The Fluke

7 - Jules

Ohmygod.

Lucas is standing in front of me. In Palm Springs. In Spencer's kitchen. Holy fucking shit. He looks like a literal Adonis and his eyes are blazing with... Anger? Desire?

Shut the hell up, brain.

Not only did I think I left any chance of ever running into Lucas back in Seattle, but if I had bet my life on him showing up here I would be dead right now. I feel heat climbing my chest, spreading across my face and reddening my cheeks. He's standing there, staring at me, and I can't speak.

As the seconds tick by, the silence growing into an awkward cloud of unspoken words, I find myself panicking. I would give my left arm to know what is going through Lucas' mind right now. One word out of his mouth and Spencer could find out what happened between us.

And just like that, I'm transported back to the other night. The feel of him beneath my hands, hard and strong. His tongue dancing with mine. Pawing at each other in the elevator. The smell of him that was the perfect blend of cologne and pure male. I drop my eyes to his neck. Is that the same shirt I was wearing the other day?

Don't be a psycho.

Ohmygod.

My heart is throwing itself around inside my chest.

Spencer will kill him.

And then Spencer will make me help him bury the body.

And then we will both have the blood of the only one night stand I've ever had on our hands.

"Luke, this is my sister, Jules." Spencer's voice breaks through my thoughts and I snap my eyes over to gauge his expression. He's smiling, leaning back against the counter with a coffee mug in hand. Calm.

I realize time has only slowed down for me. Spencer also can't read minds.

Lucas' hand is outstretched toward me, hanging in the air waiting for me to take it. I stare at it, unblinking. He takes a step forward. "Nice to meet you, Jules."

He says my name – my real name – and I snap out of my panicked daze, bringing my eyes back to his face.

Christ Almighty.

I take his hand, trying to ignore the burning fire inside me, and give it a shake. "Hi."

When I try to let go, he tightens his grip and pumps our hands up and down a few more times. I feel my palm start to sweat and I'd give anything to slip my hand out of his. I almost drop dead by what he says next.

"You're the spitting image of someone I just met in Seattle. Rebecca something. I never got her full name." Lucas is smiling, but it doesn't reach his eyes. I think I might faint.

Fucking hell.

I don't know what to say. I shake my wrist and wriggle my hand free of his grasp, dropping to wipe my sweaty palm on my leg. I feel my bare skin beneath my hand at the same moment I see a flare in Lucas' eyes as he looks at me. His eyes have dropped to my chest, and my breasts are betraying me as my nipples harden under his gaze. I shoot a glance at Spencer only to find his back to us, filling up two more coffee mugs.

This is just perfect. In my haste to get coffee in my system this morning I failed to change out of my pajamas. I'm wearing my oldest pair of threadbare shorts that I've had since I was 16 but can't seem to part with and a tank top, of course no bra, so Lucas is getting an eye full. I am horrified that my body is having a physical reaction to him that is the exact opposite to that of my brain. I cross my arms over my chest and watch his Adam's apple bob up and down as he swallows.