Luke (A Redemption Romance #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

did and I won’t let you do that, too.” I realized that what I was saying wasn’t entirely true. Had we been able to get him the help he’d needed, we may have been able to stop it, but it was all too late, now.
    Luke reached out and grabbed my hand. “I’m not here because of guilt or anything like that. I’m here with you because I want to be. I don’t know where this is coming from.”
    “You said ‘it’s the least I can do.’ I don’t want you to help me because you think you have to. I don’t want to stand in your way when you have other things you could be doing, other people to spend your time with.” A couple of tears fell from my eyes and Luke saw them, as he leaned in and kissed each one from my face. As much as I loved the feeling, I wouldn’t be a burden. I also wouldn’t allow my heart to hope for something that wouldn’t ever be. He’d been home for four years now, if he’d wanted me, he would have made a move by now.
    He cupped my chin, lifted my face to meet his eyes and spoke softly.
    “That isn’t what I meant. I meant that it was the least I could do to help you; that I want to be here for you, to take care of you, to help you whenever I can. Always, Rory, not just in this, I always want to be the one to help you. And, you remember this; there is never a moment when I’m spending time with you that I want to be with anyone else. I’m exactly where I want to be.”
    My brows furrowed in confusion as I looked at him more closely; I didn’t understand, couldn’t figure out what he meant. I remembered the words I’d overheard in the kitchen last night and wondered. Apparently, I waited too long because he continued. “We can talk about that later sweetheart, get your luscious ass up and ready, we’ve got to leave soon and it takes you longer than anyone I’ve ever met to get ready.” He placed a quick kiss on my nose, then stood and strode from the room.
    I was so confused; did he mean that in a more-than-friends type of way? I wondered about that, but couldn’t dwell on it now. His actions the last few days were certainly more affectionate than what I’d ever seen from him. This was a horrible time, so I wasn’t sure if his demonstrative behavior was due to his need to comfort me or because of something else. Either way, I was not in the mental state to think about it.
    I noticed as he walked away that he was wearing a pair of perfectly fitting dress pants and a white undershirt that hugged his strong physique. I shook my head to rid myself of the images in my head and moved into the shower. The last thing I needed was to get turned on right now. That was certainly not appropriate today.
     
    I emerged from my room just before nine o’clock, dressed in a light gray pencil skirt and white silk blouse. My black stilettos dangled from my fingers. Luke let out a low whistle as I walked into the kitchen. “Nice, you look beautiful as always Aurora.”
    I felt my cheeks flush at his compliment. He had grown more flirtatious with me over the past several months, but I’d never thought much about it. I was certain that this was his usual behavior. I hadn’t seen him with many, so I couldn’t be sure. The few he’d brought around over the years were there such a short period of time that I never got a good read on his normal behavior with women.
    We ate breakfast in silence, only broken by small talk. I tried again to let him know that I was okay, but Luke insisted that he was going with me. Being thankful for the company, I didn’t argue. But instead of my mind solely focusing on my brother’s funeral, I was bombarded with thoughts of Luke.

Chapter 5
    Luke and I sat across from each other at a small table in my favorite Mexican restaurant. We’d finished the seemingly endless details with the mortuary and I was exhausted. I hadn’t done anything physical today, only sat and talked, made plans and discussed details, but the emotional strain of it all exhausted me. I was