Free Luke by Jennifer Blake Page B

Does he have all the qualities you usually put into your heroes?” Julianne sent a bland glance in his direction as she spoke.
    â€œMost of them,” April allowed thoughtfully. “He’s strong, obviously. He has intelligence, humor and charm. He moves with the typical athletic ease…”
    The one with the smoky voice threw up her hands. “He’s perfect, in fact.”
    â€œNot quite.”
    â€œGad, April, what could he be missing?”
    â€œSelf-sacrifice, dedication to a cause,” she answered thoughtfully. “Oh, and one thing more.”
    Luke felt his stomach muscles tighten in instinctive preparation for the blow he knew had to be coming. April would never say such things for any other reason except to set him up. The moment stretched, becoming so unendurable that it was arelief when Julianne asked, “And what might that be?”
    April met his gaze over the linen cloth. Her lips barely moved as she answered quietly, “He’s missing the most important quality of all in a hero. He has no honor.”
    The pain that sliced through Luke was so vicious that he set his teeth against it. He’d thought he had long ago given up caring about April Halstead’s opinion of him. This wasn’t a good time to find out that he’d been wrong.
    At the same time, he saw what she was doing; she wanted to tick him off so he’d leave before the time came to go back to the hotel. Of course, that didn’t prevent her from meaning every word she’d spoken.
    â€œWell, now,” the redhead said on an uncertain laugh, “I think maybe I could do without something so measly for the sake of the rest.”
    That comment was an apparent attempt to smooth over the slight to his male ego. It was nice of her, but Luke didn’t much care to be an object of pity.
    That April had no such inclination was proven as she spoke again. “I’m glad you think he fits the role. I was afraid he might be too sure of himself.”
    â€œNow, wait a minute,” Luke exclaimed, annoyed into protest.
    â€œFor myself, I like a man who knows what he wants,” the redhead said with a quick glance in his direction.
    â€œLuke certainly is that,” April answered with a cool smile. “What’s more, he comes with a readymade nickname, just like a character. I don’t even have to make one up.”
    He closed his eyes as she rolled the nickname off her tongue with gusto. He despised it, and she knew it. Still, he wouldn’t let her get to him again. Running him off was going to be harder than she dreamed.
    â€œLuke-of-the-Night,” Julianne translated as a couple of the women looked puzzled. Looking at April, she continued, “Is he, by any chance, going to appear in the book you’re doing about that family out on the lake where you live? What was the title?”
    â€œNot likely,” April said a shade louder than necessary to cut off her friend, then gave an infinitesimal shake of her head. Luke felt his need to learn more about that book solidify, but now was not the time to go into it.
    â€œNighttime Luke,” the gravely voiced one drawled in the small silence. “Now I wonder what he did to deserve such a moniker.”
    â€œThe question is more what he hasn’t done,” April answered. “And the answer is, there isn’t much.”
    â€œIs it now?” he muttered, scowling. Julianne had said that April struck out at people when she was hurt. He couldn’t help wondering if this was an example of it. Still, a person couldn’t be hurt unless they cared, could they?
    She ignored him as she smiled around the table. “Our Luke is a man of vast experience. Unlike poor old Freud, he knows exactly what women want.”
    Luke tucked his arms tighter across his chestsince he was afraid he might strangle her otherwise. “And just how would you know that?”
    â€œCommon gossip,” she quipped,