“I think I deserve more than a one word email, don’t you?”

Her eyes meet mine and then she nods slowly. “Yeah, you do. But you might not like what you hear.”

chapter four

†

SEVEN

When I imagined meeting Luke for the first time, I dreamed up every possible scenario. My favorite was that fate would somehow throw us together and Luke would fall for me without any idea who I was. I also imagined that I would one day be confident and cool enough to just walk into the bakery where he spends so much time, sit down across from him and introduce myself.

I never imagined it would be in a cold, sterile room while we were being watched by the FBI. And I never thought I would have to lie to him.

Maybe he isn’t the only one who has gotten cocky over the years.

As I follow him into the bakery, I dimly register the old-fashioned decor and the waitresses in their crisp white aprons. The air smells like sugar and spices and every wonderful thing and just being there is like being wrapped in a warm hug. Luke stops to talk to someone and I hang back, not wanting to intrude but the truth is I want to throw myself right in the middle of it all. I want to belong someplace like this, where everyone knows each other and there’s enough love to go around.

Luke motions for me to come closer. As I step up beside him¸ the man he’s talking to glances at me. I instinctively shrink back. Geez, he’s huge. Luke is tall but this guy is even taller and built like a mountain.

“Seven, this is my brother Tank.”

I glance at Luke uncertainly before extending my hand. But as soon as he looks at me, the big guy breaks into a smile that looks like it might crack his face.

“Nice to meet you. I wasn’t sure any girl would put up with this guy.” He glances at Luke with a strange expression and I catch Luke rolling his eyes.

“Oh, we’re not—” I gasp in a slight breath when Luke squeezes me to his side so hard that I lose my train of thought.

“Seven hasn’t eaten yet, so I’ll see you later. Thanks for staying with Mom while I was gone.”

“Of course. I’ll call you later.”

Luke leads me to a booth in the center of the room. He still has a tight grip on my waist and warmth travels through me at the unexpected touch. He gestures for me to sit in the booth and then to my surprise, slides in next to me.

“Something’s about to happen and I need for you to play along. How’s your poker face?”

“My poker face? It’s pretty damn good but we’re not playing poker.”

A woman stops next to the table and puts a glass of soda down in front of Luke. Her long dark braids are held back by a ribbon that matches the blue of her uniform. Then she looks from Luke to me and back again and smiles brightly.  Luke heaves a little sigh next to me.

“Hey, Mom. Sorry about earlier.”

My attention snaps back to her in surprise. Now that I’m looking, I can see a slight family resemblance, though her skin tone is much deeper than his. With her wide smile and bright eyes, I would have never guessed she could be old enough to be his mother.

“Mom?” I squeak.

Luke glances at me. “Seven, this is my mother, Anita. Mom, this is Seven. My girlfriend.”

My eyes widen slightly before I remember his comment about maintaining a poker face. “Hello! It’s so nice to meet you. Luke has told me so much about you.”

She glances at him with a fond smile. “He has? Well, that’s nice to hear.”

Luke leans forward. “I didn’t have time to eat anything earlier and Seven’s hungry, too. We’ll take whatever the lunch special was today if there’s any left.”

Anita clasps her hands together. “Of course! I’ll bring you some of the corn chowder and some bread.” She takes one final glance between us and then practically skips off.

He glances over at me. “That wasn’t as bad as I expected.”

“And you told her I’m your girlfriend because…”

“What else was I supposed to say? Hey Mom, this is my best friend that I didn’t know was a girl until an hour ago?”

“I see your point.”

We sit in silence for a minute before he blurts out. “Were you ever going to email me back?”

My eyes roam around the diner, taking in the people eating their goodies and talking with their companions. How can I make him understand? Someone like Luke has always had a place, always been surrounded by people who love him. But none of this is usual for me. The idea of unconditional love and acceptance is about as comfortable as a new shoe.

“I was going to email you back. But I needed time to figure out how to approach you. I wasn’t ready to let it go yet.”

“Let what go?” he asks.

“You.”

We’re interrupted then as Anita sets down a glass of water for me, two bowls of steaming soup and a plate of bread. Luke thanks her and she leaves but not without another pleased smile in my direction. It warms me, that smile, and without saying another word it seems that Luke understands.

He lifts his chin toward the bowl. “Eat. We have a lot of work to do later.”

Obediently, I take a big spoonful of soup, my toes curling as the creamy broth hits my taste buds.

“Work? I have no work to do. I finished with my last client before I came here.”

The last part of the sentence dies in my throat when I remember that I’m not supposed to tell him that. I cover with a little cough and reach for my water.

He hands me a piece of bread. “Work is probably the wrong word. We have stuff to do. First, we have to figure out this whole thing with the FBI.”

“You’re going to help me? Even after … everything?”

“Of course I’m going to help you.”

He looks uncomfortable but finally meets my eyes. He doesn’t exactly look happy with me but there’s something there that melts all the tension and stress of the past twenty-four hours until I’m suddenly very tired.

“Thank you, Luke.”

He pushes the bread plate closer and turns back to his bowl, a slight blush coloring his cheeks. “Don’t thank me yet. Just eat. If you’re good, you get pie.”

†

After I finished my bowl of soup and more helpings of bread than was probably wise, Anita brought out pieces of pie that were almost as big as the plate. I’m stuffed and replete, the warmth of the pie making me sleepy. Most of the other customers have left except for a few die-hards in the corner booth and the other waitress has gone home for the night. Anita takes off her apron and hangs it on a hook by the swinging door into the kitchen.

That must be some kind of signal I’m unaware of because Luke tenses. He grabs my hand and then tugs me out of the booth. After retrieving his laptop from behind the counter, he pulls me toward the door.

“Well, we’re going to go. Night, Mom!”

Anita waves and I’m sure I must look like a deer in headlights as I follow Luke out into the soft night air. He’s still got a hold of my hand and the warm pressure around my fingers is really distracting. But I don’t say anything, just let him lead me across the gravel parking lot to a sporty little black convertible.

“Cute car.”

He shrugs. “I figured I should spend my money on something other than computers for once.”

I settle into the plush interior and let out a sigh of appreciation. How different would things be if I spent my money on a few more creature comforts? If I could save up a little nest egg and make a place for myself somewhere? No more chasing the craziest job offers, no more risks for the highest payout.