Free Back to Luke by Kathryn Shay

in years, he was swamped by associations, by memories, by the pure joy of holding her again.
    But her violet eyes were wide with fear and she was trembling. Instead of railing at him for trying to help her, this time she buried her face in the folds of his shirt. The gesture was so tender, so familiar, he found himself cupping her head with one hand and sliding his other arm around her. His fingers brushed the creamy skinbared by her dress. Her shoulders and her back were soft as silk.
    Unfortunately, Luke felt himself go hard.
     

    W HEN J AYNE’S HEART calmed down, she became aware of Luke. The feel of his muscular chest covered in soft material beneath her cheek. One arm banded around her. Her breasts pressed into him. Then there was his smell—oh, dear Lord—it was so sexy. And just like before, the combination of all that maleness made her go damp. She was helpless to draw away, until she became aware of his reaction below the belt. It took her a moment before she realized that their mutual response was not a good idea.
    “Damn it,” she said.
    The rest of his body tensed. “Look, it’s no big deal,” he barked. “It’s not like this hasn’t happened before.”
    His dismissal of his reaction to her hurt, but she covered it with bravado. “We are so done with that. Control your hormones.” She scrambled off him and stood. Or tried to stand, before she toppled onto him again.
    And again, the part of him that was indeed very male reacted. He was shockingly aroused this time.
    “What the hell’s the matter with you?” he asked.
    “I must have twisted my ankle. It’s too weak to stand on.”
    With a curse, he eased her to the floor and rolled to his feet. Then he scooped her up.
    “What are you doing?”
    He set her on the bed. “Don’t get your panties in a twist. I’m just—” His comment stopped abruptly and his gaze narrowed on her. “You, um, better fix that.”
    “Fix what?”
    He nodded to her chest. She looked down. The bodice of her dress had slipped, revealing most of her breasts. “Oh.” She yanked the material up into place and held her hand there.
    Seeming nervous, Luke averted his gaze. He caught sight of the closet. “What the hell were you doing up there on a goddamned chair that swivels?”
    “I tried to move the desk but could hardly budge it, and the chair was the only other thing in the room to stand on. I was trying to get my suitcase down. Jess put it up on one of those high shelves.”
    “Why’d you want your suitcase?”
    She glanced at her phone on the night table. “Because I’m leaving Riverdale on a red-eye tonight.”
    His brow furrowed. “Just this week you said you were staying.”
    She shook her head. “I’m causing Jess too much trouble. No matter what you think of me, I love him like a brother and I won’t bring more unhappiness on him than I already have. I saw clearly tonight that I shouldn’t have come.”
    “Where will you go?”
    “It doesn’t matter.”
    “Of course it does.” Jess’s voice came from the doorway. “You’re staying right here, Jaynie.”
    Both Jayne and Luke looked over at a clearly annoyed Jess. “You’re not going MIA from my life again for six years.”
    “Yes, I am. I can’t stand watching you and Naomi fight over me.”
    “We aren’t going to be fighting over you anymore.”
    “Why?” Luke asked, his tone suspicious.
    “Because I’m moving out of the house on Second Street for a while.”
    “What?” Luke said.
    Jayne gasped. “Oh, Jess, you can’t do that.”
    “I already have.”
    “Where are you gonna stay?” Now Luke’s voice was filled with anger.
    “Right here, in my old room.”
    “Down the hall from Jayne? Oh, yeah, Jess, this is a great idea. Just great.”
    “Don’t say another word. You’re risking our friendship. With Timmy gone, you can’t afford to lose me, too.”
    Luke froze. Jess mirrored him, looking unbelievably chagrinned.
    And Jayne asked, “What do you mean? What happened to