“Yes,” Eleanor said, smiling. “You look lovely Julie. I am so glad Lauren has such a good friend, and you did a marvelous job helping with the wedding.” Her gaze slid to Royce and Lauren and she sighed. “Royce can be such a hard man, but when he looks at Lauren I see softness and love.” Her gaze moved to the happy couple for a moment, and then flickered across to Luke and Julie. “What’s your story, dear? Are you from here? And where are your parents?”

Her stomach clenched and Luke’s hand moved to her waist, gently tightening there. “My family’s not as close as yours.”

Luke’s mother stared at her a long moment, a thoughtful expression on her face. “Then I’m glad you have us, dear.”

Julie was completely blown away by the statement. She didn’t have them. Did she? She had Lauren. Before she could completely digest the words and respond, Senator Reynolds, Lauren’s father, appeared.

“Eleanor, my dear, let’s dance.” The Senator, who knew Julie well, gave her a quick wink.

Eleanor smiled. “You never get tired, but I do, so one more dance.”

The senator looked at Julie and Luke. “Have fun you two.”

Julie smiled as they moved to the dance floor, both grinning like children. She looked up at Luke. “They are cute together.”

Luke made a face. “She’s already seeing someone.”

Julie laughed. “I’m sure she’s just enjoying the party.”

“I want her to be happy, but another man in her life, to be completely honest, doesn’t thrill me.”

Julie giggled. “She’s just dancing with him.”

Luke didn’t laugh. He didn’t smile. He stared at her, his eyes suddenly so intense, she gulped. He took her hand and started walking, pulling her along with him.

She didn’t question him. Never got the chance. He was full speed ahead. Before she knew it, she was in a dark hallway. Luke leaned against the wall, feet spread wide as he pulled Julie into an embrace. He slid one hand around her waist, and the other behind her neck as her hands rested on his chest.

Their lips touched in a gentle brush, a feather-light caress so tender she felt a shiver clear to her toes. “Luke,” she whispered.

“Um,” he murmured as brushed his lips across hers again. “You taste like chocolate icing.”

“And you taste like chocolate cake.”

He smiled against her lips, brushing gentle knuckles down her cheek. “You aren’t alone, you know. My mom was right. You have us. You have me.”

He didn’t give her time to respond. He took her mouth fully under his, dipping his tongue into her mouth with slow thoroughness, tasting her, tempting her, making her melt. His hands pressed her closer, making her ache with heat as the hardness of his frame seemed to consume her softness.

When he lifted his mouth from hers, his voice was husky as he said, “I swore I wouldn’t touch you. Not yet. Not now, but I am coming home with you tonight.”

Not now and not yet? She wanted to question his choice of words, but she didn’t. Not now. Not yet. Maybe not ever. Instead, she reveled in familiar territory, a place she had some control with Luke she desperately needed. “To sleep on my couch?”

“No couch,” he murmured, his breath teasing her lips. And then he kissed her with such intensity she forgot where she was, why Luke was dangerous. She was shaking with desire and she could only wonder if her control wasn’t a facade. Luke had seduced it from her.

Chapter Nine

Luke didn’t take Julie to her place, as he’d initially said. He pulled into his parking lot instead and killed the engine.

“I thought we were going to my place?” she asked, a little too late at this point.

“Safer,” he said. “And I doubt we’ll see Blake tonight. He doesn’t bring women to his place and Royce and Lauren are off to Hawaii.”

He opened his door and slid out of the truck before she could say more. He’d decided well before the wedding ceremony that staying out of Julie’s bed was an impossible undertaking. He wasn’t, however, prepared to relinquish control to her. Allowing her to make their physical attraction a way to distance herself emotionally wasn’t an option. His approach was everything and he knew it, or hell, maybe he was trying to justify his actions. He only knew that if he didn’t manage the encounter just right, any hope he had of breaking down her walls would be destroyed the minute he slept with her.

He chose to bring her to his place: his home, his rules.

He needed the control with Julie.

Standing outside his apartment, he put the key in the lock. Anticipation thrummed through his veins. Damn if he wasn’t getting hard just thinking about what was about to happen.

He pushed open his front door, but didn’t move to enter his apartment. Instead, he turned to Julie, pulling her close. Brushing a lock of her hair from her cheek, he gave her a soft smile. Slowly, he lowered his head, bringing their lips close as he spoke, “I’m glad you’re here.”

He kissed her before she could respond, a slow, heated kiss full of invitation. He wanted her to let go and feel, to just be with him without any fears or walls.

Need heated his blood, burned a path through his veins, demanding and fierce, but still he held back, committed to his agenda. Julie was going to know this thing between them was more than sex; she was going to see, feel, and understand that he was in this for the finish line, that he intended to find out why he’d never forgotten her. Why no other woman compared.