Free Awakening by Olivia Hayes Page A

Greenville so they moved. The house belonged to my great-grandparents. It was paid for, so we kept it. We visited for a few weeks every summer, and then when I finished my degree, I came back here to start my business with Nick. The house was just sitting there vacant so, naturally, I moved back in."
    I smiled, trying to calm my nerves.
    "Nick and I will pick y'all up around 7," he said and pushed off the counter.
    Before I could say anything else, he had closed the short distance between us and enveloped me in his arms. He was warm and strong and he smelled of sweat and aftershave. My arms instinctively came up to circle his waist as I breathed him in. Strangely, it felt right.
    ~~~~
    After a flurry of showers, hair and makeup, the three of us were ready for a night of fun. Eva had helped me put my hair up in a low, loose bun, leaving some of the shorter pieces out to frame my face. I was thankful for her help, because I certainly couldn't have managed it without her.
    "Yo u guys, why am I so nervous?"
    "Seriously, that beautiful man will be at the house any minute, you haven't been out with a man in ages, in fact, you haven't been out in ages! But, calm down, because at least you have your wing ladies with you! Right, Anne Marie?" Eva laughed.
    "That's ri iiight!"
    I couldn't help thinking it was more about it being Luke than it was about not having been out with any other men. I hadn't really confided in Eva or Anne Marie about my interactions with Luke over the years. It didn't seem right to be almost kissing Luke in a hotel hallway or even thinking about him in that way when I was with Mark.
    As we reached the bottom of the stairs, my mother came into the foyer. "Well look at you three gorgeous girls!" She chirped, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
    "Mom, are you sure you won't come with us?"
    "No way, your father will be here in a few minutes, and we're going to tackle mine and Jillian's room together. Plus, you'll have more fun without me."
    "That's not true!" Argued Anne Marie.
    Just then the doorbell rang and Eva walked over to answer it. Luke stood there looking more delectable than I had ever seen him. His black t-shirt stretched tightly across the broad expanse of his chest, highlighting his pectorals. The short sleeves were a bit too snug around his biceps and I found myself wanting to reach out and run my hands over his arms. I swallowed hard and continued my perusal of his body. His jeans hung perfectly off his hips and fit snugly against his thighs. When my eyes made it back to his face he was staring at me with a look of mutual attraction. He made eye contact and then let his eyes slowly drift downward to my pendant and then over my chest to my legs. When his eyes traveled back to mine I could see the lust in them and I was sure my look mirrored his.
    "Damn, " I heard him whisper under his breath before clearing his throat. "Caroline, you look amazing," he said.
    "Thank you," I managed breathlessly. "You look pretty good yourself." I smiled, trying to ease some of the sexual tension between us.
    " Allison, Anne Marie, Eva, always a pleasure," Luke added, nodding to each of them. "Eva, Nick had some business to finish up at the office, but said he'd meet us there. Are we all ready to go?"
    "Caroline, just a minute please," my mother said, touching my upper arm. Luke escorted Anne Marie and Eva out the door as I turned to my mother.
    "Will you please try to enjoy yourself?" She asked, in a pleading tone. "You haven't been out of the house much since, well... I just want you to have a little fun. Luke seems like he's grown into a really nice guy and I think he's genuinely interested in you. Don't let your past hold you back from your future, honey."
    "Okay, Mom. I'll do my best," I said with a smile, trying to appease her.
    "Oh, and be careful. I ran to the store yesterday morning while you were out running and the cashier was talking to the woman in front of me about some guy who had tried to carry off a local girl