Free With Love by Shawnte Borris

talk about it,” he offered.
    I looked at Luke, wondering, Why does this man make my panties wet every time I see him?
    “No, thanks. I think that everything will be okay.” I gave Luke a big smile. “Just one day at a time.”
    “Are you finished here?” Luke bent over to pick up her camera off the grass.
    I tilted my head a bit to the side, thinking, Do you have any clue how nice your ass looks? I just want to run my hands all over it.
    “I take it you haven’t had lunch yet. Would you care to join me? I make a mean sandwich,” Luke suggested.
    Crap, what did he say? “Huh?”
    “Lunch. Did you eat lunch yet?”
    “That would be nice, thank you.” I said with a smile.
    Walking back to the house, Luke was eager to grab and hold her hand. He started to reach for it, but then pulled away, thinking it wasn’t a good idea.
    Why am I so nervous to have lunch with this man? Look at him, silly. It’s because he’s so yummy looking.
    I could tell that Luke was thinking about holding my hand. It made me smile.
    As Luke was pulling things out of the fridge to make sandwiches, he asked, “What is your favorite sandwich?”
    “Tuna, but ya’ gotta add grated cheese to the mixture.”
    “Tuna, it is.”
    I walked to the pantry, but then Luke stopped me.
    “I said that I was making lunch. Sit your pretty bum down. What can I get you to drink?”
    “Iced tea, please.”
    I enjoyed watching Luke make lunch. He was very messy at it, and it took him forever to do. “Are you sure you can handle this big project on your own?” I joked with him.
    “Yes. Why? Does it look like I don’t?” Luke looked around. “Don’t answer that.”
    “Speaking of big projects, why are you not at work today?” I asked.
    “I had a breakfast meeting. Speaking of breakfast, Kristen texted me that I missed out on some pretty good blueberry muffins.”
    “There are some in the microwave. If you finish your lunch, you can have one afterward,” I said jokingly.
    Luke nodded his head and smiled. “Gee, thanks. I needed to come home and change, so I thought I’d grab lunch before I headed back. I couldn’t find you in the house, so I thought I’d look for you outside.” Oh God, now she’s going to think that I’m stalking her now.
    “Well, I’m glad you did,” I admitted.
    Luke looked up and said, “Me, too.”
    While we ate lunch, we had a light conversation about the weather and the Gala.
    “What are your plans for the rest of the afternoon? If you’re not doing much, why don’t you come to the office? I can show you around a bit and explain what my dad’s company does. Also, I’m sure Julia would love you see you,” Luke said.
    “Actually, Luke, Julia and Kristen will be here at four o’clock. We are going dress shopping for the Gala. Your sisters already have their dresses. They’re just picking them up, and I’m going to pick out a dress while we’re there.”
    “Do you know what you have in mind? Like what color?” Luke asked curiously.
    “No, why?” I said, wondering why he’d care about what dress I chose.
    “I just thought we could color coordinate,” he said with a shrug. Chill, dude, this isn’t prom, and your almost thirty-four.
    “I don’t think your date would appreciate that,” I said confused.
    “My date? Oh…I’m not bringing a date,” Luke replied. Could this get any worse? “I don’t have anyone to bring.”
    “Oh.”
    “No, that’s not what I meant.” Luke paused for a moment. “Alyson, I’m not seeing anyone.”
    I looked at him and smiled, noticing a little sweat on Luke’s forehead.
    “Luke, thanks for lunch it was…” I paused, looking around the kitchen. “Entertaining. But, why don’t you head to the office? I’ll tidy up here. By the time I’m done, the girls should almost be here.”
    Luke went to his room, thinking about how easy lunch was and how beautiful Ally was just sitting there laughing. She looked at ease. How in the hell can I go into the office with