Free Anything but Love by Beth Ciotta

distracted.”
    Willa was new in town. She was sweet and pretty and she’d needed a job. In the past, Luke would have flirted with her and probably dated her within the first couple of weeks that he’d hired her. She’d been employed at the Shack for two months now and he hadn’t even made a casual pass.
    Chloe had nailed it. Luke was off his game. And now because of one spontaneous, bonehead hookup, he wasn’t sure he’d ever get
back
in the game. Yes, he wanted to play some part in his child’s life. But how the hell could he go on with his own life—casually dating a string of women, hanging out with his sports buddies, working long and late hours at the Shack—with his son or daughter, and Rae, for Christ’s sake, living right here in Sugar Creek? Like he wanted his kid to think he was a skirt-sniffing, absentee dad! On the other hand he didn’t like the thought of them living in another state or, God forbid, overseas—out of sight, out of reach.
    “Luke?”
    He blinked back to Willa. “Yeah.” He garnished the glass with a wedge of lime. “Here you go, hon. Sorry. Tell your guy it’s on the house.”
    She nodded and moved away.
    It wasn’t even Happy Hour yet and the Shack was already crowded. Though a small town, Sugar Creek had a bustling tourist contingent. Especially in the summer and winter. When Luke had invested in the Sugar Shack he’d wanted to offer more than greasy burgers and wings. He’d hired a gourmet chef, which had proven a brilliant move. A cozy atmosphere, stellar menu, widely stocked bar, and friendly personnel made the Sugar Shack a local hot spot.
    Luke loved this pub. But right now he could feel the walls closing in.
    Since his longtime, number two bartender had just showed up, Luke considered stepping out. Maybe a brisk walk would clear his head. But then one of his several cousins came strolling in, shaking off a dusting of fresh snow and heading straight for Luke.
    Sam
.
    Well, hell.
    “Talk to you a minute?” he asked while nodding toward Luke’s office.
    Privacy. Right. “Sure.” Yeah, boy. Why did he get the feeling his day was about to go from bad to worse?
    “Given the way this town works,” Sam said as soon as they were behind closed doors. “I’m guessing you’ve heard Rae’s in town.”
    Luke dropped into his worn desk chair feigning nonchalance. “She stopped by a while ago. Wanted to clear the air.”
    “How’d that go?”
    “Fine.”
    “Did she tell you why she’s in town?”
    Luke bit the inside of his cheek, shrugged. “Something about saving Sugar Tots and the Cupcake Lover book deal.”
    Instead of sitting, Sam leaned back against the door and folded his arms over his chest. It was a dominant stance, not that Luke was intimidated. Although maybe he should be. Sam had six years on him, some bulk, and several years of combat duty. Luke had been on the business end of Sam’s fist back in October and, hell yes, he’d seen stars. Still, the fact that his older cousin seemed to be settling in for some sort of lecture chafed.
    “Depending on what all’s involved,” Sam went on, “Rae could be in town for a while.”
    “So?”
    “I think you should drop out of the Cupcake Lovers.”
    Luke frowned. “Why?”
    “Because Rae plans to get involved with the club again.”
    “So?”
    Sam raised one brow looking at Luke like he was dense. “You don’t think it might prove awkward, the three of us being in on those meetings?”
    “What, because of that kiss you walked in on?” Luke stood now and rounded his desk, perched on the corner and matched Sam’s stance. “I explained about that.”
    “So you don’t have any feelings for Rae.”
    Luke didn’t know how he felt about Rae, but he was getting pretty ticked at Sam. “This your way of telling me you’re going to pursue her?”
    Sam angled his head, a contrary gleam in his eye. “You’re the one who told me not to give up.”
    “That was before—”
    “Before what?”
    Before she was