rumbling low. “Maybe we should keep this between us for now.”
She searched his face, but darkness hid the answers she sought. “Why?”
“It’s just . . . this is new and . . . I don’t want the pressure of your family knowing. I’d rather just keep it between you and me for a while.”
Then he sat back in the chair and cupped her face, his thumb gliding along her cheek, and she could think of little else.
“Our little secret,” he said softly. “All right?”
She wanted to shout the news to the world, but it was a small thing to ask, and right now she only wanted his lips on hers again.
She leaned closer. “Just for now?”
“Just for now.” And then his lips were on hers, and Allie couldn’t think at all.
Christmas break went too fast. She and Luke found bits of time to be together, late at night on the deck or at his house when his mom was gone. They drove around town, looking at Christmas lights, and one night they sat in his car at Murphy’s Park and made out until the windows fogged over.
Sneaking around was kind of fun. But also, Allie longed to tell someone. She confided in her best friend, who’d known about Allie’s long-lived crush on the boy next door.
But before Allie knew it, Luke was headed back to college and said he’d keep in touch. He would come home for spring break, he promised. But that seemed like eons away.
They texted often and talked on the phone when Allie got a quiet moment. In February Luke found out his mom was moving to Florida with her new husband. Allie could tell this troubled Luke. And it worried Allie, too, as he’d no longer have family in Copper Creek. Not that his mom had been much of a parent.
Allie was relieved when he accepted a job at Mitchell Construction for after graduation. He’d move home and assume the mortgage on his mom’s house.