Saving You (Love Wanted In Texas Book 2) (2 page)

“LIB, WHAT’S GOING
on with you and Luke? I see the way the two of you look at each other, but neither one of y’all hardly say a word to each other. You used to be the best of friends.”

My eyes filled with tears as I looked away and shrugged. “I don’t know, Will. I guess Luke doesn’t want to be friends with me. I think he likes his fuck buddy better.”

Will sighed. “Lib, he hasn’t even mentioned Abigail in so long. I don’t think he’s seen her since that weekend they went to the coast.”

Dragging in a deep breath, I let it out. “Doesn’t matter, I’ve tried to figure it out and I’m done with it. I just have to get through the drive home and then I’ll have my own car and will see less and less of Luke.”

THE HONK OF
Luke’s truck pulled me out of my memory. “You can do this, Libby,” I said under my breath as I walked toward his silver Ford F250. Luke jumped out and ran around the front of his truck. His smile about knocked me over. I shook my head and looked away. One minute he avoids me, and the next minute he looks at me like I’m his entire world.

He reached for my duffle bag and took it from my shoulder. “Hey, Lib. You excited about heading home?”

My stomach fluttered at the sound of his voice.
I wish he knew the effect he had on me.
I smiled as I nodded my head. “Yeah, I’m excited to see my parents. I just wish Will was coming home.”

Luke’s smile faded briefly. Opening the back door, Luke tossed in my bag. I went to get in and when he took my hand to help me up, I let out a small gasp. I was pretty sure he hadn’t heard it. Glancing back at him I smiled weakly as I whispered, “Thank you.”

Luke smiled, winked, and shut the door. He headed around the front of his truck but was stopped by a guy who had been running. The guy was dressed in a Texas A&M T-shirt and jogging pants. His blond hair was longer than Luke’s and his body not anywhere near as nice as Luke’s. My eyes moved to Luke as I watched him stand there and talk to the guy. Luke was dressed in jeans that fit his body better than they should have. His tight, light-blue T-shirt clung to his toned muscular body and made his green eyes seem almost gray blue.

I bit down on my lower lip when he ran his hand through his brown hair. Luke never was one to worry about his hair. He didn’t really wear it in any type of style. It always looked like he woke up and ran his hands through it and that was it. It worked for him, though.

Luke reached out and shook the other guy’s hand as they said their good-byes. Then he slapped the other guy on the back as he threw his head back and laughed. The runner was a bit taller than Luke, probably six feet tall. Luke stood at five-feet-eleven inches. He thought he was short, but I thought he was the perfect height. When we used to dance together, I fit perfectly up against him, and he would rest his chin on the top of my head. Smiling, I thought about all the times we danced together growing up.

Looking away quickly, I attempted to take charge of the emotions trying to build up. I missed him. I missed my best friend.

The door to the truck opened and Luke jumped in. “Sorry about that, Lib. That was a guy from one of my classes. He had a question about something.”

I continued to look out the passenger window as I said, “No worries.” I looked back at him and smiled. He gave me that damn sexy grin of his and then put the truck in drive and took off. He reached over and turned on his radio. Mantz Brothers’ “One Kiss At a Time” started playing. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the headrest.

This is going to be a long drive.

“ARE YOU HUNGRY
, Lib?”

I looked up from my chemistry book and saw we were in Austin already. Glancing over to Luke, I couldn’t help but smile back at his stupid sexy grin. I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m kind of hungry. Are you?”

He smiled bigger. “I’m starved. Franklin’s?”

I laughed and shook my head. Luke and his barbeque. The bastard knew Franklin’s was my favorite, except if you didn’t get there first thing in the morning you were out of luck. They sold out every day by noon. “Luke, there is no way they are going to have food left.” I glanced at my watch. “It’s almost eleven thirty. The line is going to be around the block.”

Luke turned right and started heading toward Eleventh Street. “You still like brisket, right?”

I nodded my head even though he wasn’t looking at me and clearly ignoring what I had to say. “Yeah, I do.”

He chuckled and said, “There ya go. Let’s go get some of your favorite brisket.”

Shaking my head, I sighed. We were wasting our time.

Luke pulled into the parking lot and parked. The place was practically empty. I looked around and only saw a few cars.

“Where is everyone?” I asked as Luke turned off his truck and got out. He made his way around the front of the truck and opened my door. When he held his hand out for mine, I wanted to push him.
Why is he being so sweet to me? I hate it when he does this. It confuses me.

We started walking toward the restaurant. There was a closed sign up. “They’re closed already, Luke,” I said as I reached for his arm. He shot me a sneaky grin and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the door. The butterflies deep in my core caused me to place my hand on my stomach.

Luke pushed the door open and I was overtaken by the smell of heaven. I glanced around the restaurant. There was no one sitting at any of the old fashioned tables. All the red chairs were pushed in and the place was spotless.

The yellow walls always made me smile. I wasn’t sure why. Looking down, Luke still had a hold of my hand in his and I wasn’t about to pull my hand away. Any touch from him, I’d take.

I heard someone say Luke’s name as I raised my head and saw a guy walking toward us. He looked to be about our age and had dark-brown hair, almost black. He held out his hand to shake Luke’s. Reaching out, Luke shook his hand while he kept his grip on mine. I swallowed hard as he let go of it as he talked to the guy.

Luke smiled warmly and said, “Manny, thanks so much for doing this for us.”

Manny looked over at me, smiled and then turned back to Luke. “I always said I owed you one, I just never thought you’d be asking for something like this.”

Luke chuckled and nodded his head. “Manny, this is Libby. Libby, this is Manny. We met last year at A&M. Manny’s dad is the best friend of the owner of Franklin’s. He’s also the general manager here.”

Reaching out my hand, I shook Manny’s. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Manny slapped his hands together. “I hear the brisket here is your favorite.” I laughed as I nodded my head. “Well you’re in luck.” He motioned with his hands for us to sit. Turning, I followed Luke to a table as he pulled out the seat and pushed it in for me as I sat.

As Luke sat, he and Manny talked about football and how well A&M was doing. I smiled at a young girl who walked over to our table and sat down two plates and silverware. She peeked over at Luke and smiled. She couldn’t have been more than sixteen. Her dark-brown hair and deep-brown eyes led me to believe she was related to Manny. They looked almost alike.

“Libby? Lib, are you listening?”

I looked over to Luke. “I’m sorry, I was … um … thinking of something,” I said as I felt my face heat up.

Luke looked at me and tilted his head as if he wanted to say something but didn’t. He was about to talk when the same young girl brought out all the food. My stomach growled as I inhaled a deep breath.

“Okay, well let me leave y’all be so you can eat and talk,” Manny said as he began to take a few steps back. I smiled and gave him a thumbs up since my mouth was full with brisket.

Luke made a sandwich and took a huge bite and then let out a moan. I giggled as I swallowed and said, “I know, right? It’s heaven. How did you do all of this?
Why
did you do all of this?”

Luke’s eyes filled with what appeared to be sadness before he masked it over with that damn smile of his. “I can’t do something for one of my best friends? I knew how much you loved this place and Manny owed me a favor. They were closed today, but he talked his dad into opening up for us.” Luke winked at me and laughed. “Plus they are catering a huge party at the capitol, so ...”

I laughed and shook my head. “In other words, you lucked out on timing.”

He took another bite and nodded his head. “I did.” Smiling, Luke asked, “How are you liking A&M, Lib?”

I let out a small breath. “I’m enjoying it. It’s different that’s for sure. It’s harder, but not as hard as I thought it would be. I mainly miss the girls. Colt, too, of course. I wish Alex and Grace were going to A&M.” Luke’s eyes caught mine and we stared at each other as if trying to read one another’s mind. Luke looked away and cleared his throat. He stood and looked at me. “Peach cobbler? I bet I can rustle some up.”

Smiling weakly, I wanted to ask him why he was pushing me away. Looking down, I thought about that day last summer when Luke had told me he loved me. My stomach dropped like it does every time I think of that day.

I WALKED INTO
the clubhouse and began looking around for Alex’s change of clothes. Luke stumbled in behind me talking about some stupid song that was on the radio he liked.

I had to tune everything out. My body was craving Luke’s touch more than ever. His smell, his laugh, even his slurred speech was driving me crazy with lust.

I closed my eyes and thought about the kiss that changed everything between Luke and me. The summer before he left for college he decided to kiss me. Then he just left me without so much as a good-bye. Confused and hurt.

“Lib were is … some pants. I’m soaking wet for some reason.”

Rolling my eyes, I walked over to the duffle bag that Will had left here. I reached in, grabbed a T-shirt and pants. I turned and walked to Luke.

“Here.”

I shoved the clothes into his stomach, causing him to stumble back.

“Shit! Luke! Why are you drinking so much lately? You can’t even stand up straight.”

Luke grabbed me and attempted to stand up. He laughed and mumbled something about me being the reason.

“What?”

He looked at me and smiled. “Nothing, baby.”

My stomach clenched at him calling me baby.

He began trying to take his shirt off and was failing miserably.

Reaching up, I helped him take it off. I attempted to not look at his perfect body, but my eyes were drawn to his six-pack abs. I bit down on the inside of my cheek to keep in the moan I wanted so desperately to let slip between my lips.

Swallowing hard, I began unbuttoning his pants. Luke was barely able to stand up as he placed his hands on my shoulders.

“Lib … I’m so drunk.”

I giggled and said, “Yeah, I know. I’m having to undress your ass.”

He laughed and reached for the wall to hold himself up.

“Luke, can you push your pants off? I’ll have to turn around while you get your pants off since you’re not wearing any underwear.”

The smile that moved across his face caused my body to betray me. I could almost feel my nipples get harder and the wetness between my legs was a sure sign I wanted him.