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“But he did leave. Forever. And he’s not coming back. If I had to choose between having my dad or not having him at all…” The deep voice trailed off and he looked away.
    She rested her hand on his knee and squeezed. A small smile rewarded her, and he went back to work.
    “Jack was always there to teach me stuff like this. I guess it’s why we’re so close now.”
    “Is that why you came to help him out with Felony?”  
    “Even when he was married to Chelsea and dealing with her shit, Jack found time for me.” He rocked back on his heels and wiped his hands on a rag from the toolbox. A chuckle rumbled through his chest, and he shook his head. “I went off the rails a little in college. As soon as he found out, he was knocking down my door, jerking some sense into me. I owe him a lot.”
    “Seriously?” Tasha nudged him. “Like what? Did you smoke a little weed or run through campus with scissors?” It was the first time he’d ever talked about his college years, and she was eager to learn more about him.
    He tossed the rag at her. “Nope. Nothing so boring.” He studied her for a minute, as if deciding whether or not to confide in her. “I started hanging out with Elijah Crowe.”
    “From Seven Drift? No way.” She straightened and threw the rag back at him. He caught it in one hand. “You know him?”
    “Yep. His parents lived next door to my mom. We’ve been friends since fifth grade.”  
    She waited for him to offer details, but he stuffed the rag into the toolbox and snapped the lid shut. First, he fucked her into confusion, and then he confessed a link with the most debauched rock star of the decade. Maybe she’d been wrong about him. Maybe sweet Luke wasn’t so sweet after all. This revelation added a new layer to her interest.  
    “All fixed. Are you ready to head downstairs?” One of his eyebrows lifted.
    She sighed but didn’t stand. Another round with the Gretzkys might send her over the edge. His lips smiled at her, but his eyes were somber.
    “It’ll be okay, Tash. Everything will work out. You’ll see.” He took a seat beside her on the edge of the bathtub and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his chest. She rested her head against his shoulder and drew in a deep breath. The cotton of his T-shirt smelled like fabric softener and soap, two of her favorite scents. The man beneath the shirt felt warm and solid.
    “You say that, but how do you know?” she asked without pulling away. It felt too good, too right, to be in his arms like this. She never wanted to leave and yet wanted to flee at the same time.
    “Because it’s true.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head while his hand soothed along her arm. She felt his lips curve into a smile there. “Can’t you ever just take my word for it?”
    “No. Because you’re usually wrong,” she said, giving his chest a playful shove. Laughter vibrated through his chest, sending shivers throughout her body. Her fingers toyed with the hem of his shirtsleeve while she admired the way it stretched over his bicep.
    “Says the girl who thought peanuts grow on trees.” He was teasing her now, and the familiarity of it filled her with warmth.
    “Okay, so I was wrong.” She pinched his arm in reprimand. “There’s a first time for everything.” They sat in silence for a few minutes longer.  
    “Awful quiet down there,” he said after a beat. “Do you think it’s safe to leave?”
    “Either that or they’ve killed each other,” Tasha replied, and prepared for another dose of reality.

Chapter 6

    They stopped for ice cream on the way home. Tasha ordered a double scoop of pistachio, while Luke stuck with his standard vanilla cone. They sat on a picnic table beneath the shade of a walnut tree and enjoyed the blue afternoon skies. A comfortable quiet stretched between them. It was one of the things Luke liked best about Tasha. She knew the value of silence and never filled up space with needless words.  
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