The Fluke

13 - Jules

Being with Luke is so easy. So easy that I forgot I wasn't supposed to be with him. It had been just over 24 hours since he'd appeared in Spencer's kitchen and already we'd hooked up twice out in the open, not to mention practically canoodling on the pathway where Spencer or Gavin could have caught us.

A whirlwind 24 hours that simultaneously made it feel like I've known Luke forever.

I complained about the heat and the sun so Gavin offered to ride with Spencer. The drive back to the house was not as thrilling as I'd hoped because Spence kept the roadster alongside the Range Rover for most of the drive. I wasn't really planning to get down and dirty in the back of the truck with Luke but I thought we could make out a little.

Instead he sweetly held my hand in my lap the entire way back. We sat in comfortable silence for most of the drive and it allowed my mind to wander.

I don't think I've ever met a man like Luke before. Not only is he incredibly handsome, smart and successful, but those qualities are paired with some of the most attractive attributes I've ever known. He is kind, confident and sure of himself in way that still makes him humble.

Of course the second we pulled into the garage I wanted to drag Luke back to the guest house and be alone but I knew that wasn't going to happen right now.

As I'm about to hop out of the car Luke engages the locks on the doors and I slowly swivel back to face him, pinning him with an amused eyebrow raise. What's he up to?

"Give me your phone." He's holding his hand out expectantly.

Without even thinking I unlock my phone and hand it over. I watch as he does something on it and then hands it back to me. When I look down I see his contact information added and then a second later I hear the ping of his text alert. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and adds me into his contact list.

"No more little miss escape artist," Luke says.

Spencer knocks on the passenger window with his elbow and then holds up his arms which are full of the Moët bottles he bought. "Let's go!"

When we enter the kitchen we come upon Kage unloading groceries. He has paper bags from Trader Joe's, cardboard boxes full of bulk from Costco and a literal rolling cart of crates of wine, bottles of liquor and cases of beer.

"Jesus Spencer. Did you have him clean out all the liquor stores in the desert?" Luke calls out as he immediately steps in to grab a case of beer from Kage's arms.

"He instructed me to, and I quote, 'stock up and clean 'em all out'." Kage gives me a look over his shoulder that makes me giggle.

I look over the groceries on the island and start unloading stuff to help out.

"You can never be too prepared," Spencer says as he puts the Moët bottles into the wine fridge and then pats Kage on the back. "Okay, man. Thank you for enabling my inebriation habits. You can take off."

Kage claps his hands excitedly. "I am outta here!" He rounds the island and sweeps me into a hug.

"Are you leaving leaving?" I ask.

"I'm taking two weeks off and going to Europe with my boyfriend."

"Oh that sounds like it will be amazing!"

Kage leans out of our hug and gives me a bit of a mischievous look. "Actually," he says, "can you come help me with some of my packing? I'm basically done but I wanted your opinion on something."

The request surprises me but I oblige, giving him a smile. "Sure. I'll be right there." Kage nods and heads off toward his room. "You guys got the rest of this?"