stairs leading up to the house.
“No thanks. I’ve got it from here.”
I took my time dragging my luggage up the stairs, partly because my bag was heavy and the climb was steep, but also because I was stalling. Even with my slow progress, I was still standing at the front door in less than two minutes.
Very slowly, I raised my hand to knock, but the door flew open before I could make contact.
“I thought that was you.”
Luke’s sister, Alexis, stared at me with wide eyes. I returned her dubious stare, realizing for the very first time that I might actually be interrupting something important. Somehow I had managed to forget that he had said it was a family trip.
“Hey, Alexis.” I smiled meekly.
She tilted her head to the left and looked me up and down. “Luke never mentioned that you were joining us.”
“It’s kind of a surprise,” I said.
She nodded, but still looked suspicious. “Okay. Come in.”
I carried my bag inside and dropped it to the floor with a loud thunk. The entryway to Luke’s mountain home was larger than my entire apartment.
“Luke isn’t here,” Alexis said. “He’s been out skiing all day.”
“Oh. That’s okay.” I glanced around, looking for some inspiration as to what my next move should be.
“His room is that way, above the garage. Did you want some help with your bag?” Alexis was a tiny girl and probably weighed less than my suitcase, but I appreciated the offer.
“Thanks, but I can handle it.” It took some time to carry it up the stairs, but it was worth the effort. Luke’s room was amazing. The room was sparsely decorated, dominated mostly by the king-sized bed in the middle of the room. A sleek fireplace along one wall promised cozy, romantic nights. But the real gem was the slanted glass skylight that revealed an amazing view down the mountain. It felt like I could see the entire state of Montana from his room.
One of Luke’s shirts was folded on the bed and I picked it up, holding it to my face so that I could breathe in Luke’s scent. The bed looked so soft and welcoming that I felt like jumping into the middle of it for a long nap. But I knew that even if it was the most comfortable bed in the world, I wouldn’t be able to get any sleep with all the thoughts twirling in my brain.
“You can tell me in a minute, Alexis. I’ll be right back. I just want to change out of these clothes.” Luke’s voice rang out from downstairs. I could hear his footsteps pounding on the stairs.
“But Luke-” Alexis tried ineffectively to get Luke’s attention, most likely to warn him about my surprise appearance. He was a man on a mission though, and he ignored her plea.
His footsteps slowed as he neared the landing. I stood frozen at the foot of the bed as I waited for him to round the corner. He did so in a hurry, his head down. As if he sensed my presence, his head whipped up and he stopped in mid-stride.
“Kasey.” My name passed smoothly over his lips.
“Hey.” All that time thinking about what I would say when I saw him and the best I could come up with was hey .
“Why are you here?” It wasn’t the response I had been hoping for, but I wasn’t entirely surprised.
Luke’s eyes were cold and distant. His dark hair was damp and curling at the ends. I was overcome by the desire to run my fingers through it. With the way Luke was glaring at me, I didn’t dare.
“We need to talk about what happened.” I understood why Luke was mad. “I want you to know why I pushed you away that night.”
“This couldn’t wait until next week?” he asked in an unreadable tone.
I worried that I had made a huge mistake coming to Montana. “No. I couldn’t wait.”
Luke made it easier when he said, “I haven’t stopped thinking about you for a minute. I’m so glad you are here.”
“You didn’t even let me apologize.” It wasn’t much of a protest. I was already walking toward him.
“I would say you being here is apology enough.” Luke’s
“No thanks. I’ve got it from here.”
I took my time dragging my luggage up the stairs, partly because my bag was heavy and the climb was steep, but also because I was stalling. Even with my slow progress, I was still standing at the front door in less than two minutes.
Very slowly, I raised my hand to knock, but the door flew open before I could make contact.
“I thought that was you.”
Luke’s sister, Alexis, stared at me with wide eyes. I returned her dubious stare, realizing for the very first time that I might actually be interrupting something important. Somehow I had managed to forget that he had said it was a family trip.
“Hey, Alexis.” I smiled meekly.
She tilted her head to the left and looked me up and down. “Luke never mentioned that you were joining us.”
“It’s kind of a surprise,” I said.
She nodded, but still looked suspicious. “Okay. Come in.”
I carried my bag inside and dropped it to the floor with a loud thunk. The entryway to Luke’s mountain home was larger than my entire apartment.
“Luke isn’t here,” Alexis said. “He’s been out skiing all day.”
“Oh. That’s okay.” I glanced around, looking for some inspiration as to what my next move should be.
“His room is that way, above the garage. Did you want some help with your bag?” Alexis was a tiny girl and probably weighed less than my suitcase, but I appreciated the offer.
“Thanks, but I can handle it.” It took some time to carry it up the stairs, but it was worth the effort. Luke’s room was amazing. The room was sparsely decorated, dominated mostly by the king-sized bed in the middle of the room. A sleek fireplace along one wall promised cozy, romantic nights. But the real gem was the slanted glass skylight that revealed an amazing view down the mountain. It felt like I could see the entire state of Montana from his room.
One of Luke’s shirts was folded on the bed and I picked it up, holding it to my face so that I could breathe in Luke’s scent. The bed looked so soft and welcoming that I felt like jumping into the middle of it for a long nap. But I knew that even if it was the most comfortable bed in the world, I wouldn’t be able to get any sleep with all the thoughts twirling in my brain.
“You can tell me in a minute, Alexis. I’ll be right back. I just want to change out of these clothes.” Luke’s voice rang out from downstairs. I could hear his footsteps pounding on the stairs.
“But Luke-” Alexis tried ineffectively to get Luke’s attention, most likely to warn him about my surprise appearance. He was a man on a mission though, and he ignored her plea.
His footsteps slowed as he neared the landing. I stood frozen at the foot of the bed as I waited for him to round the corner. He did so in a hurry, his head down. As if he sensed my presence, his head whipped up and he stopped in mid-stride.
“Kasey.” My name passed smoothly over his lips.
“Hey.” All that time thinking about what I would say when I saw him and the best I could come up with was hey .
“Why are you here?” It wasn’t the response I had been hoping for, but I wasn’t entirely surprised.
Luke’s eyes were cold and distant. His dark hair was damp and curling at the ends. I was overcome by the desire to run my fingers through it. With the way Luke was glaring at me, I didn’t dare.
“We need to talk about what happened.” I understood why Luke was mad. “I want you to know why I pushed you away that night.”
“This couldn’t wait until next week?” he asked in an unreadable tone.
I worried that I had made a huge mistake coming to Montana. “No. I couldn’t wait.”
Luke made it easier when he said, “I haven’t stopped thinking about you for a minute. I’m so glad you are here.”
“You didn’t even let me apologize.” It wasn’t much of a protest. I was already walking toward him.
“I would say you being here is apology enough.” Luke’s
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