LITMIR.BIZ

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life he’s chosen. He doesn’t like too many people.” Luke grinned, then touched the sleeve of her shirt. “Except for you.”

      Julianna’s heart warmed at the comment. “He’s been the father I never had. Even though I haven’t seen him too often, we’ve stayed in touch.”

      Leaning back on one elbow, Luke rubbed a hand over the stubble on his face. By the end of the day he always had more than a five o’clock shadow. “I didn’t know that,” he said, his voice still low, reflective almost.

      She shrugged. “No reason you would.”

      “Well, like I said, there are things I have to do before I go.”

      “I don’t think there’s anything you can do about the calf other than let the sheriff handle it. If it is vandals, he’ll do something about it.”

      “But there have been other incidents, so I’d like to know what he’s doing about it before I go.”

      She looked down. “So, when are you leaving?”

      His eyes sparkled with mischief. “Can’t wait to get rid of me, eh.”

      She laughed, feeling her cheeks flush. “You found me out.”

      Luke’s expression softened. “I always liked the way you laugh.”

      He’d never told her that before. Hearing it now made her more self-conscious than anything. Sitting here with Luke was a dangerous place to be. She looked away. “I didn’t do that very often during the last part of our marriage, did I?” Their last couple of years together had been so bitter, so filled with pain.

      “No. But you had good reason.” He reached out for her.

      Even though his touch was tender, she felt her muscles tense and launched to her feet. “I…I need to go in. I still have work to do.”

      He stood almost at the same time, then stepped in front of her, effectively blocking her way. “What’s the rush?”

      She placed one hand on her hip, hoping she looked cool and calm—even though her insides felt like they were in a meat grinder. “You heard me. I have work to do.”

      “Really?” His voice seemed lower, huskier. He stroked her cheek with his fingertips.

      Her blood rushed. “Yes, really.”

      “You look like you need to relax.”

      Her heart thumped so hard she was certain he could hear it. “Nighttime is when I work best. Besides, I have a deadline to meet.”

      He frowned, his mouth forming words that didn’t come out, as if maybe they were too difficult to say. “What?” she asked.

      Squaring his shoulders, he said, “I’m still wondering why you left me.”

      Oh, God. Her throat constricted. “Luke. Don’t. Please.” When he just stood there, she said, “You…you know why.”

      “But that’s just it. I don’t. I know what you said when you left, but I know there was more to it. And it’s been eating at me for five years.”

      Her voice was barely a whisper when she said, “I can’t get into all that again, Luke. I just can’t.”

      “Was it me? I couldn’t blame you there.”

      Her head came up. “Oh, no. God, no. It wasn’t you, Luke. I promise.” His drinking hadn’t helped, but that wasn’t it at all. On instinct, she rested her hand on his arm.

      He looked at her hand, then placed his other one over hers.

      Tears welled, but she pushed them back. She’d gone through therapy, learned how to live with her grief over losing Michael, thought she’d learned how to live with the breakup of the marriage. So why was she such an emotional mess?

      Finally, she managed, “I can’t do this, Luke. I’ve moved on. I hoped you had, too.” She pulled herself up to her full five feet six inches. “Now please let me go.”

      Tears burned behind her eyelids as she walked inside, trying desperately to hold herself together. Trying desperately not to turn around and rush into his arms.

      CHAPTER FIVE

      LUKE WATCHED Jules walk away, his jaw clenched, his fists kneading his thighs. If it wasn’t him, then what the hell was it?

      People who loved each other were supposed to stand united and support each other when bad times came. People who loved each other didn’t run away and destroy everything good that they’d built together. Maybe she’d never loved him. Maybe the wonderful relationship he’d thought they had was a bunch of garbage. He’d convinced himself of that more than once.

      And now, seeing the pain in her eyes as she ran inside to escape him made him feel even worse. He’d brought up things that hurt her. Damn. He banged the wood railing with the flat of his palm. He was like a fox in a chicken coop, tearing things apart because he wanted something. Because he needed to know. God, he was a jerk.

      He stomped inside and on the way to his room hesitated outside her door. He wanted to say he was sorry for hurting her. But the hurt was already there. Sorry didn’t change anything.

      Tomorrow. Tomorrow he’d apologize. Tell her he’d never bring it up again. Then he had to get outta here. Go back to work. Work was what he did best.

      In his room, he punched in his partner’s cell number. “Yo,” he said when Jordan answered. “What’s happening?”

      “That’s what I was wondering. When are you coming back? I’ve got a good lead on the Renfield case.”

      Luke’s pulse quickened. “Does Carlyle know? He didn’t want me on it until after the election.”

      “No. But I’m not doing anything to stir the pot as far as Thorpe’s concerned.”

      “How good is the lead?”

      “It’s hot. I tracked down an old friend who’d heard Thorpe threaten to kill Michele Renfield.”

      “Who’s the friend?”

      “Betsy Stephens. Renfield’s former college roommate.”

      “So why haven’t we heard about her before?”

      “She said she was questioned way back but nothing ever came of it. And in the back of her mind was the thought, if her friend disappeared, so could she.”

      “So, what changed?”

      “She said she was cleaning out some of Michele’s things and found something. An ultrasound photo.”

      “Renfield was pregnant?” With Thorpe’s kid? Luke’s nerves vibrated with excitement. All his instincts said Thorpe was guilty as hell and Luke wanted to get him so bad he could taste it. He hated politicians who thought they were above the law. Now they had motive and if they could get this girl’s testimony…damn. He had to get back to L.A. “I’ll be back the day after tomorrow. It’s a full day’s drive and I have to clear up some things here first.”

      “So how’s it been?” Jordan asked.

      “My dad needs help. I’m going to try to take someone on before I leave.” Then he’d plead with Jules to get his father to a doctor. And she’d be overjoyed that he was leaving.

      “That’s good. But I meant how are you managing with Julianna in the same house?”

      Luke rubbed the stubble on his chin. “No big deal. The past is in the past.”

      There was a hesitation on the line before Jordan said, “Yeah? So that’s what you tell yourself.”

      Annoyed that his partner had him pegged, Luke gripped the phone tighter. “Yes, it is. But I fully understand your thinking. You have this pie-in-the sky philosophy that love conquers all, and because you’re

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