Sweet Hill Temptation (A Short Story) (5 page)

“H
ave a good day, son?” Luke’s grandfather asked, looking up from the computer he was working on.

Every day after quitting time, Luke drove farther up Apple Heights to his grandfather’s place, where Andrew Jacobs spent most of his days going over paperwork and distribution forms. The little home office he ran reminded Luke of his childhood, running around and hiding under his grandpa’s desk. A desk he had been groomed to sit behind one day. He just hoped he could work hard enough for himself and his absent father to earn it.

“Yes, Pop. Harvest is running smooth. Based on what we’ve shipped, we’re already in the black.”

Andrew Jacobs nodded. Swiveling in his chair, he faced Luke. “Is that why you have a permanent grin slapped on your face?” He glanced over the rim of his glasses and raised an eyebrow. “Apples never made me that happy, so I’m betting something else has you walking around like a smiling buffoon.”

“Just a good day,” Luke said.

“Uh-huh. That kind of good day”—he gestured in Luke’s direction—“usually comes from a woman.”

Luke nodded. “Yep. Annabelle Thompson, to be exact.”

His grandfather leaned back in his chair. “The Thompson young lady.”

Luke nodded slowly.

“Good luck with that, son.”

“Everyone is staring,” Annie said from across the small table. She took a sip of her wine, and Luke couldn’t help staring as her lips closed around the rim—

Shit, he had to stop thinking that way or else he really wouldn’t make it through dinner without taking her—in public or not.

“They’re staring because you’re hot.”

“Or they’re worried I’ll slug you again.”

He shrugged and smiled. “That too.”

She looked around and fidgeted. Marco’s House of Meatballs wasn’t exactly extravagant, but it was the nicest restaurant in town, and keeping their date in town was his goal. He knew Annie struggled, trying to rise out of the shadows of her mother. He also knew that she fit here, even if she didn’t believe it yet.

“Have I told you how beautiful you look?”

“Yes, thank you.” Pink stained her cheeks, and she gave a little smile, which was adorable because Annie rarely blushed. He was catching glimpses of the softer side he’d seen in the past and this afternoon in the orchard. He liked it. Just as much as he liked her ball-buster side.

“You look pretty good too,” she said. “But I have to admit, I prefer you in dirty jeans and shirtless.”

He grinned. There was his girl. The one who wasn’t shy about anything, especially what she wanted.

“Well, I prefer you naked. But silk and leather is a close second.”

That made her really blush, and damn it, Luke wanted to take her home and see just how much of that creamy skin he could heat.

There was definitely more than the brass side of Annabelle Thompson. He just wished more people saw that. For Luke, it had always been easy with her. He liked that she could dish back but he could still make her smile.

“I was hoping you would come stay with me tonight,” Luke said.

She eyed him for a long moment. “Like the whole night?”

He nodded.

“I don’t know. I work pretty early.”

“Perfect. So do I.” He gave his best smile, the one reserved for when he really wanted something, but this time Annie didn’t budge.

“Is this some kind of game, Lucas?”

“No.”

She crossed her arms and stared at him. “Because I don’t need your charity. Parading me around just so everyone can see that the great Luke Jacobs spends some of his precious time with a Thompson. It’s not going to make everyone magically like me.”

“A lot of people already like you.”

“A lot of them don’t.”

“Well, then that’s their problem. I want to spend time with you because
I
like you. Charitable is the furthest thing I feel for you, Annabelle.”

Something in her eyes softened. He’d seen this before. It was like she really wanted to believe him. Lifting her chin in that stubborn way he recognized, she looked at the nightly specials page and coolly said, “I can’t stay at your place tonight.” She glanced over the menu. “But you can stay at mine if you’d like.”

A sense of victory instantly settled over him. It was either that or the way her foot was snaking up his calf under the table. Oh yeah, he was wearing her down.

“Why, thank you for the nice invitation, Annabelle.”

Leaning in, he grabbed her hand and brought it across the table to his mouth, biting down on the fleshy part of her thumb. “Say the word and we can get our dinner to go.”

Her gaze was on his, her amazing blues glittering like amethyst.

“Word.”

“Q
uit being shy. I’ve seen it all before,” Luke called, treading water in the center of the lake.

“I’m not shy. It’s just fricking cold,” Annie hollered back from the shore. It was the middle of October, and the last couple months with Luke had been incredible. And so hot that she hardly noticed the weather getting colder.

“Come on, tough girl. Afraid of a little chilly water?”

Damn the man. He knew she gave in to peer pressure. With the sun setting over the hills, Annie didn’t bother looking for bystanders. One of the perks of skinny-dipping on Luke’s property. There were no other people around.

She peeled her sweater off, then her jeans. Luke whistled and hooted, so she gave a teasing shimmy.

“Damn it, you’re sexy, baby!” He whistled again.

She just grinned like a fool, loving how he made her feel—like a woman. She loved how he looked at her—like she was the only woman. And she loved …
him
.

The truth hit her so hard it almost knocked her off her feet. For months he’d been sweet and supportive. In harvest season, his work hours matched hers, so they shared early morning coffee and always finished the day by four to have dinner and snuggle time.

For Christ’s sake, she’d turned into a woman who actually liked snuggle time.

“Hey,” he called. “Now you’re just being mean. Giving a man a glimpse of the goods only to stay away isn’t nice, you know.”

She snapped back to the present, realizing she was standing in her bra and panties, staring off into space on the edge of a lake.

Reaching behind her, she unhooked her bra, then tugged down her panties. The breeze brushed her bare skin, pricking it like tiny daggers and hardening her nipples. Luke went quiet. She stepped in, the cool water lapping at her calves, then her knees. Another few steps and it encased her thighs, then finally her waist.

Right as the lake hit her rib cage, Luke popped up in front of her, drops of water sliding down his chest and stomach. He wrapped those strong damp arms of his around her.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of looking at you,” he said before kissing her. “You’re perfect.”

Something behind her eyes hurt. It was the same feeling gnawing at her chest. Before she could think at all, her mouth churned out words she wasn’t prepared for.

“I love you.”

He pulled back and looked at her. She didn’t know how to interpret the expression he made. Was he happy? Mad? Not feeling the same? Oh God, what had she done? She couldn’t bear to hear his response, so right when he opened his mouth to speak, she kissed him.

He tried to pull away, but she wouldn’t. She couldn’t risk what he might say, or not say. So she just clung to him harder and wrapped her legs around his waist.

When he groaned and she felt his erection prod her, she knew she had safely snuck by any conversation. There in the water, she sheathed herself on Luke, and prayed he would forget what she had just said. Even though she’d never been more sure of anything in her life.

After their dip in the lake, Annabelle made it her priority to keep Luke distracted. Even after he brought her back to his place, Luke knew she was purposefully keeping his mouth busy—not that he was complaining. His mind was churning, and he had no idea what to say or even think to say. Which was why it was four in the morning and he still hadn’t slept. So he hopped on the computer.

Luke stared at his screen, hardly believing what he was seeing. An e-mail from Global Distribution. They were reaching out, offering to partner with the Jacobs name and take their brand worldwide. Their corporate office was in New York, and they wanted Luke to work there. They’d be faxing over the contract and terms later in the week for consideration.

Holy shit. It was a huge opportunity. Something that could take his career and the family business to the next level. Security for himself and for his grandfather’s legacy. Something he’d had to work twice as hard for since his father wasn’t around to help.

Luke looked over his shoulder to see Annabelle sleeping in his bed. The soft blue light from his screen glowed just enough that he could make out the fire of her hair and the creamy skin of her shoulders.

Just the thought of leaving her again made his stomach ache. Annie was here. Her café that she worked her ass off to open was here. He’d never ask her to leave and give that up. But his grandfather counted on him to keep the business going.

He took a deep breath, trying to ward off the defeat settling in his chest. There had to be a way to make this work. And he had one week to figure out how.

“W
hy the sour look?” Nana said, kneading piecrust. “For the last couple months, you’ve been happy as a pearl.”

“You mean clam, Nana.”

“No.” She shook her head. “My experience is it’s the pearl that is happy, not the clam.”

Annie decided not to argue with her on that.

“Something happen with Luke?”

Annie sighed and pulled the rack of blueberry muffins out of the oven.

“I’m an idiot.”

Nana frowned. “Why on earth would you say such a thing?”

Annie set down the muffins to cool on the rack on the counter and faced her grandmother. “Because I told him I loved him.”

“Oh.” She wiped her hands down her apron and walked over to Annie. “What did he say back?”

“Nothing. At first, I didn’t give him the opportunity, but this morning, things were quiet between us. We didn’t say more than two words to each other. I think I wrecked everything.”

“You told the truth. There’s nothing wrong with that. And you didn’t wreck a thing. If Luke Jacobs can’t handle the fact that he’s lucky enough for a woman like you to love him, then he’s dumber than that grandfather of his.”

Annie hung her head. Luke had gotten to her a long time ago, but it wasn’t until yesterday that she had admitted just how much.

She was in love with him.

There was no getting around it.

“You want an answer, Annie? Go get one. You’ve never waited for things to be handed to you. If you want him, go get him. At least to know where he stands.”

She nodded, knowing her grandmother was right. Only problem was, a new feeling was creeping up that she didn’t have a lot of experience with. Fear. Whatever answer she sought from Luke would change things, in one way or another. And that scared the shit out of her.

“Can you handle the cleanup?” she asked her grandmother.

“Of course, dear. You go on.”

“Thanks.” Grabbing her things, Annie hustled to her car and drove to Luke’s. As she suspected, he wasn’t home yet. So she let herself in like she had a hundred times over the past several weeks. Maybe a nice dinner would be good. To take the edge off her racing pulse.

While boiling water for pasta and cutting veggies for the sauce, she prepared for what she had to say to Luke. Because good or bad, he’d give her an answer. And then she’d know.

A low hum, then paper rustling sounded from the bedroom. She walked over to the small desk in Luke’s room and saw a bunch of papers pop up in the fax machine.

Not one to pry, she turned to go back to the kitchen, but two words caught her eye:
Contract
and
New York
.

With harvest drawing to a close, Luke skipped going to his grandfather’s tonight for his regular check-in. He was ready to get home. After a shower, he’d call Annie. When he pulled up, he realized she’d beat him to it. She was already at his place.

Entering through the kitchen, he saw veggies cut up on the counter and a pot of water on the stove, but the water wasn’t boiling.

“Annie?”

She walked out from his room. A mix of anger, shock, and sadness played on her face.

“Is there something you want to tell me, Luke?”

He looked her over. Was she upset because he hadn’t responded to her admission yesterday? All day he had been thinking about her and what the hell his feelings were. They were strong, he knew that. And he wanted to spend that time with her. Figuring out what to do about the new job offer, which he had to make a decision about in several days.

“About last night—”

“I’m not talking about that.”

“Well, I’d like to,” he said, trying to figure out why she was being this way.

“Tell me the truth, Luke. For once, tell me something to my face before I’m hit with it later.”

“I have told you the truth.”

“Really? So this contract to go to New York isn’t real?”

“What?” Shock settled in his gut. “That wasn’t supposed to come in until next week.”

The way her face fell when he said that did horrible things to his chest. “No, that’s not what I meant.”

“I know what you meant,” she said so softly he had to strain to hear her. “You had another opportunity you couldn’t pass up, right?”

Hearing her say the words he’d said to her before was tough to swallow.

“Annabelle, let’s talk about this.”

“Are you going to New York, Luke?”

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Whatever was warring within him, he didn’t recognize. It was an emotion—something painful and achy—that rendered him speechless.

“I guess I have my answer,” she whispered.

She walked past him out the door.

“Baby, wait.”

Water lined her eyes when she looked over her shoulder and said, “I can’t.”