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The Rebound

Page 124

by Catherine Walsh

“A bigger sign.”

He smiles into the pillow, closing his eyes again as the noise stops. “See?” he murmurs. “Gone.”

“They’ve collapsed from a lack of caffeine.”

“Coffee. Coffee sounds good.”

I give him a look. “If only we knew a place that had some.”

“Not it.”

“Nuh-uh,” I say. “This is your place and you’re the host. I will take a double espresso and— Hey!”

His hand shoots out to tug me down and I land with a thump on the mattress as he moves over me.

“What are you doing?”

“Catering to my guests.”

“I thought you wanted coffee.”

“Now I want something else.” He nips my shoulder before kissing it as his fingers find mine, drawing my hand down between us.

The knocking starts again.

I try not to laugh as Luke drops his forehead to mine before rolling off me, grabbing a pair of sweatpants as he slips out of bed. “Someone better be dying,” he grumbles, stomping down the stairs.

I stretch languidly, burying myself in the covers as I hear him unlock the door below. I wonder if I have enough time to brush my teeth before he gets back.

“I’ve seen her naked before, Luke. Get out of my way.”

I tense at the familiar voice.Louise?

My mind is not awake enough to process the fact that she’s here, so I’m too slow to reach for my clothes when I hear footsteps on the stairs. Too slow to do anything but tuck the sheet around me as I scramble out of the bed. At least I manage to do that much as a moment later she bursts into the loft, wearing what looks like her pajamas with Luke hot on her heels.

“Louise!”

“Get dressed.”

“Get out!” I scream.

Tomasz steps in behind Luke, his fingers over his eyes. “Hi,” he calls into the room.

“Don’t come in here,” I snap.

“Okay.” He turns immediately to face the staircase.

“Can I just say that for the majority of time I have been staying with you I haverespected your boundaries,” I hiss, tugging the sheet tighter around me.

“I got a call from the office,” Louise says, her face pale. “The developers are starting on the Castlebay site today.”

Oh.

Luke brushes past her to get a T-shirt.

“I thought that wasn’t happening for months,” I say.

“They lied. We need to get everyone down there before the diggers arrive. I need your help.”